BANGKOK, Thailand – The government is stepping up preparations for floods and droughts by developing detailed risk maps covering communities down to the subdistrict and village levels, allowing authorities to identify vulnerable areas and take preventive action before disasters occur. Government Spokesperson Rachada Dhanadirek said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered five regional committees covering the North, Northeast, South, Central, and East. The committees will coordinate government agencies, provincial and local authorities, civilian bodies, and the military using shared information and response plans to speed up preventive action and emergency assistance.
Under the Know Early, Prevent Early, Be Ready approach, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency and the Office of the National Water Resources will develop flood and drought risk maps to guide water management, equipment deployment, agricultural preparations, and assistance for vulnerable residents. A standardized preparedness checklist will also be developed for Bangkok and 17 provinces in the Central Region. The Central Region will serve as the initial model, with Prachuap Khiri Khan selected for agricultural drought management and Ayutthaya for flood management. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation will prepare relevant plans and the preparedness checklist, while water and geospatial agencies will continue monitoring conditions and updating risk information. Lessons from the pilot areas are expected to be applied nationwide. (NNT)
