Plodprasop: Bangkok Residents Should Pack And Flee If Floodwaters Reach Ayutthaya's Wang Noi

[metisdead]

An off topic post and reply have been removed.

[Moruya]

There must be some amusing and appropriate anagrams of Plodprasop's name.

[rubl]

"Fujitsu tempts Europe to splash cash on waterproof mobes

Hopes quirky phones and slabs will swim rather than sink"

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/02/20/fujitsu_to_launch_phones_tablets_eu/

Maybe a good idea for a marketing campaign in Thailand

[whybother]

"Fujitsu tempts Europe to splash cash on waterproof mobes

Hopes quirky phones and slabs will swim rather than sink"

http://www.theregist...nes_tablets_eu/

Maybe a good idea for a marketing campaign in Thailand

A waterproof phone would be great just for Songkran, let alone any floods.

[ResX]

I think I know what was going here. Somebody went to one of the water resources conferences. One of the papers presented was about dam break study. He picked up the new terminology which is called Probable Maximum Flood (PMF). For this nature of dam break analysis researchers always use PMF as one of the dam break scenarios to be studied. PMF for Chao Pharaya based on my estimate is about 60billion cubic meters of waters that fall in less than 14 days.

The bad news is that PMF is possible to happen. Good news is it is less probable. The odd is smaller than 1/10,000.

My suggestion about PMF is that don't be scared by it more than anybody else in the world. It is not a bad idea to get the nation to be prepared to deal with it. Especially true if the nation has at least one major dam. Obviously, it shall not be done the way that the minister was trying to do.

[khunken]

It shouldn't be forgotten that, prior to his animal torturing at the Chiang Mai Night Safari, Mr Plod was in charge of the forestry dept & responsible for launching attacks on hill-tribe people living in the forests for generations. The hill-tribe people protected the forests from logging which didn't sit well with the corrupt forestry officials (still happening unfortunately).

He has a record of brutality to both animals & people who stand in his way. Wonder if that's why he's such a mate of Thaksin.

[MEL1]

Haha, you guys sound like a bunch of grumpy ole men. Be positive and be happy. Dude didn't say leave yet. He said if x happens and be prepared. Sometimes that all you can do.

Floods suck for sure and sometimes there us nothing you can do to completely alleviate the possibility, especially if, and as someone mentioned, 30 percent of Thailand us in a flood plane. If true then what do you expect?

I don't know what type of clown this guy is or even if he is one but providing people a time when and if they should be concerned and what to do at that point sounds like a very reasonable thing to do. He didn't say to run away or flee as the headline indicates but clearly says to be prepared in the event water reaches a certain point and an intelligent person may see that as being a warning that if floods reach that level then the next move "may" be the need to evacuate but obviously that will have to be determined based on numerous other factors if the water reaches the defined location.

These types of warnings are common in the US when dealing with severe weather or floods, such as; "If the storm begins to move to the north, residents are urged to be prepared to evacuate low lying areas ...."

Me thinks you also miss an important point though. This is addressed to the people of BKK, isn't it?

What about the people of Ayutthaya? Is he saying, 'Sod you, there is little we can do for YOU?'

Watch out for the Wang Noi flood, and then prepare, IS EFFECTIVELY what he is saying.

Korat and Saraburi will be fine, but Chao Praya will overspill past Saraburi and into Ayutthaya. What about the people there?

Is this all still seriously to only help BKK? If so, then I say poor show! No plans for those people, nor the factory units just recompleted and rebuilt.

I understand the 'no panic' mode of your writing, but if the dams are outing water, as they currently are and will be for quite some time, what happens when the monsoons hit, during those releases, to places like Ayutthaya, Phatum and Don Muang? Same again?

Is it all 'save BKK only, again', and sod anybody who is living slightly north of BKK?

Can the residents of Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi, Phatumtani and Don Muang down to Lak-si be expected to evacuate again also? That's 20 million on the move. Logistics in this country would be nigh impossible to cope with this situation, not to mention losses of income and inability to supply food and water!

So, in actuality, it isn't a case of forwarning for all, but a forwarn for BKK kondio! That, in my opinion, is very very sad; and demonstrates exactly how ill-prepared any thoretically thought out plans really are, if there have been any from the morons at the top!

-mel.

[maidu]

Was he wearing his Ronald McDonald costume when he made that announcement?

Perhaps Thai authorities could invent a hat which has a plumb bubble hanging under its front visor - so the people running from rising water can get an idea where 'higher ground' might be. Actually, there is scant 'higher ground' anywhere near Ayuttaya or Bangkok.

Seriously, can anyone explain how this complete arse got to be the Science Minister?

Well, if he was educated within the Thai school system, it's doubtful there was much real science in the curriculum. Conversely, he probably learned a lot about ghosts and palm reading, as all Thais are well versed in the science of hocus pocus.

[maidu]

Right now there are fortune tellers scaring the population with predictions of 5 to 7 metre floods next year, any chance of putting a gag on these people?

Why do that when they are probably more accurate than the pricks who are running the country right now?

Being lauded for predicting floods in Bangkok is about as commendable as being lauded for predicting earthquakes in California or frigid winters in Moscow. It happens every year, so do the fortune tellers bolster their reputation for announcing the obvious? Actually, although the Bkk region floods each year, extreme floods occur about every 5 years. However, because of the immense investment in the mid-Thai region (resulting in millions of rai covered with cement and asphalt, among other harm), floods were 'worst ever' last year - and will get ever worse in ensuing years. No amount of trillions of baht, nor billions of cubic meters of concrete will stop mother nature and gravity from doing what they do.

[Nisa]

Haha, you guys sound like a bunch of grumpy ole men. Be positive and be happy. Dude didn't say leave yet. He said if x happens and be prepared. Sometimes that all you can do.

Floods suck for sure and sometimes there us nothing you can do to completely alleviate the possibility, especially if, and as someone mentioned, 30 percent of Thailand us in a flood plane. If true then what do you expect?

I don't know what type of clown this guy is or even if he is one but providing people a time when and if they should be concerned and what to do at that point sounds like a very reasonable thing to do. He didn't say to run away or flee as the headline indicates but clearly says to be prepared in the event water reaches a certain point and an intelligent person may see that as being a warning that if floods reach that level then the next move "may" be the need to evacuate but obviously that will have to be determined based on numerous other factors if the water reaches the defined location.

These types of warnings are common in the US when dealing with severe weather or floods, such as; "If the storm begins to move to the north, residents are urged to be prepared to evacuate low lying areas ...."

What about the people of Ayutthaya? Is he saying, 'Sod you, there is little we can do for YOU?'

I didn't read that in either news piece or anything close to that. I also didn't see anything that said this was the nations flood plan and thing being considered. What I read was the news choosing one comment to report.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

http://www.thaivisa....ok-flood-panic/

BANGKOK, October 14, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's premier moved Friday to reassure Bangkok's 12 million residents over a looming flood crisis, after one of her ministers briefly sparked panic with an evacuation warning. Science minister Plodprasop Suraswadi rushed out of a flood briefing late Thursday to say that several areas in Bangkok's northern suburbs were at risk of being submerged by up to one meter (3.3 feet) of water after a dyke burst. But the authorities quickly backtracked, causing confusion among residents who have been braced for floodwaters to reach the capital after causing havoc across northern and central Thailand, leaving at least 289 people dead.

Of course, the guy clearly is a boob... boats on the Chao Phraya river and all that.

But in the case you quote above, before all was said and done, I believe the area he was warning about in that instance did end up getting flooded...along with pretty much elsewhere else except the center of Bangkok...

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On behalf of the prime minister, who was away in Malaysia on an official visit, he said the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM) study said the third factor was runoff travelling past Chaiyanat with an unspecified excess volume.

Has anyone else noticed that the pronunciation of the abovementioned group pretty much would be said as "SQUIRM"?

I hope we're all not going to be doing a lot of "squirming" again this flood season...

[blows]

[bangkok Residents Should Pack]

They should never have unpacked.

[rubl]

On behalf of the prime minister, who was away in Malaysia on an official visit, he said the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM) study said the third factor was runoff travelling past Chaiyanat with an unspecified excess volume.

Has anyone else noticed that the pronunciation of the abovementioned group pretty much would be said as "SQUIRM"?

I hope we're all not going to be doing a lot of "squirming" again this flood season...

Myself I tend to write SCRWM for some reason, must be my particular sense of humour

(Strategic Committee for Resourceful Water Management)

Edited February 21, 2012 by rubl

[TAWP]

On behalf of the prime minister, who was away in Malaysia on an official visit, he said the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM) study said the third factor was runoff travelling past Chaiyanat with an unspecified excess volume.

Has anyone else noticed that the pronunciation of the abovementioned group pretty much would be said as "SQUIRM"?

I hope we're all not going to be doing a lot of "squirming" again this flood season...

They wanted us to FROC off, and now we can only sit and SCWRM when they tell us about their new plans...

[ttelise]

Haha, you guys sound like a bunch of grumpy ole men. Be positive and be happy. Dude didn't say leave yet. He said if x happens and be prepared. Sometimes that all you can do.

Floods suck for sure and sometimes there us nothing you can do to completely alleviate the possibility, especially if, and as someone mentioned, 30 percent of Thailand us in a flood plane. If true then what do you expect?

I don't know what type of clown this guy is or even if he is one but providing people a time when and if they should be concerned and what to do at that point sounds like a very reasonable thing to do. He didn't say to run away or flee as the headline indicates but clearly says to be prepared in the event water reaches a certain point and an intelligent person may see that as being a warning that if floods reach that level then the next move "may" be the need to evacuate but obviously that will have to be determined based on numerous other factors if the water reaches the defined location.

These types of warnings are common in the US when dealing with severe weather or floods, such as; "If the storm begins to move to the north, residents are urged to be prepared to evacuate low lying areas ...."

Me thinks you also miss an important point though. This is addressed to the people of BKK, isn't it?

What about the people of Ayutthaya? Is he saying, 'Sod you, there is little we can do for YOU?'

Watch out for the Wang Noi flood, and then prepare, IS EFFECTIVELY what he is saying.

Korat and Saraburi will be fine, but Chao Praya will overspill past Saraburi and into Ayutthaya. What about the people there?

Is this all still seriously to only help BKK? If so, then I say poor show! No plans for those people, nor the factory units just recompleted and rebuilt.

I understand the 'no panic' mode of your writing, but if the dams are outing water, as they currently are and will be for quite some time, what happens when the monsoons hit, during those releases, to places like Ayutthaya, Phatum and Don Muang? Same again?

Is it all 'save BKK only, again', and sod anybody who is living slightly north of BKK?

Can the residents of Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi, Phatumtani and Don Muang down to Lak-si be expected to evacuate again also? That's 20 million on the move. Logistics in this country would be nigh impossible to cope with this situation, not to mention losses of income and inability to supply food and water!

So, in actuality, it isn't a case of forwarning for all, but a forwarn for BKK kondio! That, in my opinion, is very very sad; and demonstrates exactly how ill-prepared any thoretically thought out plans really are, if there have been any from the morons at the top!

-mel.

Some people will never be happy. The article was geared toward Bkk. Perhaps they have other warnings issued directly to each community or would gave dine so in the future, but for people like you who are never satisfied and take issue with anything said that doesn't perfect coincide with how you/they felt it should be said.

Including warnings for all regions in warning issued to Bkk would be counterproductive. The warning would be so long manyay not read or not take sufficient heed.

The interesting thing is that it seems some just camp out here to complain and spew their negative attitude through nitpicking every article. I guess that is the entertainment value of the news section, but what a miserable lot. Why leave your own country to habitat in a country that gets under skin to such a degree. Maybe it's not the countries. Every where you go, there you are.

[KKK]

Quite so.

Flee means to run away, while evacuate has more to do with soiling your jocks when some panic-merchant shouts "Flood! Flood! Flood!"

This guy may be a doofus but it doesn't help the news or translator chose to use the word "flee" instead of "evacuate" or that they headline reads he is advising people to flee but the story says he is advising them to prepare if the water hits a certain point.

My god, that is splitting hairs to the nTh degree, flee or evacuate, what is the difference?

I'll tell you what the difference is......... none.

And this is the pinnacle of leadership here, rue the day that more than 50% of the population come to realise that they are being lead by a bunch of mindless jerks in suits.... it can't come too soon for me.

Flee was probably used as it is very common in Thailand....Just how many times have you read the headline ... "and the ... fled the scene"

[maidu]

Rather than advising Bangkok region residents to flee when water gets too high, how about advising residents move to higher ground - permanently.

Here's a comparison: Suppose you boarded dogs. Each year their kennels flooded. Every 5 years or so their kennels were submerged. Would you suggest they be moved to higher ground for several months each year, or would you instead establish their dog pound on higher ground?

[Thaddeus]

Is it all 'save BKK only, again', and sod anybody who is living slightly north of BKK?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXmYNbcaaaU

[Reasonableman]

http://www.thaivisa....ok-flood-panic/

BANGKOK, October 14, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's premier moved Friday to reassure Bangkok's 12 million residents over a looming flood crisis, after one of her ministers briefly sparked panic with an evacuation warning. Science minister Plodprasop Suraswadi rushed out of a flood briefing late Thursday to say that several areas in Bangkok's northern suburbs were at risk of being submerged by up to one meter (3.3 feet) of water after a dyke burst. But the authorities quickly backtracked, causing confusion among residents who have been braced for floodwaters to reach the capital after causing havoc across northern and central Thailand, leaving at least 289 people dead.

Of course, the guy clearly is a boob... boats on the Chao Phraya river and all that.

But in the case you quote above, before all was said and done, I believe the area he was warning about in that instance did end up getting flooded...along with pretty much elsewhere else except the center of Bangkok...

So it was a pretty good bet he would eventually be right. Maybe the issuing of warnings (flee, evacuate, buy water wings) is about timeliness and not causing unnecessary panic, as well.

[Reasonableman]

Rather than advising Bangkok region residents to flee when water gets too high, how about advising residents move to higher ground - permanently.

Here's a comparison: Suppose you boarded dogs. Each year their kennels flooded. Every 5 years or so their kennels were submerged. Would you suggest they be moved to higher ground for several months each year, or would you instead establish their dog pound on higher ground?

In this case the "dogs" have to find and buy their own new pound, with all the associated services, commercial, recreational, health, government, financial, employment, etc., a huge, probably insurmountable, challenge for your average dog.

[oops]

For a society so concerned with saving face, the best thing the government could do now is to put a gag on Plodprasop. One minute the government is tell Japanese investors that things are under control, and that it will never flood again, then the next minute they are telling Bangkok residents to get ready to flee. And it is not even rainy season yet...... This simply has to be the wackiest government ever. The only purpose it seems to have is to amuse farangs...

I'm amused aren't you? When I heard about the boats being used to push water down stream....I laughed so hard I almost @#$% my pants. Because we would have much better results by putting floating vest on farting cows..

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Myself I tend to write SCRWM for some reason, must be my particular sense of humour

(Strategic Committee for Resourceful Water Management)

Otherwise pronounced as "Screw em"???

[CockneyGit]

I'm confused. This is all relating to a statement given in October 2011..??

That's 4 months ago..!!

[Nisa]

Rather than advising Bangkok region residents to flee when water gets too high, how about advising residents move to higher ground - permanently.

Here's a comparison: Suppose you boarded dogs. Each year their kennels flooded. Every 5 years or so their kennels were submerged. Would you suggest they be moved to higher ground for several months each year, or would you instead establish their dog pound on higher ground?

Move to higher ground? Abandon Bangkok and much of Thailand for a number of months throughout the year?

[Orac]

I'm confused. This is all relating to a statement given in October 2011..??

That's 4 months ago..!!

Nope it relates to a statement to senators earlier in the week which The Nation took a very small part of and sensationalised as per the openning post.

Post #72 gives a better explanation of what took place, also from The Nation, but the 'other paper' has a far less inflamatory version.

[blows]

Put all of Bangkok on pontoons, problem solved.

[Joeb]

Somehow unsaid seems what happened with the millions of people living North of the Wang Noi marker?

That one is easy. "So it's time for us to win back Bangkokians' hearts," Thaksin was quoted as saying.

[Tanaka]

Seriously, can anyone explain how this complete arse got to be the Science Minister?

Ask one of the Shinawatra aces.

[Tanaka]

I wish he would make his mind up - the other paper quoted him six days ago saying that Bangkok wouldn't flood this year.

Well he said that last year too, remember?