Yingluck Vows Quick Flood Aid For Sukhothai

[webfact]

FLOOD

PM vows quick aid for Sukhothai

JEERAPONG PRASERTPONKRANG

THE NATION

SUKHOTHAI: -- The floods in Sukhothai should subside in two days and remedial action will be reaching those affected very soon, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday.

She was speaking during a working trip to the flooded province yesterday. Yingluck and her team waded through knee-high brownish water in the heart of the provincial capital to hand out food and other relief items.

The prime minister said she was confident that the situation would soon return to normal after relevant officials were successful in blocking water from the Yom River from seeping through the barriers. It is because of this leakage that Sukhothai was flooded, even though the river did not overflow.

"I have been monitoring the situation closely and have been constantly giving instructions to facilitate the work," she said.

Yingluck also thanked officials for their hard work, saying that it was because of them that things had started returning to normal in three days. She also thanked residents for their understanding and cooperation.

Regional Irrigation Office 4 director Arjit Suwanichwong, meanwhile, said pumps would be used to drain flood water out of the inundated areas fast. He said repairing the embankments was just a temporary fix and relevant authorities should come up with a permanent solution.

Meanwhile, Ranong disaster-prevention-and-mitigation chief Chawalit Nitarawat warned tourists against trekking or stepping into waterfall pools.

"There are risks of landslides and flash floods," he said.

Chawalit explained that the soil around waterfalls was saturated due to continued downpours, adding that people living at the foot of mountains and hills in Muang Ranong, La-un, Suk Samran and Kapoe districts should be alert, too.

-- The Nation 2012-09-14

[theblether]

Sukhothai floods every year......aid should be stored on the doorstep, provisions and manpower should be on standby every year at this time.

Now it's up to the authorities to invest the money in strengthening the defences, this flood happened due to a structural weakness in the defences. Years, decades of mismanagement have caused this, if Yingluck does nothing else in her premiership than strengthen flood defences then that will be an excellent legacy.

Let's be looking for a year on year improvement, that will be a great start.

[dcutman]

intr.v. seeped, seep·ing, seeps

1. To pass slowly through small openings or pores; ooze.

2. To enter, depart, or become diffused gradually.

n.

1. A spot where water or petroleum trickles out of the ground to form a pool.

2. Seepage.

v. gushed, gush·ing, gush·es

v.intr.

1. To flow forth suddenly in great volume: water gushing from a hydrant.

2. To emit a sudden and abundant flow, as of tears.

3. To make an excessive display of sentiment or enthusiasm: gushed over the baby.

v.tr.

To emit abundantly; pour forth.

n.

1. A sudden copious outflow: a gush of tears.

Seeping is just not the appropriate word in this case.

After spending a 120,000,000,000 baht on flood prevention, one could assume that ALL flood walls, where at the very least inspected, and scheduled for repair.

These were not small cracks that need x-ray. From reports, the breach in the foundation of this flood barrier was 10 to 15 m wide.

I would think people would want more than excuses and a thank you, for the patients, and normal life will be back to normal in 3 or 4 days.

I think they would feel much safer, if they actually felt confident that the government, was performing their duties, and spending tax dollars in an effective and constructive way.

[fareastguy]

The problem being:

When you have both hands in the till you don't have a spare finger to plug the hole in the dyke !!

[slapout]

As the PM claims she is monitoring and giving instructions, should the locals rejoice, move to higher ground or go with houseboats as a primary residence? With all the committees, water monitoring systems, etc she has instructed to be formed, there seems to be no shortage of bosses.

The various heads of these newly created groups are probably as well qualified/experienced in water control/management as the PM. They may have an idea of the amount of water to mix with a whiskey, but that is probably a taste, then trial and error process for them. So far we are seeing the error part of the multi billion baht water managment, " plans "???? and they are asking the bank for additional funds. Wonder how long before we will be exposed to 'plan Z'?

[MaxLee]

Isn't it a little too late to be worrying now??? Or is that woman just posing for another PR stunt???

[Thai at Heart]

Why is she personally giving instructions? Flood disaster management in a city she has probably only seen from behind a window is obviously another of her myriad talents?

[Pimay1]

"I have been monitoring the situation closely and have been constantly giving instructions to facilitate the work," she said.

joke/jōk/Noun: A thing that someone says to cause amusement or laughter, esp. a story with a funny punchline.

funny punchline = constantly giving instructions to facilitate the work

[Thaddeus]

"I have been monitoring the situation closely and have been constantly giving instructions to facilitate the work," she said.

joke/jōk/Noun: A thing that someone says to cause amusement or laughter, esp. a story with a funny punchline.

funny punchline = constantly giving instructions to facilitate the work

She has missed this years Fringe Festival, hope she has enough time to polish her act for the next one.

[chrisinth]

Sukhothai floods every year......aid should be stored on the doorstep, provisions and manpower should be on standby every year at this time.

Now it's up to the authorities to invest the money in strengthening the defences, this flood happened due to a structural weakness in the defences. Years, decades of mismanagement have caused this, if Yingluck does nothing else in her premiership than strengthen flood defences then that will be an excellent legacy.

Let's be looking for a year on year improvement, that will be a great start.

Unfortunately it is not only Sukhothai that floods every year or at least most years, but as long as this doesn't affect the industrial areas they take a backseat year after year after year. What is a bit disconcerting is that this happens less than a year after the big flood after all the efforts to eradicate the exact problem that is happening.

Hence the mention of Sukhothai's problems, media sensationalism.

Still, looking on the bright side, Phitsanulok boat racing should be quite good this year..........

[Noistar]

Once again, I must say - leave the girl alone and direct any criticism to the people who write the things for her to say.

A PR sound bite please - that'll do nicely

[rubl]

Once again, I must say - leave the girl alone and direct any criticism to the people who write the things for her to say.

A PR sound bite please - that'll do nicely

"I'm pleased that the newly setup NWRFPC was so quick in dissipating this news once they were informed."