PM orders revision of flood early warning system

[rooster59]

PM orders revision of flood early warning system

 

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha today (July 29) ordered government authorities to revise existing flood early warning systems for more reliability and effectiveness.

 

His order came as he encouraged all government authorities to work aggressively on assisting the people now hardest-hit by floods, particularly in Sakon Nakhon province.

 

He said that although the Meteorological Department has forecast less rains after the storm has dissolved to depression and now rain was decreasing, but authorities in flood prone areas needed to work constantly and aggressively.

 

They needed to continue working around the clock, warning and assisting the people, and revising their existing flood early warning systems to be effective and reliable to alleviate loss to the least, he said.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-orders-revision-flood-early-warning-system/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-07-29

[ChrisY1]

He just realised the early flood warning system doesn't work...meanwhile there's devastating floods everywhere!

[gummy]

2 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

He just realised the early flood warning system doesn't work...meanwhile there's devastating floods everywhere!

when you have your head tucked up where the sun does not shine,  it is difficult to see anything around you

[MaxLee]

a little too late, as Floods of 2017 have already started 2 months ago,....

[BEVUP]

No need to warn the people as they know where & when it will happen - They have a much better system called " Telephony "

[chickenslegs]

Warnings are fine, but without the necessary infrastructure the floods will continue.

 

Seems that Bangkok is now adequately protected by upstream dams and designated flood plains (assuming that the authorities don't repeat past mistakes). Isn't it time to invest in better protection for the vulnerable provinces? - not just sand bags and Red Cross parcels.

[Denim]

He should read about King Canute then he would know what to do if floodwaters head to Bangkok again ( fair bet since contrary to local beliefs, water flows downhill )

 

And Canute did not have article 44 to use so should work.

 

If not , pity the new subs are not on hand.

[rooster59]

Call for urgent upgrade to flood alert system

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE SUNDAY NATION

 

 

THE COUNTRY’S disaster warning system needs to be reformed, experts emphasised yesterday, as there was no warning for the recent flash flood in Sakon Nakhon that resulted from heavy downpours and leakage in a local reservoir.

 

Meanwhile, experts have reassured the public that there will be no big flood similar to the disaster in 2011, because there was no indication of heavy rainfall in the late phase of the rainy season.

 

The flooding in the Northeastern provinces was due to obstructions to the local water drainage systems and a large downpour in a short period of time.

 

On Friday morning, Sakon Nakhon residents woke up to find their city being submerged by flash flooding caused by heavy rains.

Shortly afterwards, more than 1 million cubic metres of water that leaked from Huai Zaikamin Reservoir washed down towards the city, intensifying the flood situation and leaving some areas under two metres of water.

 

Due to the lack of warning, a large number of people were unable to evacuate in time and their belongings were damaged by floodwaters.

 

Hannarong Yaowalers, Thai-Water Partnerships chairman, said that the disaster in Sakon Nakhon was not the first and would not be the last, unless the disaster warning system was improved.

 

“In January, we witnessed the failure of the authorities to warn the people in Prachuap Khiri Khan about the upcoming severe floods from the broken reservoir upstream, which cost people lives,” he said.

 

“The incident in Sakon Nakhon proves that there are serious flaws in our warning system, which need to be fixed as soon as possible.”

 

Hannarong said that the current disaster warning system was too slow to keep up with the recent floods, and that authorities needed to keep updating it.

 

“What we have experienced in Sakon Nakhon is that the precipitation in the province increased over 200 millimetres within a short period,” he said.

 

“This signified the critical situation of a flash flood, but it seemed that the local authorities were too complacent and were not ready to cope with the situation, so the damage is great,” he said.

 

Hannarong stated that the system should warn people immediately when there is any indication of disaster. People should be informed in enough time to evacuate and they should be made aware of how long the disaster will last.

 

“It is quite simple to warn the people about flood, because we already have the monitoring system for precipitation and water levels in the reservoirs,” he said. “All the authorities need to do is tell people the truth as soon as possible.” 

 

However, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department deputy director-general Kobchai Boonyaorana said the disaster-warning system was already working well, but the flash flood in Sakon Nakhon occurred too rapidly. Officers were simply unable to warn the people in time.

 

“From the information provided by the Meteorological Department, there was a cluster of heavy rain in the Sakon Nakhon area during the time of disaster. When the rain met with the Phu Phan Mountain Range, it caused a heavy downpour within a short period, and triggered flash flooding from the mountain to the city down below,” Kobchai explained.

 

“It happened so fast, but after the flood, we dispatched a disaster relief team to Sakon Nakhon immediately to help the people and restore the basic infrastructure.”

 

He said that five evacuation centres had been set up right afterwards and had received 909 people. The authorities also diverted floodwaters to Nong Han Lake and drained the water out to the Mekong River to relieve the flood situation in the city.

 

Chaowalit Chantararat, managing director of the TEAM Group engineering firm, said that the major flooding in Sakon Nakhon was mainly because the local drainage system could not receive a large amount of water.

 

Despite the severity of flooding in the Northeastern region, there was no indication that there would be major flooding in the Chao Phraya River Basin and Bangkok soon.

 

“This year is actually a normal year in terms of precipitation levels, which means that we will get the normal amount of rainwater and there will be no big flood like in 2011,” he assured.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30322209

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-07-30

[Dobredin Ghusputin]

33 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Call for urgent upgrade to flood alert system

 

Would that be the FloodAlert 4.0 software, which is already on sale at Pantip?

[yellowboat]

9 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

Warnings are fine, but without the necessary infrastructure the floods will continue.

 

Seems that Bangkok is now adequately protected by upstream dams and designated flood plains (assuming that the authorities don't repeat past mistakes). Isn't it time to invest in better protection for the vulnerable provinces? - not just sand bags and Red Cross parcels.

Tis true.  Water is merciless.  It needs a place to go, or it will go where it pleases. 

[AGareth2]

follow the Junta line

don't believe what you read or see on the internet

[Dave67]

Horse, Door, After, The, Bolted, Shutting, Has

 

 

 

Edited July 30, 2017 by Dave67

[Eric Loh]

This water mismanagement is begging to be investigated by the NACC. They already has a large file for reference. 

[Dave67]

"THE COUNTRY’S disaster warning system needs to be reformed, experts emphasised yesterday,"

 

That's got to be taking the P. I would imagine most people wouldn't require an expert to tell them the system needs "Reforming" 

 

 

[MaxLee]

14 hours ago, BEVUP said:

No need to warn the people as they know where & when it will happen - They have a much better system called " Telephony "

WRONG,..... in these days of age you call it SOCIAL MEDIA.......................

[Tilacme]

“What we have experienced in Sakon Nakhon is that the precipitation in the province increased over 200 millimetres within a short period,” he said.

 

I would like to know how he defines "a short period".  Living in the Kalasin province, what I saw was steady and relentless precipitation day and night for 3 days.   Is 3 days too short a period to give adequate warnings?  

[Surasak]

If the powers that be were not so big headed, they would ask for assitance from out side the country. But I suppose as they know it all, floods and other cockups will continue.

[Lupatria]

Reminds on a Jim Croce song the lyrics go (almost) like this:

 

Every time I tried to tell you the words just come out wrong

So I have to give you warning in a song

 

That takes time... 

 

 

[petermik]

A committee of persons currently in "inactive posts" would I,m sure solve this issue,especially if it is able to use the power of article 44

[DM07]

I have a very well working warning system: people call this time of year the RAINY SEASON! Every year!
Now go figure, you pompous <deleted>!


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

Edited July 30, 2017 by metisdead
Profanity removed: 8) You will not post disruptive or inflammatory messages, vulgarities, obscenities or profanities.

[klauskunkel]

1 hour ago, Lupatria said:

Reminds on a Jim Croce song the lyrics go (almost) like this:

 

Every time I tried to tell you the words just come out wrong

So I have to give you warning in a song

 

That takes time... 

 

 

I go with "Urgent" by Foreigner (Farang)

 

You say it's urgent
Make it fast, make it urgent
Do it quick, do it urgent
Gotta rush, make it urgent
Want it quick
Urgent, urgent, emergency
Urgent, urgent, emergency
Urgent, urgent, emergency
Urgent, urgent, emergency
So urgent, emergency
Emer... emer... emer...
It's urgent

[candide]

3 hours ago, Tilacme said:

“What we have experienced in Sakon Nakhon is that the precipitation in the province increased over 200 millimetres within a short period,” he said.

 

I would like to know how he defines "a short period".  Living in the Kalasin province, what I saw was steady and relentless precipitation day and night for 3 days.   Is 3 days too short a period to give adequate warnings?  

That's how they do in the Thai army: "the ennemy will be there in a short period of time..."

[pattayadgw]

How can you have a flood warning alert system when you can't even maintain the tsunami warning system... remember the tsunami claimed 5000+ lives in this country.

[robblok]

8 minutes ago, pattayadgw said:

How can you have a flood warning alert system when you can't even maintain the tsunami warning system... remember the tsunami claimed 5000+ lives in this country.

Yes i read about that one... no maintenance i think.. once stuff is is bought the money is made and no money is put away for maintenance. 

[Tilacme]

16 hours ago, candide said:

That's how they do in the Thai army: "the ennemy will be there in a short period of time..."

More like the girls will ...