BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s police chief has called an urgent meeting to monitor the flood situation and ordered all police units to prepare for a coordinated response before, during and after emergencies. National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Kitrat Phanphet chaired the meeting at the Royal Thai Police Operations Centre at 10 a.m. on September 26. Senior police officers, the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Commissioner, representatives from Provincial Police Regions 1–9 and other relevant agencies attended to coordinate urgent assistance for people affected by flooding.
The meeting focused particularly on Bangkok and Provincial Police Regions 1, 2 and 7, which are among areas affected by the Meteorological Department’s warning of heavy to very heavy rain in Thailand through September 28. Kitrat instructed all police units to follow national and Royal Thai Police disaster prevention and mitigation plans and establish procedures covering all three stages of an emergency: before, during and after the event.
Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Samran Nuanma was assigned overall responsibility for supervising the response. Police commanders at every level were also instructed to check on the welfare of officers under their command and provide support for their duties. Police units in Bangkok and Regions 1, 2 and 7 were told to assess conditions quickly and prioritize assistance for affected residents. Volunteer police teams are being prepared to assist with evacuations to safe areas, operate field kitchens, manage traffic and help motorists whose vehicles break down.
Police will also coordinate with relevant agencies and provide public information on safe routes, parking locations and places where motorists can safely stop during the flooding. Once conditions improve, police units will move into recovery and assistance operations for affected residents.
Kitrat called on all police officers to provide assistance to the public to the fullest extent during the current emergency.
