People Are Stockpiling Foods For Fear Of Bangkok Flooding

[george]

Bangkok Residents Begin Hoarding Food, Water on Flood Threat

BANGKOK: -- Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra urged food producers not to raise prices as Bangkok residents started hoarding rice, instant noodles and bottled water amid conflicting government warnings about floods threatening to inundate the capital this week.

Shoppers anticipating floodwaters that have killed at least 281 people north of the capital emptied shelves at Tesco Plc and Big C Supercenter Pcl stores in parts of the city. Authorities can’t agree on how severe flooding may be, with Defense Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa saying “no one can guarantee” the capital will be spared, while the national flood center said the city has a 90 percent chance of avoiding widespread damage.

“We can’t rely on the government,” said Siraporn Nikorata, a 37-year-old nurse who bought 10 bags of rice from a Tesco Lotus supermarket in Bangkok’s Chaeng Wattana district. “No one can guarantee what will happen to Bangkok. We have to take care of ourselves first. I need to protect my family.”

The government is focused on delivering emergency aid to the millions of people displaced by the floods, and protecting assets is a secondary goal, Yingluck said.

“The volume of water is substantial today,” she told reporters in Bangkok. “If we try to block the water, we won’t have enough people to help save lives.”

Risk Period

Oct. 16 through Oct. 18 is the highest risk period for Bangkok, with low-lying areas near Suvarnabhumi airport and communities next to the river and canals the most vulnerable, the city’s Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said this week. Officials are shoring up flood walls, preparing evacuation plans and readying medical supplies, he said.

The Thai capital has an official population of 6.3 million, excluding unregistered workers. The U.S. Department of State estimates the city’s total population at 9.7 million.

Flood-defense efforts are focused on the Chao Phraya river, whose banks are lined with luxury hotels including the Peninsula, the Shangri-La and the Oriental, as well as the Bank of Thailand.

Work on a new flood barrier will be completed tomorrow, “but we still don’t know whether it can prevent flooding in Bangkok,” Yingluck said today.

Efforts to divert water away from the capital may help Bangkok escape widespread flooding, Wim Rungwattanajinda, a spokesman for the national flood center, said by phone yesterday.

“There is a 90 percent chance that Bangkok will not be inundated,” Wim said. “We have monitored water levels around the clock to assess if the barriers can prevent floods. If they can’t, we will provide warnings.”

Panic Buying

Bangkok authorities have urged consumers to avoid panic buying, arguing that shortages at some supermarkets are being caused by logistics issues and bulk purchases for flood relief rather than a lack of staple goods.

“When consumers see empty shelves, that intensifies worries and spurs hoarding,” Somchai Pornrattanacharoen, president of the Wholesale and Retail Association, said yesterday by phone. “Increased production by some manufacturers isn’t enough to meet demand, and replenishing stockpiles usually take one to three days.”

Yingluck said the commerce ministry will monitor product prices and shortages.

“I want to beg and ask for cooperation from all producers,” she said. “Today people are suffering. Please sell products at appropriate prices. If you raise product prices, people will try to stockpile more food, which will create more problems.”

Some residents aren’t waiting to see whether store shelves will be restocked.

“I need to go to another supermarket,” said Siraporn, who was shopping for water, noodles and canned seafood. “As you see, there is not much left here. I have moved my furniture to the second floor and plan to evacuate my children and grandmother to Hua Hin in the next two days. They should be safe there.”

--Editors: Tony Jordan, Patrick Harrington

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-12/bangkok-residents-begin-hoarding-food-water-on-flood-threat.html

-- businessweek.com 2011-10-12

People are stockpiling foods for fear of Bangkok flooding

Canned food aisle cleaned out at Tesco Fortune town

We have got several reports that people are stockpiling canned foods in the Bangkok area. Feels that the end is nigh when shopping at supermarket in Prakanong. Tuna gone, eggs gone, full shopping carts - floods are great biz for some.

Also, canned food aisle cleaned out at Tesco Fortune town:

Photo:

http://twitpic.com/6z46re

Have you experienced stockpiling in your area? Tell us your story!

[wana]

dried and canned foods have been missing from the shelves for days in tesco and big c ,panic buying started last weekend

drinking water is also sold out in most shops ,people are getting ready for a big one

sandbags cost:

20 thb 3 days ago

35 thb 2 days ago

50 thb 1 day ago

since yesterday and today they have been impossible to get at any price and some people are building real bricks and mortar flood walls around their homes in bangkok (ramphakaeng rd area )

[Semper]

Same in Chiang Mai (Tesco)

[TJH]

Same in Chiang Mai (Tesco)

Just been in Villa on Narathiwas at City Viva. Most bottled water gone (apart from the expensive stuff like Evian etc), dried noodles are few and far between. No sliced bread. Otherwise, loads of fruit and veg, booze and meat and dairy. We had a massive bout of heavy rain at lunchtime (1230 ish) and now, looking to the south east from Empire Tower (14:45), it looks as if we are in for some serious rain by the looks of the sky. Canal in the middle of the road looks a bit fuller than it was yesterday. Get those waders on!!!

[webfact]

Bangkok Told to Brace for Northern Runoff Oct 14-17; 28-31

Officials are warning Bangkok residents that runoff from the North will hit Bangkok over two periods in the month of October. Locals are being cautioned between October 12 and 14 and again between October 28 and 31. Meanwhile, the Bang Prao Water Gate in Pathumthani Province has been damaged by strong currents. Authorities are rushing to repair the damage.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-12

[ronniec]

can anyone tell me how Nong Khia is holding up to the floods,especially along Rim Khlong rd

[BuffaloRescue]

Also maybe buy a water pump and generator if you are going to be hit. Buid brick walls good i guess but its still imposible to stop all the water coming in unless the walls were part of the original construction.

[carvets]

I cant believe that food suppliers would raise their prices in times of difficulty. Their like vultures preying on the weak and downtrodden. Great human spirit.

[Sateev]

can anyone tell me how Nong Khia is holding up to the floods,especially along Rim Khlong rd

Nong Khai is doing fine - no flooding, and the river is down quite a bit from the last rain. The danger here is not from the river, because Rimkong Rd. is fairly high ground. The problem here, which is being addressed, is that low-lying areas get rainwater runoff trapped because of lack of drainage.

Through all of the last couple of storms, some sois have flooded, but not deep. At the beginning of the rainy season, Prajak Rd. completely flooded, and there are sandbags all along its length still.

Bangkok's problem is that several rivers all empty into the Chao Phaya, raising the river above its banks with all the water from the North, whether or not there is locally heavy rainfall in BKK.

[plumeria]

Not good news but thank you for the perspective and reports. Much appreciated.

Hmmm, but will Pizza Hut still deliver?

[wana]

I cant believe that food suppliers would raise their prices in times of difficulty. Their like vultures preying on the weak and downtrodden. Great human spirit.

it is illegal to raise food or water prices in a situation like this ,a relief worker in lopburi was telling me yesterday if i see any shops doing it i should call the police.....

i just said ok sir ,il do that

[fractrain]

Rangsit Klong 4ish Tesco shelves are empty of most non-perishables and most perishables too like dairy products, meat (completely gone yesterday).

[webfact]

Jail term promised for unfair goods price increases

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

The Commerce Ministry has threatened to impose a jail term and fines on traders who raise their product prices in light of floods-driven demand.

The traders are promised a 7-year jail term and a fine of 140,000.

Commerce Permanent Secretary Yanyong Phuangrach said that the product prices should not be raised as manufacturing costs stay the same.

The ministry’s hotline 1569 has received complaints on such irregular price increases.

To complaints over an irregular increase in sand, Yanyong noted that it should be retailed at Bt450 per cubic metre. Meanwhile, empty sand bags should be retailed at Bt3 for the 25cm size and Bt7 for the 50cm size.

Some sand traders are reportedly jacking up the prices, as sand is in high demand in Bangkok as residents try all means to prevent their residences from floods.

-- The Nation 2011-10-12

[LeeCraker]

Tesco Lotus Last night. Photos

[plumeria]

In our village sandbags are now classed with Futures Trading and must be reserved and paid for IN ADVANCE.

The construction company near us is making a fast Baht on the situation.

We'll be making a tour of supermarkets in west Bangkok later and will let you know if we find anything for sale.

Maybe hoarders forgot the Betty Crocker cake mixes????

People are also stockpiling (as much as possible) vehicle fuel because a flooded filling station cannot sell fuel.

But there are always the fish that are coming with the water so should be right and no shortage of food. And, of course, plenty of doves in the area so we are preparing our snares. (JOKING! all you animal lovers).

Edited October 12, 2011 by plumeria

[Newguy70]

Rangsit Klong 3 is the same (hoarding) , and most people in this area are already headed towards the bus and train stations, while they can still make it to the main roads.

[Misterwhisper]

My oh my, people are reacting like the capital is going to be submerged under 5 metres of flood water for weeks on end. If you cannot hold out for a couple of days with the supplies you should have in your household anyway, then you're definitely a poor housekeeper. And if the Biblical flood doesn't hit your area, you're going to sit on a stockpile of food that will last until end of the year. I have never really understood that sort of lemming-like panic buying. Has anyone started chopping down the mango trees in their garden and started to build an ark, too...?

[anon7867763]

Also maybe buy a water pump and generator if you are going to be hit. Buid brick walls good i guess but its still imposible to stop all the water coming in unless the walls were part of the original construction.

?????????? You are obviously not a construction engineer

[londonthai]

not sure, why to buy water, as tap water is good enough and rain water can be drunk as well.

would be wise to take car's battery into the home, to have some emergency lighting

[wana]

not sure, why to buy water, as tap water is good enough and rain water can be drunk as well.

would be wise to take car's battery into the home, to have some emergency lighting

i have never drank tap water inn bangkok unless its been boiled first in coffee or something

my friend woke up hungover once and drank some tap water in a hotel

he spent most of the day on the crapper .........

also bear in mind the water in the reservoirs (your tap water ) will be easily contaminated when flood water from absolutely everywhere is pouring into it

[webfact]

Watching people "panic buy" at Big C. Mama noodles all gone so buying things that they don't normally eat /via@RichardBarrow

[fractrain]

People brick & mortaring 3 foot high walls in front of their shops in the Soi at Tesco Rangsit... which has no food or water left.

[kurnell]

There are no "D" sized batteries left anywhere in Bangkok. Plenty of torches though

[frodo]

Rangsit Klong 4ish Tesco shelves are empty of most non-perishables and most perishables too like dairy products, meat (completely gone yesterday).

Same as Tops Rangsit @ Future Park. Yesterday, noodles, rice, most canned goods, water and breads were gone. Haven't been out today, but neighbors in my area have said most stores such as Big C, TESCO, etc., are empty.

[DP25]

not sure, why to buy water, as tap water is good enough and rain water can be drunk as well.

would be wise to take car's battery into the home, to have some emergency lighting

What if the tap water goes out or it gets contaminated? Besides even though tap water is safe in Bangkok I don't like the taste of it, and if the power goes out the filtered water machine in my building won't work. So I have about 30L of drinking water I bought earlier this week. If that runs out it's time to abandon the city

[gl555]

My oh my, people are reacting like the capital is going to be submerged under 5 metres of flood water for weeks on end. If you cannot hold out for a couple of days with the supplies you should have in your household anyway, then you're definitely a poor housekeeper. And if the Biblical flood doesn't hit your area, you're going to sit on a stockpile of food that will last until end of the year. I have never really understood that sort of lemming-like panic buying. Has anyone started chopping down the mango trees in their garden and started to build an ark, too...?

Better to be safe then sorry.

I have enough bottled water and canned food for about 10 days. If it happens, I have an extra 10 days. If the flood doesn't get here, I'm going to use the water anyway and the canned food eventually . If it lasts till the end of the year, great. It means I don't have to spend money later buying canned goods.

With everything that Thailand has gone through, I think this is considered the most serious. People aren't lemmings for being prepared, they're being smart.

[Thai at Heart]

not sure, why to buy water, as tap water is good enough and rain water can be drunk as well.

would be wise to take car's battery into the home, to have some emergency lighting

You really want to drink the tap water during a mass flood? I would think even in the downtown areas of the most modern cities in the world they would recommend boiling the water first if they got inundated as Bangkok may about to be.

Even if the water treatment plants don't get flooded, could you imagine what mess could potentially go into the pipes supplying the city water if there is 2ft of water downtown for a day or so?

[jimbeam1]

OMG the end is near we're doomed I tell you doomed.

Now is the best time to buy shares in Tesco Lotus.

jb1

[retell]

Watching people "panic buy" at Big C. Mama noodles all gone so buying things that they don't normally eat /via@RichardBarrow

mukdahan tesco still got many many rows with noodlesoups big packs and small

[RickBradford]

Big C Jatujak restricting everyone to 6 packets of noodles each.