Lessons Can Be Learnt From Disastrous Floods: Thailand

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STREET WISE

Lessons can be learnt from disastrous floods

Achara Deboonme

The Nation

Behind the dark clouds is bright sunshine. That's how I sum up what we've learnt so far from the floods, which have devastated many provinces, chiefly Ayutthaya.

Now we know that government units can be united to fix problems, through the joint project of the Science and Technology Ministry and the Royal Thai Navy to quicken water flow to the Gulf of Thailand, though the effectiveness is hotly debated.

Bangkok residents are now forced to be more knowledgeable about geography. Living in the capital, which has everything anyone could dream of - but greenery, of course - they never have to look far. Having been well protected, they never yearned to learn how they are protected. Now, whenever a floodgate is reported broken, they search for the exact location so that they can Tweet and share in Facebook to alert those living in the areas.

Now, the true power of social media is unfurling. For some time, we've been learning about the power of social media in creative and destructive ways. But now we know their power in arousing sympathy and causing panic. Thanks to smartphones, people can simply push buttons and all the information, verified or not, is flying through the air. Through social media, many good-hearted people were seen in Ayutthaya helping flood victims. They came out in such huge numbers that traffic congestion turned into a major problem in the province, aside from floods.

Through social media, news of the danger from massive runoff and of evacuations was disseminated, sparking panic buying of consumer goods. On October 12, locally produced instant noodles disappeared completely from shelves, as well as bottled water and bags of rice.

I'm sure that I have lived half of my life, and I'm certain that I witnessed such scenes only from World War II movies, when factories were destroyed and no products could be made.

The Royal Thai Air Force also impressed us with the announcement recently that it is ready to use infrared scanners to spot flood victims deserted in their flooded houses. Wow, now we know that we have all the technology provided. It's just a matter of time - and order - when this equipment can be used for the benefit of society.

We also learnt that in times of crisis, men can cry despite their physique. Strongly built and tough-looking Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong broke into tears when hugging Japanese investors at the Hi-Tech Industrial Estate.

He would have been endearing but for his call to the prime minister, showing that he gave up in saving the industrial estate. Huh, if a man with authority gives up, what can laymen like us do but let our houses get flooded.

It has never been this clear what kind of leaders we need in an emergency. The Thaksin government was hailed for its prompt reaction to the tsunami's impacts, but that was not what we could expect from the government led by his youngest sister. Yingluck Shinawatra worked hard, but one day she ended up in a kitchen cooking for flood victims while her urgent mission was to take command in the war room. Thankfully, there was not much criticism as opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva also did the same thing.

To Democrat supporters, Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra deserved admiration when announcing that he would be responsible for the situation in Bangkok. Yes, he did such a wonderful job, knowing that he is in charge of the capital, which contributes one-fourth of gross domestic product. Yes, if Bangkok falls, not only would the entire nation suffer, he would also lose his precious job. The task is huge. If the city collapses into the water, the entire economy would not be spared. Yet, he was brave enough to put all that on his big shoulders.

Hopefully, good lessons will still surface, as the floods will be with us for some time.

-- The Nation 2011-10-17

[whybother]

Lessons can be learnt from disastrous floods

You would hope so, wouldn't you?

[Colin Yai]

Lessons can be learnt from disastrous floods

You would hope so, wouldn't you?

They Have had floods here in Thailand for decades and a real bad one in 1995, lessons were not learned then so why should this one be any different? Edited October 17, 2011 by Colin Yai

[BuckarooBanzai]

If I had to guess the age of the author my guess would be that this article was written by a 15 year old. Although we are led to believe that the author is much older.

I'm sure that I have lived half of my life, and I'm certain that I witnessed such scenes only from World War II movies, when factories were destroyed and no products could be made.

What rambling nonsense.

Edited October 17, 2011 by BuckarooBanzai

[zakk9]

Lessons can be learnt from disastrous floods

You would hope so, wouldn't you?

They Have had floods here in Thailand for decades and a real bad one in 1995, lessons were not learned then so why should this one be any different?

They've had floods for centuries, and were probably much better prepared for it a hundred years ago than now. This country have done anything possible to ignore nature for at least 50 years. Learning is possible, but in this case it will be a tough process. The medicine might taste really sour, maybe to sour for some.

Edited October 17, 2011 by zakk9

[ExpatOilWorker]

Lessons can be learnt from disastrous floods

You would hope so, wouldn't you?

They Have had floods here in Thailand for decades and a real bad one in 1995, lessons were not learned then so why should this one be any different?

They've had floods for centuries, and were probably much better prepared for it a hundred years ago than now. This country have done anything possible to ignore nature for at least 50 years. Learning is possible, but in this case it will be a tough process. The medicine might taste really sour, maybe to sour for some.

Centuries ago it was probably a lot like this

No flood = eat rice

flood = eat fish

mai pen rai......

[Colin Yai]

Lessons can be learnt from disastrous floods

You would hope so, wouldn't you?

They Have had floods here in Thailand for decades and a real bad one in 1995, lessons were not learned then so why should this one be any different?

They've had floods for centuries, and were probably much better prepared for it a hundred years ago than now. This country have done anything possible to ignore nature for at least 50 years. Learning is possible, but in this case it will be a tough process. The medicine might taste really sour, maybe to sour for some.

Yeah Zakk, Quite correct ,but then they only had buffalo and Elephant power and little else now they have giant earth moving equipment to do the job, all it needs now is brain power and forward planning and maybe taking medicine from "outside " sources ,nah forget that one ,it would mean "losing face" by saying you are not up to the job :lol: Edited October 17, 2011 by Colin Yai

[chooka]

Lessons can be learnt from disastrous floods

You would hope so, wouldn't you?

They Have had floods here in Thailand for decades and a real bad one in 1995, lessons were not learned then so why should this one be any different?

I agree. They say repetition is a good learning tool but I guess it does not work in Thailand.

Rote learning is a learning technique which focuses on memorization. The major practice involved in rote learning is learning by repetition. The idea is that one will be able to quickly recall the meaning of the material the more one repeats it.

[zakk9]

Hmmm... seems like forgetting by repetition works quite well too

[rakman]

Lessons can be learnt from disastrous floods

You would hope so, wouldn't you?

Yes, but planning and implementation, in many countries, gets sidetracked by just about anything that upsets the flow.

The previous government did do some things, but "the water always wins".

[OzMick]

If I had to guess the age of the author my guess would be that this article was written by a 15 year old. Although we are led to believe that the author is much older.

I'm sure that I have lived half of my life, and I'm certain that I witnessed such scenes only from World War II movies, when factories were destroyed and no products could be made.

What rambling nonsense.

Agree 100% - did they pay for this <deleted>?

[givenall]

Enough rambling.

What this article is trying to say anyways

[LennyW]

I wonder if they will learn that putting 1000 boats in the river to "speed the flow" is akin to farting against the wind??

[Cayenne]

Yingluck Shinawatra worked hard, but one day she ended up in a kitchen cooking for flood victims while her urgent mission was to take command in the war room. Thankfully, there was not much criticism as opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva also did the same thing.

Yes, but one is the Prime Minister and the other one isn't. Frankly I don't care what the opposition leader is doing but I tend to be worried when our PM is in the kitchen cooking food when she should be cooking up plans to save life and property. Or at least give the appearance of being on top of things.

[hellodolly]

Lessons can be learnt from disastrous floods

You would hope so, wouldn't you?

Well here in Chiang Mai they learned some thing from the last major flood.

this time before they opened the flood gates to flood the city they had trucks driving around with loudspeakers announcing they were going to flood the city. Of course they worded it a little differently but it was what they were going to and did do.

[hellodolly]

I wonder if they will learn that putting 1000 boats in the river to "speed the flow" is akin to farting against the wind??

Just my humble opinion but I don't believe it was that effective.

[scotbeve]

Lessons can be learnt from disastrous floods

You would hope so, wouldn't you?

They Have had floods here in Thailand for decades and a real bad one in 1995, lessons were not learned then so why should this one be any different?

They've had floods for centuries, and were probably much better prepared for it a hundred years ago than now. This country have done anything possible to ignore nature for at least 50 years. Learning is possible, but in this case it will be a tough process. The medicine might taste really sour, maybe to sour for some.

Thank you zakk9,

What a refreshing, sensible, logical, non-political, and true comment. Need more of these type of comments!!! Keep em' coming folks!!!

[animatic]

Lesson #1

Put competent, reasonably honest, people in office,

based in experience, ability to think clearly, and earned merit.

Not for:

who they know,

if they've paid enough,

are compliant to the bosses,

or are just plain family you can trust.

Edited October 18, 2011 by animatic

[RickBradford]

Lesson #1

Put competent, reasonably honest, people in office, based in experience, ability to think clearly, and earned merit.

And then get their work permits approved ASAP....

[ResX]

Lessons can be learnt from disastrous floods

You would hope so, wouldn't you?

Well here in Chiang Mai they learned some thing from the last major flood.

this time before they opened the flood gates to flood the city they had trucks driving around with loudspeakers announcing they were going to flood the city. Of course they worded it a little differently but it was what they were going to and did do.

Which dam you were referring to? Bhumibol dam or Sirkit dam or non of these? If these two dams open their spillway gates even twice in 10 years other than for a purpose of testing that is not a good news.