Thai Govt Well Prepared For Earthquakes, Urges Public Not To Panic

[webfact]

Government well prepared for earthquakes, urges public not to panic

BANGKOK, April 21 - In the aftermath of major quakes last week which struck Indonesia and recent minor quakes centered at Thailand's southern resort island of Phuket, Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Vichaidit on Saturday affirmed that the Thai government is well prepared to handle earthquakes with clear emergency plans.

The deputy premier gave assurances as he stood in for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, currently on an official trip to Japan on the premier's weekly televised programme "Yingluck Government Meets the People."

The director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Wiboon Sanguanpong and National Disaster Warning Centre director Group Capt Somsak Khaosuwan also appeared on the programme.

Mr Yongyuth, also the Interior Minister, said the government has closely monitored the tremors in Phuket and is well prepared for the situation.

The interior ministry always coordinates with provincial and local authorities to ensure safety and release information to the public to clearly understand the situation, according to Mr Yongyuth.

Mr Yongyuth reaffirmed that the government had clear plans for disseminating information and evacuation plans, adding that the government is familiar with these circumstances such as with last year's flood situation.

National Disaster Warning Centre head Group Capt Somsak on Saturday urged the public not to panic over minor quakes in Phuket as they are a common occurence.

He explained that the series of earthquake in Phuket were minor and medium tremors compared to other countries like Japan, New Zealand and Chile which have faced major quakes.

The recent quakes in Phuket, unlike the 2004 earthquake and tsunami, did not cause damages but the tremor could be felt, said the centre head, adding that minor quakes were a good phenomenon as they helped ease tectonic pressure and reduced the possibility of major quakes.

Group Capt Somsak reasserted Thailand's early warning system is considered one of the best in the Southeast Asian region and second after only Japan in Asia.

He said it takes only two minutes to analyse a given situation and a warning could be immediately issued to the public.

Phuket Governor Tri Akharadecha earlier said aftershocks on the resort island of Phuket were forecasted to last for about another week after a 4.3-magnitude earthquake with the epicenter in Si Sunthon sub-district of Thalang district occurred last Sunday (April 15), followed by more than 50 minor tremors prompting fears among local residents and foreign tourists.

He urged the public to be calm amid the ongoing series of mild tremors, and gave assurances that the authorities are ready to assist the public immediately if a strong earthquake were to hit the province. (MCOT online news)

-- Tan Network 2012-04-21

[whybother]

Are they going to publish their "clear" emergency plans so people know what to do?

[Insight]

Is it possible the first nine words could be dropped from this headline?

More accurate, and would look very apt next to that photo.

I guess now I had better read the article.

[Honkytowner]

Of course the government is well prepared. They've all got their overseas properties and open-date plane tickets stashed away in preparation.

[indothai]

I laughed so hard I believe a little pee came out. Yup! I peed my pants! Comical.

[dksharron]

They were equally prepared for the floods as well.

[remobb]

Government well prepared for earthquakes, urges public not to panic

Excellent!

Now how about the public?

Edited April 21, 2012 by metisdead
Bold font removed.

[bangkokrick]

Is it April fools day again, what with this and the Songkran anti road fatality campaign success?

[Lite Beer]

National Disaster Warning Center: Slim chance of major quake in Thailand

BANGKOK, 21 April 2012 (NNT) – The National Disaster Warning Center has affirmed that there is a slim chance for Thailand to experience a major earthquake while assuring that the country's warning system is of high efficiency.

During this week's “Yingluck Government Meets the People” program, National Disaster Warning Center director, Group Captain Somsak Khaosuwan said that the public should not panic over recent earthquake and aftershocks in the South of Thailand, as the chance of major tremors in the country is very small.

Mr. Somsak added that experts have also estimated that the largest quake that can occur in Thailand will not measure at more than 6.0 magnitude on the Richter scale.

He also stated that regular, but small quakes can do good to the country as the accumulated seismic energy underground is gradually released. They also help assure that the warning systems Thailand has installed are of high efficiency and work as planned.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyoot Wichaidit asserted that the government has always been prepared to cope with any disaster even though the possibility of a major earthquake in Thailand is not big.

He also affirmed that Phuket will not go under water on April 27th-28th as rumors have suggested while asking the public to keep monitoring news from the government for more accurate updates.

-- NNT 2012-04-21

[how241]

Are they going to publish their "clear" emergency plans so people know what to do?

No need. I believe them. Keep the faith.

[justaphase]

"The largest will not measure more than 6 on the Richter scale."

Ok. Are these the same experts who said Bangkok won't flood much?

[Robroy]

>>>Government well prepared for earthquakes, urges public not to panic

Panic.

[KKvampire]

"well prepared" is surely not in the Thai vocabulary. Article full of such nonsense , where to start

[Bluespunk]

Is this the same guy who said that the zero songkran death campaign was a success? If so I am now very worried. This guys idea of success and safety are very different to mine!

[TomTao]

When a goverment says 'don't panic, we are well prepared', is that the time you start to panic?

[JohnAllan]

I'm far from sure whether Yongyuth is simply the government's clown jester, or its fall guy. This is excerbated by the fact that this clown jester is still clinging on to his jester's cap with no sign yet of his mouth becoming a victim of his foot.

[DNPBC0]

Minor earthquakes frequently precede major ones and to talk of the recent handful of small quakes being a good sign because they relieve tectonic pressure borders on the bizarre. The earthquake magnitude scale is logarithmic. This means, for example, that to release the energy of a magnitude 6 earthquake there would need to be 1000 magnitude 4 or 32,000 magnitude 3 smaller earthquakes.

The painful ignorance of the Director of the National Disaster Warning Centre comes as no surprise, but his failure to have his stupid statements checked by one of his team of scientists tells us that he is also dangerously arrogant.

[Soutpeel]

"Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyoot Wichaidit asserted that the government has always been prepared to cope with any disaster"

Yes...very well prepared, this was proven during their superb response during the recent floods...

Be afraid..be very afraid

[JohnAllan]

Quote: "He also affirmed that Phuket will not go under water on April 27th-28th as rumors have suggested while asking the public to keep monitoring news from the government for more accurate updates."

Conceivably more accurate than superstitious predictions. Beyond that, we are reliant on the pronouncements of a government whose members have raised superstition to a whole new level.

Edited April 21, 2012 by JohnAllan

[arrowsdawdle]

If they want the public to remain calm, it might help to resort to facts and dispense with fiction. This whole piece is an example of feeding masses misinformation; talking down to the people as though they were uneducated and gullible, for short term gain that long term facts prove fallacious. This causes loss of credibility, loss of confidence.

Perhaps, the most egregious misinformation is the comment that the small quakes are a good thing because they release energy and reduce the possibility of a major quake. Experts would classify this as pure fiction. Sometimes there are foreshocks preceeding a devastating quake, as well as aftershocks. Sometimes volcanic eruption which is independent of plate slippage tension causes quakes. Regardless of whether it is plate pulling tension, plate compression squeezing, or lateral strike-slip, the occurance is no indication that major quake activity has been postponed.

He said it only takes two minutes to analyse a situation and a response could immediately be given to the public. How?

First of all, in two minutes most quakes are over and the damage is done. The 1994 Northridge quake in LA happened at 4:30a.m. and no analsys was even possible to begin in earnest until daylight and it was hours later before the facts became known. This is in the most advanced first world, earthquake prepared city in the world. Streets often become impassable. Power and water utilities can become compromised in the short term. Telephone service and broadcast communications can often be impaired in the short term.

This kind of comment above leads to false security and increases panic during the real deal when peoples' faith is unfulfilled and their reliance on authorities to save them proves to be misplaced. Over-promising and under-delivering is questionable disaster preparedness strategy.

He talks about early warning systems and evacuation plans. This may work for tsunamis and hurricanes, but earthquake alerts, such as laser plate migration monitoring are measured in seconds or tens of seconds; hardly enough time to evacuate. Evacuations are to get people out of the way of impending danger as in hurricanes or tsunamis. How do you evacuate people from the ground shaking when there is no realistic advance warning?

He talks about being prepared. Why have there been no media reports preparing people for what to do in a quake?

• nothing about installing structure occupancy monitors that SMS first responders to eliminate search time;
  
• nothing about securing heavy furniture and objects from toppling during a quake;
  
• nothing about adding additional bracing over your sleeping area;
  
• nothing about drop, cover, and hold procedures during a quake;
  
• nothing about never run out of a building during a quake;
  
• nothing about where to take cover in marginally reinforced no building code structures;
  
• nothing about knowing how to shut off gas, electricity, and water;
  
• nothing about what to do when driving and a quake hits;
  
• nothing about survival kits;
  
• nothing about rendezvous plans for families and companies;
  
• nothing about trained survivor and cadaver sniffing dogs to aid rescue efforts;
  
• and so much more.
  

He compares quake preparedness with floods and chooses to reassure people saying that they will be protected from quakes like they were from the floods. Not sure which people he is trying to reassure but people in Phuket may be satisfied that the government protected them from floods and that they should be confident based on the flood preparedness and how well the floods were handled.

Perhaps, there may be some cultural reasons for such empty reassurances (never mind factual inaccuracies) that put the general population off guard and at greater risk.

[h90]

Are they going to publish their "clear" emergency plans so people know what to do?

Emergency plan of the government:

----> The same as with the floods.

[anterian]

If they want the public to remain calm, it might help to resort to facts and dispense with fiction. This whole piece is an example of feeding masses misinformation; talking down to the people as though they were uneducated and gullible, for short term gain that long term facts prove fallacious. This causes loss of credibility, loss of confidence.

Perhaps, the most egregious misinformation is the comment that the small quakes are a good thing because they release energy and reduce the possibility of a major quake. Experts would classify this as pure fiction. Sometimes there are foreshocks preceeding a devastating quake, as well as aftershocks. Sometimes volcanic eruption which is independent of plate slippage tension causes quakes. Regardless of whether it is plate pulling tension, plate compression squeezing, or lateral strike-slip, the occurance is no indication that major quake activity has been postponed.

He said it only takes two minutes to analyse a situation and a response could immediately be given to the public. How?

First of all, in two minutes most quakes are over and the damage is done. The 1994 Northridge quake in LA happened at 4:30a.m. and no analsys was even possible to begin in earnest until daylight and it was hours later before the facts became known. This is in the most advanced first world, earthquake prepared city in the world. Streets often become impassable. Power and water utilities can become compromised in the short term. Telephone service and broadcast communications can often be impaired in the short term.

This kind of comment above leads to false security and increases panic during the real deal when peoples' faith is unfulfilled and their reliance on authorities to save them proves to be misplaced. Over-promising and under-delivering is questionable disaster preparedness strategy.

He talks about early warning systems and evacuation plans. This may work for tsunamis and hurricanes, but earthquake alerts, such as laser plate migration monitoring are measured in seconds or tens of seconds; hardly enough time to evacuate. Evacuations are to get people out of the way of impending danger as in hurricanes or tsunamis. How do you evacuate people from the ground shaking when there is no realistic advance warning?

He talks about being prepared. Why have there been no media reports preparing people for what to do in a quake?

• nothing about installing structure occupancy monitors that SMS first responders to eliminate search time;
  
• nothing about securing heavy furniture and objects from toppling during a quake;
  
• nothing about adding additional bracing over your sleeping area;
  
• nothing about drop, cover, and hold procedures during a quake;
  
• nothing about never run out of a building during a quake;
  
• nothing about where to take cover in marginally reinforced no building code structures;
  
• nothing about knowing how to shut off gas, electricity, and water;
  
• nothing about what to do when driving and a quake hits;
  
• nothing about survival kits;
  
• nothing about rendezvous plans for families and companies;
  
• nothing about trained survivor and cadaver sniffing dogs to aid rescue efforts;
  
• and so much more.
  

He compares quake preparedness with floods and chooses to reassure people saying that they will be protected from quakes like they were from the floods. Not sure which people he is trying to reassure but people in Phuket may be satisfied that the government protected them from floods and that they should be confident based on the flood preparedness and how well the floods were handled.

Perhaps, there may be some cultural reasons for such empty reassurances (never mind factual inaccuracies) that put the general population off guard and at greater risk.

Someone's been reading the manual

[arrowsdawdle]

If they want the public to remain calm, it might help to resort to facts and dispense with fiction. This whole piece is an example of feeding masses misinformation; talking down to the people as though they were uneducated and gullible, for short term gain that long term facts prove fallacious. This causes loss of credibility, loss of confidence.

Perhaps, the most egregious misinformation is the comment that the small quakes are a good thing because they release energy and reduce the possibility of a major quake. Experts would classify this as pure fiction. Sometimes there are foreshocks preceeding a devastating quake, as well as aftershocks. Sometimes volcanic eruption which is independent of plate slippage tension causes quakes. Regardless of whether it is plate pulling tension, plate compression squeezing, or lateral strike-slip, the occurance is no indication that major quake activity has been postponed.

He said it only takes two minutes to analyse a situation and a response could immediately be given to the public. How?

First of all, in two minutes most quakes are over and the damage is done. The 1994 Northridge quake in LA happened at 4:30a.m. and no analsys was even possible to begin in earnest until daylight and it was hours later before the facts became known. This is in the most advanced first world, earthquake prepared city in the world. Streets often become impassable. Power and water utilities can become compromised in the short term. Telephone service and broadcast communications can often be impaired in the short term.

This kind of comment above leads to false security and increases panic during the real deal when peoples' faith is unfulfilled and their reliance on authorities to save them proves to be misplaced. Over-promising and under-delivering is questionable disaster preparedness strategy.

He talks about early warning systems and evacuation plans. This may work for tsunamis and hurricanes, but earthquake alerts, such as laser plate migration monitoring are measured in seconds or tens of seconds; hardly enough time to evacuate. Evacuations are to get people out of the way of impending danger as in hurricanes or tsunamis. How do you evacuate people from the ground shaking when there is no realistic advance warning?

He talks about being prepared. Why have there been no media reports preparing people for what to do in a quake?

• nothing about installing structure occupancy monitors that SMS first responders to eliminate search time;
  
• nothing about securing heavy furniture and objects from toppling during a quake;
  
• nothing about adding additional bracing over your sleeping area;
  
• nothing about drop, cover, and hold procedures during a quake;
  
• nothing about never run out of a building during a quake;
  
• nothing about where to take cover in marginally reinforced no building code structures;
  
• nothing about knowing how to shut off gas, electricity, and water;
  
• nothing about what to do when driving and a quake hits;
  
• nothing about survival kits;
  
• nothing about rendezvous plans for families and companies;
  
• nothing about trained survivor and cadaver sniffing dogs to aid rescue efforts;
  
• and so much more.
  

He compares quake preparedness with floods and chooses to reassure people saying that they will be protected from quakes like they were from the floods. Not sure which people he is trying to reassure but people in Phuket may be satisfied that the government protected them from floods and that they should be confident based on the flood preparedness and how well the floods were handled.

Perhaps, there may be some cultural reasons for such empty reassurances (never mind factual inaccuracies) that put the general population off guard and at greater risk.

Someone's been reading the manual

Everbody that has lived anywhere near the San Andreas fault knows all these basics. Common knowledge. Media there regularly inform and educate and of course, living through that 1994 Northridge quake provided empirical knowledge.

Edited April 21, 2012 by arrowsdawdle

[pisico]

"well prepared" is surely not in the Thai vocabulary. Article full of such nonsense , where to start

You beat me to it!

May I humbly add more items not found in Thai vocabulary?

Maintenance.

Safety.

Abide by the laws (traffic, intellectual property, etc.)

Rational planing.

[David006]

If they want the public to remain calm, it might help to resort to facts and dispense with fiction. This whole piece is an example of feeding masses misinformation; talking down to the people as though they were uneducated and gullible, for short term gain that long term facts prove fallacious. This causes loss of credibility, loss of confidence.

Perhaps, the most egregious misinformation is the comment that the small quakes are a good thing because they release energy and reduce the possibility of a major quake. Experts would classify this as pure fiction. Sometimes there are foreshocks preceeding a devastating quake, as well as aftershocks. Sometimes volcanic eruption which is independent of plate slippage tension causes quakes. Regardless of whether it is plate pulling tension, plate compression squeezing, or lateral strike-slip, the occurance is no indication that major quake activity has been postponed.

He said it only takes two minutes to analyse a situation and a response could immediately be given to the public. How?

First of all, in two minutes most quakes are over and the damage is done. The 1994 Northridge quake in LA happened at 4:30a.m. and no analsys was even possible to begin in earnest until daylight and it was hours later before the facts became known. This is in the most advanced first world, earthquake prepared city in the world. Streets often become impassable. Power and water utilities can become compromised in the short term. Telephone service and broadcast communications can often be impaired in the short term.

This kind of comment above leads to false security and increases panic during the real deal when peoples' faith is unfulfilled and their reliance on authorities to save them proves to be misplaced. Over-promising and under-delivering is questionable disaster preparedness strategy.

He talks about early warning systems and evacuation plans. This may work for tsunamis and hurricanes, but earthquake alerts, such as laser plate migration monitoring are measured in seconds or tens of seconds; hardly enough time to evacuate. Evacuations are to get people out of the way of impending danger as in hurricanes or tsunamis. How do you evacuate people from the ground shaking when there is no realistic advance warning?

He talks about being prepared. Why have there been no media reports preparing people for what to do in a quake?

• nothing about installing structure occupancy monitors that SMS first responders to eliminate search time;
  
• nothing about securing heavy furniture and objects from toppling during a quake;
  
• nothing about adding additional bracing over your sleeping area;
  
• nothing about drop, cover, and hold procedures during a quake;
  
• nothing about never run out of a building during a quake;
  
• nothing about where to take cover in marginally reinforced no building code structures;
  
• nothing about knowing how to shut off gas, electricity, and water;
  
• nothing about what to do when driving and a quake hits;
  
• nothing about survival kits;
  
• nothing about rendezvous plans for families and companies;
  
• nothing about trained survivor and cadaver sniffing dogs to aid rescue efforts;
  
• and so much more.
  

He compares quake preparedness with floods and chooses to reassure people saying that they will be protected from quakes like they were from the floods. Not sure which people he is trying to reassure but people in Phuket may be satisfied that the government protected them from floods and that they should be confident based on the flood preparedness and how well the floods were handled.

Perhaps, there may be some cultural reasons for such empty reassurances (never mind factual inaccuracies) that put the general population off guard and at greater risk.

Someone's been reading the manual

why am I thinking Cuban missile crisis..."duck and cover" or maybe Monte Python..."run away, run away"!!......what a twerp!!

[voodoomagicman]

Now I am fxxxxing panicing. Iam Thai, I think, therefore I know everything. Make a big jelly and sit on it in case of earthquake.

[anterian]

If they want the public to remain calm, it might help to resort to facts and dispense with fiction. This whole piece is an example of feeding masses misinformation; talking down to the people as though they were uneducated and gullible, for short term gain that long term facts prove fallacious. This causes loss of credibility, loss of confidence.

Perhaps, the most egregious misinformation is the comment that the small quakes are a good thing because they release energy and reduce the possibility of a major quake. Experts would classify this as pure fiction. Sometimes there are foreshocks preceeding a devastating quake, as well as aftershocks. Sometimes volcanic eruption which is independent of plate slippage tension causes quakes. Regardless of whether it is plate pulling tension, plate compression squeezing, or lateral strike-slip, the occurance is no indication that major quake activity has been postponed.

He said it only takes two minutes to analyse a situation and a response could immediately be given to the public. How?

First of all, in two minutes most quakes are over and the damage is done. The 1994 Northridge quake in LA happened at 4:30a.m. and no analsys was even possible to begin in earnest until daylight and it was hours later before the facts became known. This is in the most advanced first world, earthquake prepared city in the world. Streets often become impassable. Power and water utilities can become compromised in the short term. Telephone service and broadcast communications can often be impaired in the short term.

This kind of comment above leads to false security and increases panic during the real deal when peoples' faith is unfulfilled and their reliance on authorities to save them proves to be misplaced. Over-promising and under-delivering is questionable disaster preparedness strategy.

He talks about early warning systems and evacuation plans. This may work for tsunamis and hurricanes, but earthquake alerts, such as laser plate migration monitoring are measured in seconds or tens of seconds; hardly enough time to evacuate. Evacuations are to get people out of the way of impending danger as in hurricanes or tsunamis. How do you evacuate people from the ground shaking when there is no realistic advance warning?

He talks about being prepared. Why have there been no media reports preparing people for what to do in a quake?

• nothing about installing structure occupancy monitors that SMS first responders to eliminate search time;
  
• nothing about securing heavy furniture and objects from toppling during a quake;
  
• nothing about adding additional bracing over your sleeping area;
  
• nothing about drop, cover, and hold procedures during a quake;
  
• nothing about never run out of a building during a quake;
  
• nothing about where to take cover in marginally reinforced no building code structures;
  
• nothing about knowing how to shut off gas, electricity, and water;
  
• nothing about what to do when driving and a quake hits;
  
• nothing about survival kits;
  
• nothing about rendezvous plans for families and companies;
  
• nothing about trained survivor and cadaver sniffing dogs to aid rescue efforts;
  
• and so much more.
  

He compares quake preparedness with floods and chooses to reassure people saying that they will be protected from quakes like they were from the floods. Not sure which people he is trying to reassure but people in Phuket may be satisfied that the government protected them from floods and that they should be confident based on the flood preparedness and how well the floods were handled.

Perhaps, there may be some cultural reasons for such empty reassurances (never mind factual inaccuracies) that put the general population off guard and at greater risk.

Someone's been reading the manual

why am I thinking Cuban missile crisis..."duck and cover" or maybe Monte Python..."run away, run away"!!......what a twerp!!

The UK manual, "protect and survive" was relevant then.

[Moruya]

Has anyone ever seen so much as a fire engine?

[trigger571]

"The largest will not measure more than 6 on the Richter scale."

Well why worry then. When a 3.2 causes damage to over 200 houses and a hospital in one of the most populated regions of Phuket, we can rest assured that thanks to the magnificent building standards in place here, no quake power is anything to worry about.

[Tanaka]

Minor earthquakes frequently precede major ones and to talk of the recent handful of small quakes being a good sign because they relieve tectonic pressure borders on the bizarre. The earthquake magnitude scale is logarithmic. This means, for example, that to release the energy of a magnitude 6 earthquake there would need to be 1000 magnitude 4 or 32,000 magnitude 3 smaller earthquakes.

The painful ignorance of the Director of the National Disaster Warning Centre comes as no surprise, but his failure to have his stupid statements checked by one of his team of scientists tells us that he is also dangerously arrogant.

So he fits right in with the rest of the muppets in the present government.