Lampang dams overflow, residents urged to evacuate valuables

[snoop1130]

 

Two major dams in Lampang, Thailand have burst their banks following relentless rainfall, leaving officials scrambling to warn residents in low-lying areas to move their belongings to higher ground immediately.

 

The torrential downpour, which started yesterday, September 25, and continued fiercely through the night, has sent water levels skyrocketing, creating a dangerously precarious situation for those living nearby.

 

Local government officials and emergency services are on high alert, and the clock is ticking for locals to safeguard their homes and possessions against the impending deluge.

 

Heavy downpours have led to flash floods and runoff in the upper areas, significantly affecting the Khew Ko Ma Korn Dam in Jaehom district. As of today, the dam holds 189 million cubic meters of water, reaching 111% of its total capacity.

 

Officials are currently releasing water at a rate of 257 cubic meters per second to manage the overflow, said a spokesperson from the Irrigation Project and Maintenance Office of Khun Korn Dam.

 

“If additional rainfall occurs downstream, it will cause the Wang River’s water level to rise further, impacting 13 villages in Jaehom district, including Pongdon, Jaehom, Wichet Nakhon, and Ban Sa.”

 

 

 

 

Water levels

 

The water levels are expected to remain high from today until the end of the month.

 

The released water from Khew Ko Ma Dam flows into the Kiu Lom Dam in the Mueang district, which is also experiencing a rapid increase in water levels due to rain. Currently, Kiu Lom Dam holds 88 million cubic meters, or 83% of its capacity. To manage this, officials began releasing water into the Wang River at a rate of 320 cubic meters per second since 1am today.

 

As a result, the Wang River’s level in Mueang district, particularly in Boonnak Phatthana, Ban Sadet, and Phichai subdistricts, has risen by over 30 centimetres. Projections indicate it could reach 85 centimetres. Lampang Municipality has elevated its alert level to prepare for the rising water, which could potentially reach critical overflow levels if heavy rains continue.

 

Residents in low-lying areas, including communities along Setuwaree Bridge, Thanang Loy, Tha Ma O, and those adjacent to Wang River such as Paa Mai Road, Charoen Prathet Road, Pong Sanuk Road, Talad Kao Road, Thip Chang Road, and Dong Chai Road, are advised to evacuate valuables and essential items to higher ground. The municipality anticipates the water level could peak at 1 metre by this afternoon.

 

In response to the potential flooding, Lampang Municipality has established an Emergency Operations Centre to monitor the situation and provide necessary assistance. The centre is equipped with manpower, equipment, medical supplies, survival kits, food, and water to support affected residents, reported KhaoSod.

 

“We urge residents to move their vehicles, belongings, and essential items to higher ground to prepare for the impending situation,” the municipality advised.

 

The emergency hotline 199 is available 24 hours for any flood-related emergencies.

 

By Bright Choomanee

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-09-26

 

[hotchilli]

Nothing like being prepared and keeping an eye on the long range forecast.

[fredwiggy]

This is the main reason they don't ensure houses in flood prone areas in the US. There are places homes should never be built, and this should teach others where not to in the future.

[ignis]

58 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

This is the main reason they don't ensure houses in flood prone areas in the US. There are places homes should never be built, and this should teach others where not to in the future.

If they had that here then Swampy Airport should never have been built where it is..

[degrub]

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

This is the main reason they don't ensure houses in flood prone areas in the US. There are places homes should never be built, and this should teach others where not to in the future.

Maybe you are thinking of very restricted cases ?
Many people i know along the Texas gulf coast have it if they are in an X or higher risk flood zone. Mortgage companies can require federal flood insurance before underwriting the mortgage. 
 

If a structure is flooded a third time , there are limited funds available to elevate and repair existing or build new elevated structure or buy out the owner. There are many in Houston that have been through the process. 
 

private insurance is also available but almost no one uses it due to cost. 
 

Some coastal areas , such as near a beachfront , may be uninsurable due to storm driven waves and rising water. But other than that, the federal flood insurance program is chugging along. Premiums are rising though due to recent losses.

[fredwiggy]

22 minutes ago, ignis said:

If they had that here then Swampy Airport should never have been built where it is..

Just like those that built in New Orleans and California, close to the water. Lessons are learned the hard way.

[fredwiggy]

5 minutes ago, degrub said:

Maybe you are thinking of very restricted cases ?
Many people i know along the Texas gulf coast have it if they are in an X or higher risk flood zone. Mortgage companies can require federal flood insurance before underwriting the mortgage. 
 

If a structure is flooded a third time , there are limited funds available to elevate and repair existing or build new elevated structure or buy out the owner. There are many in Houston that have been through the process. 
 

private insurance is also available but almost no one uses it due to cost. 
 

Some coastal areas , such as near a beachfront , may be uninsurable due to storm driven waves and rising water. But other than that, the federal flood insurance program is chugging along. Premiums are rising though due to recent losses.

I know this from living in Texas for 32 years. Many places are becoming un insurable every year.

[degrub]

1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:

I know this from living in Texas for 32 years. Many places are becoming un insurable every year.

Been here 66. Don’t dispute the point, but it is not as prevalent as may be assumed. 

[Sydebolle]

What a surprise; read my earlier posts - some of them years ago - on the subject. High time to fire all those goons running the water dam management. Latter is no rocket science, really, but takes some attention to the job, all year round. 

Of course Somchai further down has no clue and gets wet feet again, like almost every year 

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

This is the main reason they don't ensure houses in flood prone areas in the US.

Home buyers is such flood prone areas can get flood insurance. Much of South Florida is barely above sea level but flood insurance is available. The monthly cost is ridiculously cheap compared to potential damage.

Wikipedia:

• The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a program created by the Congress of the United States in 1968 through the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-448). The NFIP has two purposes: to share the risk of flood losses through flood insurance and to reduce flood damages by restricting floodplain development. The program enables property owners in participating communities to purchase insurance protection, administered by the government, against losses from flooding, and requires flood insurance for all loans or lines of credit that are secured by existing buildings, manufactured homes, or buildings under construction, that are located in the Special Flood Hazard Area in a community that participates in the NFIP.

[fredwiggy]

5 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Home buyers is such flood prone areas can get flood insurance. Much of South Florida is barely above sea level but flood insurance is available. The monthly cost is ridiculously cheap compared to potential damage.

Wikipedia:

• The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a program created by the Congress of the United States in 1968 through the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-448). The NFIP has two purposes: to share the risk of flood losses through flood insurance and to reduce flood damages by restricting floodplain development. The program enables property owners in participating communities to purchase insurance protection, administered by the government, against losses from flooding, and requires flood insurance for all loans or lines of credit that are secured by existing buildings, manufactured homes, or buildings under construction, that are located in the Special Flood Hazard Area in a community that participates in the NFIP.

I stand corrected as far as there are people that can get insurance for their houses. I'm just aware of the higher price and the reluctance of some companies to cover. Yes, I'm aware of the NFIP. I know a few that couldn't get covered by their insurance companies, but I'm guessing they didn't try the program and moved. It might get to be too much eventually with all the flooding that's been increasing and I still think it's very dumb to build in such an area, as history tends to repeat itself as far as flooding. Bangkok and New Orleans will continue to suffer because of greed and foolishness.

[Callmeishmael]

Here's a graph of the water level for one of the dams mentioned.  The other one is very similar.  It looks as though there was a real surge of rainfall that filled the dam in just the past week or so.

The red line is this year.  The brown line is last year and the yellow line is two years ago.

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Callmeishmael

[PETERTHEEATER]

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Two major dams in Lampang, Thailand have burst their banks

Huh?

[Thungrat]

7 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

This is the main reason they don't ensure houses in flood prone areas in the US. There are places homes should never be built, and this should teach others where not to in the future.

If they build good/strong dams and manage the waterlevel correct there would be not a big problem. Now they release water from the dams becouse they scared they brake.