Phrae, Lower North Battle Floods

[Lite Beer]

Phrae, lower North battle floods

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- Yingluck maintains govt on target in preparations for the rainy season

The northern province of Phrae became the latest area to be hit by widespread inundation as Thailand battles another rainy season.

More than a third of the 2,000 families in Phrae's Wang Chin district had to flee their homes late on Friday and early yesterday after being hit by a heavy flood. Huge forest run-off swamped 700 homes in two tambons - Naphun and Wang Chin.

Reports said many brooks in the district had overflowed. Some areas were under water a metre deep, which prevented villagers travelling outside their areas. The district office gave them meal boxes and was giving them bags of relief. Soldiers were deployed to deliver assistance.

The first mass of floodwater that swamped Sukhothai town a few days ago has receded, but provinces downstream have also been hit - Phitsanulok, Phichit and Nakhon Sawan.

Yesterday, a second mass of water inundated the northern province of Lampang.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday the government's preparations were on target for this year's wet season after last year's crisis - the worst flood in five decades.

To prevent a repeat of the Sukhothai flood last week, the Royal Irrigation Department would install water level gauges in areas prone to disasters.

The premier said in her weekly programme "Yingluck Government Meets the People", live from Krabi, that flood management this year was more satisfactory than last year as the government had learnt to respond more effectively and the situation could return to normal in Sukhothai in three days.

Yingluck said the gauges would monitor the amount of water being released from dams in areas at risk of being flooded.

Royal Irrigation Department director-general Lertwiroj Kowattana said economic zones would certainly be protected.

He said agriculturists would be informed in advance before the authorities released water through farming areas. The department would carefully release water and manage the level in dams.

Meanwhile, forest run-off from Doi Phrabat hit 100 households in Lampang's Muang district. Mae Tha, Mae Mo, Wang Nua, Chae Hom, Muang Pan and Hang Chat districts were also hit by floods.

A landslide partially blocked Lampang-Chae Hom Road after heavy rain.

Areas in Nakhon Chiang Mai Municipality were flooded yesterday after hours of rain on Friday night. But with garbage blocking drains, it was difficult for officials to release water, so pumps had to be used in some areas.

Although the flood situation returned to normal in Sukhothai, forest run-off caused by heavy rain affected 11 villages in Si Satchanalai district's tambon Maetuk yesterday morning.

About 100 out of 700 families in tambon Maesin had to be evacuated to safer places.

Authorities delivered food and drinking water to affected residents in some areas.

However, officials said the flood situation had eased by yesterday evening.

In Phitsanulok's Muang district, a monk's 20-year-old teak cell collapsed due to softened soil under it caused by the raised water level of the old Yom River, heavy rain and strong winds on Friday night.

Locals in other parts of the district faced polluted floodwater as buildings blocked natural release areas. Soldiers have been working round the clock to repair a wooden bridge cut off by floods in Phrom Phiram district following an order by the premier to help locals use it within two days.

In Phichit, residents in Sam Ngam district have had to travel by boat after the Yom River overflowed and a canal led to a metre-high flood inundating 30 houses.

Five districts - Pa Mok, Chaiyo, Wiset Chai Chan, Pho Thong and Muang - were declared flood disaster zones in Ang Thong province.

Meanwhile, relevant agencies yesterday practised a drill in Nakhon Ratchasima that used aircraft to rescue people so they can apply this rescue method to help people in flood-hit areas later.

Flood assistance is being provided to affected people in many provinces.

Today, Friends in Need (of "Pa") Volunteers Foundation will provide relief bags to 200 families in flood-hit areas in Chaiyaphum's Kaset Sombun district. And a caravan of 28 vehicles travelled from Tak yesterday to deliver relief items to locals in Sukhothai.

-- The Nation 2012-09-16

[fareastguy]

Ok better to be flooded for 2 or 3 days than 1 month I agree, so you can get on with your livelihood, but the damage is already done to your home/business property & furniture/stock etc.

Better for the authorities to be more prepared than flooded out in the first place, it still sounds like they cannot handle the water run off, so they will flood the poor areas & give them minor handouts and keep the commercial elite dry & happy.

[MESmith]

quote: "Areas in Nakhon Chiang Mai Municipality were flooded yesterday after hours of rain on Friday night. But with garbage blocking drains, it was difficult for officials to release water, so pumps had to be used in some areas."

[ResX]

Two things that worth to highlight

1. Install water level gauges won't solve flood problem. Their readings shall be used by the dams in the north toi decide safe releases. I thought this has been done 30 years. In that case how operators determined safe discharges via sluice gates + plants during flood control operation last year?

2. It is a big and very-very big mistake if dams in the north discharge water greater than 30% of their rated discharge capacities (Excluding sluice gates discharge capacities). Significant amount of flood waters in 2011 contributed by failure of relevent authorities to understand this fundamental. It doesn't seem that they have learned....

[Moruya]

All those billions wasted.

I thought they had installed a network of cameras to be monitored by a control centre but no - the budget will stretch as far as a few sticks with markings on them.

Pantomime Time Party

[fareastguy]

Yep all that money spent & still short on dip sticks...

My advice is go to the government offices.. on parade are all the dip sticks you can imagine, long ones, short ones, skinny ones & fat ones the list is endless

[Tanaka]

Two things that worth to highlight

1. Install water level gauges won't solve flood problem. Their readings shall be used by the dams in the north toi decide safe releases. I thought this has been done 30 years. In that case how operators determined safe discharges via sluice gates + plants during flood control operation last year?

2. It is a big and very-very big mistake if dams in the north discharge water greater than 30% of their rated discharge capacities (Excluding sluice gates discharge capacities). Significant amount of flood waters in 2011 contributed by failure of relevent authorities to understand this fundamental. It doesn't seem that they have learned....

Learned? Who? Thais? You are joking, right? Don't you know, they already know everything. At least that is what they tell me.

[sirchai]

My father in law in the lower north east is begging for rain for his rice fields----

[SICHONSTEVE]

My father in law in the lower north east is begging for rain for his rice fields----

Shouldn't think he will have to wait too long!!!

[Dap]

My father in law in the lower north east is begging for rain for his rice fields----

Well then, instead of building some monster tunnel to direct the waters from the north to the sea, how about redirecting those same waters to where they can be more efficiently utilized at times like these. Could make your father-in-law as well as so many other folk happy and even maybe a bit more prosperous. Just a thought.

[SICHONSTEVE]

My father in law in the lower north east is begging for rain for his rice fields----

Well then, instead of building some monster tunnel to direct the waters from the north to the sea, how about redirecting those same waters to where they can be more efficiently utilized at times like these. Could make your father-in-law as well as so many other folk happy and even maybe a bit more prosperous. Just a thought.

Yess!!! Just a thought!!

[ResX]

My father in law in the lower north east is begging for rain for his rice fields----

His rational can be easily understood. I don't think he begged for flood.

[Bluespunk]

Time to start stocking up on bottled water and tinned foods I think. It comes, it comes and all we have to stop it are empty promises.

[ScouseTommy]

My father in law in the lower north east is begging for rain for his rice fields----

Well then, instead of building some monster tunnel to direct the waters from the north to the sea, how about redirecting those same waters to where they can be more efficiently utilized at times like these. Could make your father-in-law as well as so many other folk happy and even maybe a bit more prosperous. Just a thought.

Unfortunately you are applying logic, it is in very short supply within the government. Plus if they re-direct water would it be possible for an official to make some money on the side? This could possibly be the first question asked, before they get to is it beneficial

[asiawatcher]

Love this - Yingluck maintains govt on target in preparations for the rainy season

The season is well underway and nearly over - another month.

Also - To prevent a repeat of the Sukhothai flood last week, the Royal Irrigation Department would install water level gauges in areas prone to disasters.

How can a gauge 'prevent' a flood even if they are installed?

You have to love Thai journalism...

[Skywalker69]

All those billions wasted.

I thought they had installed a network of cameras to be monitored by a control centre but no - the budget will stretch as far as a few sticks with markings on them.

Pantomime Time Party

We all know were the big part of that tax money went don´t we?

[chrisinth]

The majority of people reading this thread don't realise that the type of flooding described in the OP happens almost every year; it is nothing new up here.

It is only now being reported on to sensationise the flooding problems arisen from last years farces. Whereas there has been some water prevention work done up-country, the vast majority of the work has been is building walls and obstructions in and around Bkk.

To date we have seen localized flooding in Bkk (as per normal) and flooding in outer areas but there doesn't seem to be any improvement in draining that flood water caused by the rains. With all the waterways dredged and free, why is that?

[robblok]

The majority of people reading this thread don't realise that the type of flooding described in the OP happens almost every year; it is nothing new up here.

It is only now being reported on to sensationise the flooding problems arisen from last years farces. Whereas there has been some water prevention work done up-country, the vast majority of the work has been is building walls and obstructions in and around Bkk.

To date we have seen localized flooding in Bkk (as per normal) and flooding in outer areas but there doesn't seem to be any improvement in draining that flood water caused by the rains. With all the waterways dredged and free, why is that?

I wonder if all the waterways really have been dredged. I hear people telling that its the same old story.

[ResX]

Love this - Yingluck maintains govt on target in preparations for the rainy season

The season is well underway and nearly over - another month.

Also - To prevent a repeat of the Sukhothai flood last week, the Royal Irrigation Department would install water level gauges in areas prone to disasters.

How can a gauge 'prevent' a flood even if they are installed?

You have to love Thai journalism...

She failed to complete her general idea. The idea is by knowing water levels at various bottle necks dam operators can used them to decide the safe level of dam releases.

But then I have two related comments. (1) Why only now? That mean over the last 30 years or so dams operators decided to lift the sluice gates without knowing the consequences of their actions. That enforced my suspicion that sluice gates operators made water release decision without knowing the consequences. (2) Knowing water levels alone only a part of the requirements to make the correct water release desion. Many more data and information are required to make it right.

Edited September 16, 2012 by ResX

[Rancid]

My father in law in the lower north east is begging for rain for his rice fields----

Well then, instead of building some monster tunnel to direct the waters from the north to the sea, how about redirecting those same waters to where they can be more efficiently utilized at times like these. Could make your father-in-law as well as so many other folk happy and even maybe a bit more prosperous. Just a thought.

Seem to recall that a certain Mr T. actually wanted to do that.

[Dap]

My father in law in the lower north east is begging for rain for his rice fields----

Well then, instead of building some monster tunnel to direct the waters from the north to the sea, how about redirecting those same waters to where they can be more efficiently utilized at times like these. Could make your father-in-law as well as so many other folk happy and even maybe a bit more prosperous. Just a thought.

Unfortunately you are applying logic, it is in very short supply within the government. Plus if they re-direct water would it be possible for an official to make some money on the side? This could possibly be the first question asked, before they get to is it beneficial

Corruption being rampant is a given, and no matter what project you/I or anyone can proffer, that same graft will be prevalent. I simply presented an otherwise (possibly) not obvious addendum. Deal with it as you wish.

Edited September 16, 2012 by Dap