Future Flood Threats

[PaddyBKK]

I expect that If a similar flooding threat should occur in the coming years, the people upcountry and northern Bangkok, who have been most affected in the last few months will not make it so easy for inner Bangkok.

I did comment in an earlier "daily flood update" thread that it was probably better to let the water take its natural course rather than dam it.

This in the hope that by allowing the water to flow freely, the industrial estates (and the thousands made idle) would be able to get back to work sooner.

How much more has been lost by prolonging the situation & keeping the industrial estates & fields flooded ?

In that thread, I also questioned what production in Bangkok would be affected if it were flooded.

I understand that during the Bangkok riots, some companies were able to continue full operations. This was possible as they employed "cloud computing" & they availed of the internet to ensure no business interruption. I imagine that most major financial companies in the CBD area would be familiar with risk assessment & would be prepared with options in the event that they cannot access their offices.

However you can't produce Hondas from home or grow rice over the internet.

The people with smaller business along the banks of the Chao Phrya (Chinatown) were flooded this year and they are mostly accustomed to it. It is not unusual to flood in these areas when high tides coincide with runoff during the rainy season. (The same goes for Khlong Toey port area which regualrly floods during high tide in monsoon season)

So - hopefully having realised the economic damage caused by keeping the estates flooded, will the government handle future flood threats differently ?

Inner city Bangkokians might bear the above in mind for future reference

Paddybkk

[theblether]

Inner city Bangkokians couldn't care less, in fact you'll find a few BKK based Thaivisa members who are quite delighted that the rest of the country has been made to suffer while they stay dry. BKK will take an " I'm alright Jack " attitude to all this until there is a mass exodus of manufacturing companies from Thailand.

Money Number 1.

You'll notice that the only real effective flood defence's were the ones protecting the Japanese technology parks within the city limits. Even Yingluck knew that it would be an economic disaster for the country if she couldn't protect them.

[Kimera]

There will be NO more future flooding in Bangkok the Thai. goverment trade delegation to Japan have promised this ok...so stop worrying

[PaddyBKK]

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[JurgenG]

It's the worst flood in more than 50 years. Myself I've been in Thailand for almost 20 years, I've never seen something like that before.

You can't plan for major disaster, like a tsunami or Katrina in New Orleans. Even my friends who were planning to spend Christmas in south of France were talking to me of major flooding there. We are not talking of Bengladesh or some remote place in China, but south of France. Who will expect flooding in south of France ?

Of course you can have Abhisit in charge. When Abhisit pees against the wind, the wind changes direction.

It's something for the The Nation next editorial. Where can you print that but in The Nation ?

[theblether]

That's a lot of money, so much that I don't believe it to be honest with you. The GDP of Thailand is only around 15 trillion baht I believe, I can't see 10% of the economic output being lost during the flood. However!! Even if it was true, on the physical act of Japanese companies amongst others re-locating will actually get some attention.

I take no pleasure from this, I love Thailand and I want to see it do well. I hope they get their act together.

[theblether]

It's the worst flood in more than 50 years. Myself I've been in Thailand for almost 20 years, I've never seen something like that before.

You can't plan for major disaster, like a tsunami or Katrina in New Orleans. Even my friends who were planning to spend Christmas in south of France were talking to me of major flooding there. We are not talking of Bengladesh or some remote place in China, but south of France. Who will expect flooding in south of France ?

Of course you can have Abhisit in charge. When Abhisit pees against the wind, the wind changes direction.

It's something for the The Nation next editorial. Where can you print that but in The Nation ?

Yes it was exceptional, but their was plenty of warning of the disaster coming down the line from the North and the government twiddled it's thumbs for too long. Once the rainfalls had got to critical levels the government should have started work ensuring that the BKK canal systems were dredged and fit for purpose.

It starts in the North but it always ends up in BKK.

[JurgenG]

^ What is the time line ?

The new government won early July but wasn't confirm before August, a critical delay, especially knowing there were continual talk of a repeat of the previous elections when the party that won wasn't allow to govern.

Some people repeatedly blocked the normal functioning of the government, and still try to do it. IMO, there was nothing to be done to avoid the consequences of "one of a century" flood, but some people, by repeatedly blocking the normal working of the administration just make matter worse and should be deal with as soon as possible.

[theblether]

I think this subject has been done to death, your reference to the administration is telling though........governments come and go but the administrators are always there. It was the administrators who are ultimately responsible for not ensuring that the flood prevention measures were maintained.

If you think that the Thais were on top of their game during the pre-flood period I think you will find you are in a minority of one.

[JurgenG]

I think this subject has been done to death, your reference to the administration is telling though........governments come and go but the administrators are always there. It was the administrators who are ultimately responsible for not ensuring that the flood prevention measures were maintained.

If you think that the Thais were on top of their game during the pre-flood period I think you will find you are in a minority of one.

http://en.wikipedia....ki/Yes_Minister

[PaddyBKK]

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sorry about that - won't do it again

I read in another newspaper (not the one referred to above) that Annette Dixon (Thailand country director for the World bank) estimated that 45 billion USD in flood damage will cut Thailands economic growth by 2.4%.

[Heng]

Those who can afford it will certainly be building better flood protection and in many cases higher built homes. Developers will continue to do what they are doing only on 10-20 meters more of fill, with more backup water and electricity generation capacity. The 'pantry' will be a standard room in new homes.

[PaddyBKK]

Those who can afford it will certainly be building better flood protection and in many cases higher built homes. Developers will continue to do what they are doing only on 10-20 meters more of fill, with more backup water and electricity generation capacity. The 'pantry' will be a standard room in new homes.

What I'd like is a traditional Thai house design - include a raised area for the car (and a small boat for beer runs) with a diesel generator.

Throw in a few pet crocidiles for security and Bob's your uncle

[hedonist44]

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Common knowledge to most.

[Heng]

Those who can afford it will certainly be building better flood protection and in many cases higher built homes. Developers will continue to do what they are doing only on 10-20 meters more of fill, with more backup water and electricity generation capacity. The 'pantry' will be a standard room in new homes.

What I'd like is a traditional Thai house design - include a raised area for the car (and a small boat for beer runs) with a diesel generator.

Throw in a few pet crocidiles for security and Bob's your uncle

I suggested this to a developer friend of mine as well. Take that practical old school design and combine with a more modern feel... and of course slap on a 2-3 million Baht margin per unit.

[theblether]

I think this subject has been done to death, your reference to the administration is telling though........governments come and go but the administrators are always there. It was the administrators who are ultimately responsible for not ensuring that the flood prevention measures were maintained.

If you think that the Thais were on top of their game during the pre-flood period I think you will find you are in a minority of one.

http://en.wikipedia....ki/Yes_Minister

I'm Scottish, I'm fully aware of that excellent programme. Maybe you missed the joke? The politicians think they are in charge, the cabinet secretary knows that he is the real power. That proves my point........the political faces change, it's the administrators that run the country.

[bendejo]

There have been articles about how Bangkok will be submerged "in the future" going back decades.

Try google advanced search using the date option.

This is not a sudden disaster like Katrina or the more usual flash floods, this was predictable in July. In the years since I've been here there have close calls every September/October. This time it was for real. If it is even nearly as bad as this next year the international manufacturers (hi-tech components, cars, etc) will be pulling up stakes.

[DtemJai]

There have been articles about how Bangkok will be submerged "in the future" going back decades.

Try google advanced search using the date option.

This is not a sudden disaster like Katrina or the more usual flash floods, this was predictable in July. In the years since I've been here there have close calls every September/October. This time it was for real. If it is even nearly as bad as this next year the international manufacturers (hi-tech components, cars, etc) will be pulling up stakes.

From USGS.Gov paper:

You haven’t seen anything yet:

Global sea level was about 125 meters below today’s sea level at the last glacial maximum about 20,000 years ago. Sea levels during several previous interglacials were about 3 to as much as 20 meters higher than current sea level. Ughh............if Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets melts, we could lead to a sea-level rise of about 80 meters. Good Luck in Bangkok !!!

[PaddyBKK]

Inner city Bangkokians couldn't care less, in fact you'll find a few BKK based Thaivisa members who are quite delighted that the rest of the country has been made to suffer while they stay dry. BKK will take an " I'm alright Jack " attitude to all this until there is a mass exodus of manufacturing companies from Thailand.

Money Number 1.

You'll notice that the only real effective flood defence's were the ones protecting the Japanese technology parks within the city limits. Even Yingluck knew that it would be an economic disaster for the country if she couldn't protect them.

getting back to the topic

I read today of the huge household debt & unemployment caused by this years flooding & again the estimates of damage to the economy

it's already an economic disaster. A lot of which surely could have been avoided

again, I reiterate, I don't think that those that are now affected will forget what they have been put through to "save Bangkok"

inner city bangkokians take note

bkkpaddy