Bangkokians Wait Till Last Minute To Evacuate

[webfact]

Bangkokians wait till last minute to evacuate

Veena Thoopkrajae

The Nation

The word "evacuation" seems applicable to practically everybody, with people no longer waiting for announcements from the government.

Over the past week thousands have been displaced, and even though many have been put up at the various flood-relief centres, several people are staying put till the last minute and braving the rising waters.

People are making the decision to move out for a number of different reasons. Some leave at the last minute when the floodwaters lap at their doors, but others can't afford to take the chance of leaving their homes.

Freelance journalist Kanita In-chukul's riverside home in her hometown of Bang Pa-in, Ayutthaya, was inundated last month. She was staying at her home in Saransiri housing estate in Bang Bua Thong, but that has been menaced by rising flood water for the last two weeks. Her family has had to move out and rent an apartment in Bang Saen in Chon Buri. "I don't know how long we are going to stay here as the situation in Bangkok is unpredictable," she said.

Nanthinee Vongpuapan, a freelancer and mother of two, moved her family to Pattaya on Saturday after learning about the unexpected rise in the Chao Phraya River's level. Living near the canal close to Chao Phraya Hospital off Barom Ratchachonnanee Road, she had prepared for the worst, moving all her belongings to the second and third storey and getting a fibreglass boat, but still she did not feel comfortable about staying.

"I can't find anywhere to park my car and Central Pinklao parking is full. I don't think I can afford to buy a new car," she said.

She accepted an offer from a university friend who owns a condominium in Pattaya. "I wanted to take my dog too, but it was not possible, so she has to stay at a veterinary clinic that charges Bt150 per day," she said.

Niphon Popichit, who works in the entertainment industry, spent days helping fortify his housing estate's flood barriers, alternating with sandbagging his own home. Then it came to a point where his nerves could no longer stand it.

"Living in a one-storey house, the tension was too much," said the 45-year-old man, who lives off Ram-Indra Road, not far from Fashion Island.

Four days ago, he gave his house and belongings the best protection he could, then packed up and moved to Mahachai in Samut Sakhon province with his wife and five-year-old son.

"Now a lot of people are telling me even Mahachai is not entirely safe. I just want to punch them."

Even in areas deemed less at risk, some are not taking chances. A former Air Force marshal in Lat Phrao Soi 82 has shut up his home and moved his large family upcountry temporarily. "Staying here is too stressful," he told a neighbour.

The floodwaters left the Arunruek family with no choice. The family of four members lived in a one-storey home on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, opposite the Royal Air Force building, until it was submerged. They have now moved to stay with relatives in Chiang Mai. Water in the housing estate is knee-high. "It is impossible for us to use the toilet; we have got to move."

In Buddhamonthol 2 Road, the Sirmsirimuka family refused to suffer the uncertain situation and moved to Parkland condominium on Bang Na-Trat Road on Monday. With two elderly members and one child, they just closed the house up and moved their belongings. "It will be difficult if the water comes so we had better move out first," said Suporn Sirmsirimukda.

In every business, colleagues have stories of being forced to evacuate. At The Nation, editorial secretary Siriporn Thongrawd who lives in the risk area of Bussarin Khlong Wa district, has moved into a room at the Evergreen condominium near the Bang Na office for a week. The condo is now fully occupied as people have booked flats to escape the floods.

Another editorial secretary Chanatesada Saengchang is facing a dilemma. Her mother fled from the flooding in Nakhon Sawan's Payuhakeeree district and has been staying with her in an apartment at Bang Na-Trat Km 7 since September 24. Her house is submerged but the water level has fallen from almost two metres to the waist-level. Despite the flooding and hearing all the news about floods heading to Bangkok - her mother wants to go home. "I'd like to take her home but I don't know how, as we have no car," said Chanatesada.

-- The Nation 2011-10-26

[Gillespie]

"Bangkokians" = Two journalists, two secretaries (at The Nation), someone who "works in the entertainment industry" (not a bar girl, I'm guessing) and a retired air force marshal.

OK, so that's how the middle classes are coping. Any news on the other 90%?

[arthurwait]

"Bangkokians" = Two journalists, two secretaries (at The Nation), someone who "works in the entertainment industry" (not a bar girl, I'm guessing) and a retired air force marshal.

OK, so that's how the middle classes are coping. Any news on the other 90%?

You forgot the freelancer.

[OZEMADE]

"Bangkokians" = Two journalists, two secretaries (at The Nation), someone who "works in the entertainment industry" (not a bar girl, I'm guessing) and a retired air force marshal.

OK, so that's how the middle classes are coping. Any news on the other 90%?

12 or 14 million trying to flee Bangkok? I can just imagine the outcome.

[Tiffer]

"Bangkokians" = Two journalists, two secretaries (at The Nation), someone who "works in the entertainment industry" (not a bar girl, I'm guessing) and a retired air force marshal.

OK, so that's how the middle classes are coping. Any news on the other 90%?

12 or 14 million trying to flee Bangkok? I can just imagine the outcome.

Don't be silly. If everyone flees, who can you depend on to rob your house der!

BUT more seriously, if the North/North-east exit route via Pahonyolthin and Sai Mai is closed... what is the route out now?

Edited October 26, 2011 by Tiffer

[Kilgore Trout]

"Now a lot of people are telling me even Mahachai is not entirely safe. I just want to punch them."

This guy sounds like a real winner

[Ijustwannateach]

...maybe... just maybe... the reason they are waiting to the last minute to evacuate..

IS BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD AT THE LAST MINUTE!!!

Just guessing here... sorry for shouting, but the silly factor is beginning to be a bit much for me...

Just going to pack my bags, now....

[rogerdee123]

...maybe... just maybe... the reason they are waiting to the last minute to evacuate..

IS BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD AT THE LAST MINUTE!!!

Just guessing here... sorry for shouting, but the silly factor is beginning to be a bit much for me...

Just going to pack my bags, now....

Exactly right. Read again what they were saying a week ago ... "Bangkok is in no danger" .... "Bangkok will not flood" .... etc etc etc.

[Ijustwannateach]

"Now a lot of people are telling me even Mahachai is not entirely safe. I just want to punch them."

This guy sounds like a real winner

I think I understand how he feels, though!

[EvilDrSomkid]

"Bangkokians" = Two journalists, two secretaries (at The Nation), someone who "works in the entertainment industry" (not a bar girl, I'm guessing) and a retired air force marshal.

OK, so that's how the middle classes are coping. Any news on the other 90%?

Our company works in the entertainment industry, too. Nothing to do with bars or hookers.

There is a whole other world of entertainment in this country that most westerners know nothing about.

The kind of normal entertainment you have in your own countries. Concerts, promotion events, exhibitions, fashion shows, seminars, meeting(OK, not really entertaining, but you get the point) etc.

However, I can understand the people that leave because they do not want deal with the uncertainty anymore.

We are probably leaving again, too, but not to Pattaya/Jomtien anymore.

[whoppe78]

"Bangkokians" = Two journalists, two secretaries (at The Nation), someone who "works in the entertainment industry" (not a bar girl, I'm guessing) and a retired air force marshal.

OK, so that's how the middle classes are coping. Any news on the other 90%?

Our company works in the entertainment industry, too. Nothing to do with bars or hookers.

There is a whole other world of entertainment in this country that most westerners know nothing about.

The kind of normal entertainment you have in your own countries. Concerts, promotion events, exhibitions, fashion shows, seminars, meeting(OK, not really entertaining, but you get the point) etc.

However, I can understand the people that leave because they do not want deal with the uncertainty anymore.

We are probably leaving again, too, but not to Pattaya/Jomtien anymore.

agree with you I was going to the rugby 7's tournament but now that's cancelled I hear.

[geriatrickid]

...maybe... just maybe... the reason they are waiting to the last minute to evacuate..

IS BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD AT THE LAST MINUTE!!!

Just guessing here... sorry for shouting, but the silly factor is beginning to be a bit much for me...

Just going to pack my bags, now....

There are some people that cannot or could not evacuate because;;

1. No transportation

2. Nowhere to go

3. No money

4. Invalid or otherwise physically unable to leave, or caring for someone that is.

5. Will not leave a beloved animal companion behind.

All of the above are valid enough reason for several hundreds of thousands, if not millions to be angry. However,claiming that no one told you that there would be flooding is incredulous. The warning signs that there would be some flooding were evident last week . The certainty of flooding in Bangkok has been evident for the past few days. One would have had to be deaf and blind not to have had an inkling of what might happen.

Just where are the millions of bangkok residents expected to go? How will the housed, and fed? Who is responsible for sanitation?

[serenitynow]

...maybe... just maybe... the reason they are waiting to the last minute to evacuate..

IS BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD AT THE LAST MINUTE!!!

Just guessing here... sorry for shouting, but the silly factor is beginning to be a bit much for me...

Just going to pack my bags, now....

Even Yingluck's speech last night, one had to read between the lines in order to get the message to get the hell out of Bangkok.

[serenitynow]

...maybe... just maybe... the reason they are waiting to the last minute to evacuate..

IS BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD AT THE LAST MINUTE!!!

Just guessing here... sorry for shouting, but the silly factor is beginning to be a bit much for me...

Just going to pack my bags, now....

There are some people that cannot or could not evacuate because;;

1. No transportation

2. Nowhere to go

3. No money

4. Invalid or otherwise physically unable to leave, or caring for someone that is.

5. Will not leave a beloved animal companion behind.

All of the above are valid enough reason for several hundreds of thousands, if not millions to be angry. However,claiming that no one told you that there would be flooding is incredulous. The warning signs that there would be some flooding were evident last week . The certainty of flooding in Bangkok has been evident for the past few days. One would have had to be deaf and blind not to have had an inkling of what might happen.

Just where are the millions of bangkok residents expected to go? How will the housed, and fed? Who is responsible for sanitation?

Well, traffic here in Chiang Mai has doubled this week. Lots of Bangkok license plates. I've got 5 staying with me. I'm sure many others do too.

[TomTao]

I live in Chumphon and I really feel for the people in Bangkok and the other flood affected areas, I have been in floods both in Australia (Tully in North Queensland) and in Thailand (Lang Suan last year), I am renting a three bed three bath home and we are only using one room, I have spoken to my wife about taking people in who need help if we get any coming this way.

[hammered]

The villages I know of up north have filled up with returning workers from factories etc. Across Chonburi most cheap rooms for rent, hotel rooms, guest house rooms, condo rooms and apartment rooms seem to be filling up and there are radio services announcing where accomodation can still be found along with medical and other services. The province is also preparing to take thousands in shelters. A number of Chonburi factories have also sent their workers home (up country) as they cant get parts (from flooded industrial estates). Apparently most workers including daily paid are still being paid while at home.

It seems those with an upcountry base have somewhere to go and those with disposable income and the rich do too although there are lots of stories of BKK bosses demanding people go to work. The born and bred slum dwellers though are probably not only in the most vulnerable locations but also have nowhere to go unless they can get to a shelter. No doubt these people will as always suffer the most.

[h90]

...maybe... just maybe... the reason they are waiting to the last minute to evacuate..

IS BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD AT THE LAST MINUTE!!!

Just guessing here... sorry for shouting, but the silly factor is beginning to be a bit much for me...

Just going to pack my bags, now....

Exactly right. Read again what they were saying a week ago ... "Bangkok is in no danger" .... "Bangkok will not flood" .... etc etc etc.

and "no hoarding" if the people would have known earlier, some would have left, some would have started earlier to buy stock of food and water.

If it gets as bad as some predict Yingluck will have killed thousands with her lies.

Now we can only hope for luck and the army.

[Crushdepth]

...maybe... just maybe... the reason they are waiting to the last minute to evacuate..

IS BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD AT THE LAST MINUTE!!!

Just guessing here... sorry for shouting, but the silly factor is beginning to be a bit much for me...

Just going to pack my bags, now....

I agree. If the government hadn't LIED about the state of affairs, people would have had more time to leave or to prepare. It's absolutely disgusting. Good luck with your move.

[CWMcMurray]

A lot of companies are still working, so many people can not evacuate even if they wanted to...

The holiday is only for government employees, the private sector is not under any obligation to close.

For example, my wife has a store at one of the local shopping malls... the Mall is still open and if she did not open her store she would still be fined THB 2,000 per day. She has allowed the employees to leave and have evacuated, but now my wife has to be there all day to open and watch the store.

I am currently overseas, but will be back tomorrow and would be very surprised if our company is closing. I expect that I will also be working as normal on Fri and Sat. (baring any major flooding in our office or home area. Even if flooding, I will still be working from home.

[Xonax]

Bangkokians are being FORCED to wait untill the last minute to evacuate! As long as the company stays open, the big boss do not accept that you evacuate, because the company´s profit is more important than your life!

I suggested my wife to move from Bangkok to Pattaya or Hua-Hin for the next month or two, but her Boss won´t allow her to take a leave from the office untill the water is waist high.

If you want to evacuate the Bangkokians, the government will have to demand all companies closed first! The declared extended weekend (27-31 October) is unfortunately only for government officials. The private employed staff´s will still have to risk their lives to serve the big boss!

[berryranger]

i'm in inner bangkok...still see people coming to work as normal and we hope it will be the last place that water will hit.

our companies don't announce anything yet but they expect us to come to work on regular basis.

our overseas customers seem to understand the situation and have a heart on us..but "i need the answer by today" they remark

(though we already mentioned some staffs could not come to work due to the flood)

[nikster]

...maybe... just maybe... the reason they are waiting to the last minute to evacuate..

IS BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD AT THE LAST MINUTE!!!

Just guessing here... sorry for shouting, but the silly factor is beginning to be a bit much for me...

Just going to pack my bags, now....

Even Yingluck's speech last night, one had to read between the lines in order to get the message to get the hell out of Bangkok.

Flights to CM were all booked out yesterday. I imagine that's going to be the case for a few days...

For those who are staying: Good luck! Help out out your neighbors and stick together because the government sure as hell isn't going to help you.

[Tiffer]

i'm in inner bangkok...still see people coming to work as normal and we hope it will be the last place that water will hit.

our companies don't announce anything yet but they expect us to come to work on regular basis.

our overseas customers seem to understand the situation and have a heart on us..but "i need the answer by today" they remark

(though we already mentioned some staffs could not come to work due to the flood)

Staff is uncountable.

Staffs is the plural of a large stick 'staff'

Pass it on to the world :jap:

[mortenaa]

Bangkokians are being FORCED to wait untill the last minute to evacuate! As long as the company stays open, the big boss do not accept that you evacuate, because the company´s profit is more important than your life!

I suggested my wife to move from Bangkok to Pattaya or Hua-Hin for the next month or two, but her Boss won´t allow her to take a leave from the office untill the water is waist high.

If you want to evacuate the Bangkokians, the government will have to demand all companies closed first! The declared extended weekend (27-31 October) is unfortunately only for government officials. The private employed staff´s will still have to risk their lives to serve the big boss!

You are right. My friend had to swim (!) the last bit to get into his office in Rangsit. No question about shutting down the business. They just moved everything to 2nd floor. For most people evacuating is out of the question.

[TAWP]

Most areas are un-hit and still hoping it will be minor. Minor enough so we can still remain, work and live here.

But fear the worst.

(Besides, if we leave we need to bring everything of value. Aint gonna leave a TV that cost more than most here make in a year behind etc etc.)

[mobiryder]

its all fun and games until running water is turned off and/or electricity... and how are these business basically NOT at a standstill anyway.. you'd think it would cost them more money to stay open.. i guess they really are gonna wait until there's some official evac order... when and if that will come, at this point, will surely be too late...

suvarnabhum is still open.. what a nice time to make that early visa run!?

[Fookhaht]

i'm in inner bangkok...still see people coming to work as normal and we hope it will be the last place that water will hit.

our companies don't announce anything yet but they expect us to come to work on regular basis.

our overseas customers seem to understand the situation and have a heart on us..but "i need the answer by today" they remark

(though we already mentioned some staffs could not come to work due to the flood)

Staff is uncountable.

Staffs is the plural of a large stick 'staff'

Pass it on to the world :jap:

Your post reveals your ignorance about the "Queen's English."

[mgjackson69]

"Bangkokians" = Two journalists, two secretaries (at The Nation), someone who "works in the entertainment industry" (not a bar girl, I'm guessing) and a retired air force marshal.

OK, so that's how the middle classes are coping. Any news on the other 90%?

12 or 14 million trying to flee Bangkok? I can just imagine the outcome.

Don't be silly. If everyone flees, who can you depend on to rob your house der!

BUT more seriously, if the North/North-east exit route via Pahonyolthin and Sai Mai is closed... what is the route out now?

Go east to Chachoengsao, then north to Korat. I came into Suvarnbhumi by that route on Monday, only a bit of water as I neared Bangkok.

[bkk_mike]

The obvious answer for those waiting until the 'last minute' is to park your car on the expressway.

If it gets so bad that you decide to leave, you can get out by getting to the expressway on foot/boat, and then going to your car and, without ever going down to ground level using the expressway to Bang Na (coming down from Ram Indra / Rama IX to avoid going down to street level), which leads on to the Bang-Na to Chonburi elevated motorway. (longest elevated road in the world apparently). That ends at the Chon Buri bypass, at which point you'll be out of the flooding...

And if the flooding never gets so bad that you have to leave, you've just got to go and get a taxi to go pick up your car...

Edited October 29, 2011 by bkk_mike

[TAWP]

If you park your cars on the expressway, please don't put it in gear so we can push it off the on-ramp or the tow-truck easily can drag it away. Thanks.