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

[metisdead]

A disrepectful post toward Budhism has been removed, don't use this topic as an excuse to make any derogatory/disrespectful statements towards Thais or Budhist religion:

7) Not to post slurs or degrading comments directed towards any group on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

8) Not to post extremely negative views of Thailand or derogatory comments directed towards all Thais.

[ginjag]

Never fear, whatever scale happens the Thai buildings are the most substantial of all - The structures are that strong and foundations that deep special care is always taken. When applying to the land office to construct a said building the regulations are that severe that it is foolproof. To erect an inferior building cannot happen.  On the subject of emergency vehicles, the reason they hardly exist is that everything is fireproof=waterproof=and shakeproof.  access will never be needed, to attend disasters. Anyone believing this Shizen needs their head examined.

[Skywalker69]

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.

But the problem in Thailand is that PTP and education dosen´t go hand in hand.

[givenall]

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

And it is going to say, “put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye”

[DGS1244]

I was 'involved' in advising on planning after the last tsunami and the people in charged had not got a clue then, but as always new better than anyone else, especially a Farang. Plan for a Earth Quake, just makes you laugh. Tsunami,s if you are lucky, give you some warning, earthquakes normally do not. Japan has been planning their protection and response for many years yet they still suffer in major quakes as we all know.

[swifty5x5]

Did they ever change that battery in the tsunami warning bouy.

[bigbamboo]

Are these the earthquakes nobody is supposed to talk about?

[EyesWideOpen]

I am going to have to take a pass on commenting on this one, just too darn easy.....

[PoodMaiDai]

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.

-- NNT 2012-04-21

Not even sure why Thai Visa re-posts such absolute nonsense.

Press release after press releases, these clowns make total asses of themselves.

[h90]

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.

As non Thai one hint (you most probably know already), common knowledge in my homecountry.

"No reason to panic" means there is all the reason to panic

"do not hording there is no problem with food supply": run out to the next supermarket and spend whatever money you have on any food that can be stocked for longer time...no matter you like that food or not. And water of course.

"there is no danger, evacuation just as precaution, do not panic": most probably you'll die, with much luck you will only loose relatives, your home, your car and your money.

[allan michaud]

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

I feel such relief, I am safe in the knowledge the Thai government is in control of things if we have any future earthquake.

[h90]

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.

-- NNT 2012-04-21

Not even sure why Thai Visa re-posts such absolute nonsense.

Press release after press releases, these clowns make total asses of themselves.

Remember the floods? It must be the same team....

[h90]

Did they ever change that battery in the tsunami warning bouy.

No but it isn't necessary......if somewhere happens something, just let 1 million people stay on the mountain for 5 hours.....easier to do than changing that battery which would tell you if a tsunami is coming or not

[h90]

Are these the earthquakes nobody is supposed to talk about?

pssst....no speak earthquake....don't scare the tourists......

There are no earthquakes, there will be no floods....no one will burn Bangkok

[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

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.

But the problem in Thailand is that PTP and education dosen´t go hand in hand.

Why make this political, can't you get it through your head that no party cares a dam_n about education.

[Soutpeel]

I was 'involved' in advising on planning after the last tsunami and the people in charged had not got a clue then, but as always new better than anyone else, especially a Farang. Plan for a Earth Quake, just makes you laugh. Tsunami,s if you are lucky, give you some warning, earthquakes normally do not. Japan has been planning their protection and response for many years yet they still suffer in major quakes as we all know.

But you are missing the point, We all know Thai earthquakes and Thai tsunami are not the same as farang earthquakes and tsunami's, same as Thai electricity and Thai rivers are not the same as their farang counterparts....just remember the floods....Science minister Plopadops fleet of tugs boats speeded up the flow of water in the rivers with their little propellors and averted a major disaster in Thailand...Farangs just dont understand this

[givenall]

From all the post i conclude that it is time to panic now

[Soutpeel]

From all the post i conclude that it is time to panic now

Basically Yes

[hellodolly]

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

I almost fell of my chair when I read

"They also help assure that the warning systems Thailand has installed are of high efficiency and work as planned."

Did they plan for them not to warn Phuket of the earthquakes they had. Kinda like their Tsunami warning system that warned Phuket of a Tsunami that didn't happen and their successful no fatalities program.

This government dosen't even stop long enough to take their foot out of their mouth before they put another one in.

[hellodolly]

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.

Are you for sure that the statement was not checked by one of his team of scientists?

[surangw]

In other words,wait for the disaster, then panic .

[hellodolly]

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.

Thanks for your thought ful post.

I think when you said

"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."

You were right on with what they think of the people.

[h90]

Has anyone ever seen so much as a fire engine?

No! For what it isn't burning at the moment....

(or do you want to suggest to purchase them before?)

[h90]

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

I almost fell of my chair when I read

"They also help assure that the warning systems Thailand has installed are of high efficiency and work as planned."

Did they plan for them not to warn Phuket of the earthquakes they had. Kinda like their Tsunami warning system that warned Phuket of a Tsunami that didn't happen and their successful no fatalities program.

This government dosen't even stop long enough to take their foot out of their mouth before they put another one in.

Well they are used to lie.

People are nervous tell them there are no earthquakes in this country, at least not under this government

If there is a major earthquake tell everyone will get a compensation of 20.000 Baht

(of course people will never get anything)

Than you plan the megaproject earthquake wall with trillions of Baht (and take half in the own pocket)

No money for that??? Just take it from the flood prevention, people forgot that anyway and when all running around change the charter....

Or tell that Thailand get the hub of something or that tomorrow the tablets come....etc etc.

[noitom]

Thai preparation is an oxymoron. In the same class as jumbo shrimp or military intelligence.

[spiritrace]

You guys are funny...... I AGREE every time I go to Thailand I am struck with the lack of preparation for any emergency. My Thai wife lives with me in Wyoming USA and still does not understand preparation. At least she does get more than one day supply of food. She is learning.

[PoodMaiDai]

I'd bet $100 they are not even prepared for the next round of floods yet.

[h90]

Thai preparation is an oxymoron. In the same class as jumbo shrimp or military intelligence.

Well my wife is preparing since the last floods...Whenever the labor in our office are idle they make concrete walls, we have deep freeze, rice for a year, water for 3 month.

I don't agree with the style of prepare, which is relative inefficient compensated with a huge amount of labor hours, But she prepares (not me).

[ralphlsasser]

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.

" dangerously arrogrant" and don't forget ignorant also.

[ralphlsasser]

"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.

May I add more items not found in Thai Vocabulary?

Critical thinking skills

integerty

doing the right thing

be a parent to your children

honorable

respectful

compassion

courtious

faithfulness

truthfulness

hard working