Swiss Humanitarian Aid Thailand Floods 2011 Nov. 2th, 2011 – Nov. 11 th, 2011 SKH– Swiss Humanitarian Aid - Schweizerisches Korps für Humanitäre Hilfe.

Swiss Humanitarian Aid

Thailand Floods 2011

Nov. 2th, 2011 – Nov. 11 th, 2011

SKH– Swiss Humanitarian Aid - Schweizerisches Korps für Humanitäre Hilfe

Swiss Humanitarian Aid

• Gerard Luyet, Hydrologist (WES) Responsable de l'activité Eau Potable SIG Genève

• Claudio Valsangiacomo, PhD, Microbiologist (WES) Schweiz. Fachhochschule Gesundheit Tessin

• Urs Nigg, Civil Engineer (DRR, Flood Management), Abt. GeP / BAFU

• Philipp Teysseire, PhD, Civil Engineer (DRR, Flood Management), Ing. Büro T&C, Visp

• Thomas Fisler (HA Coordinator), Bangkok

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Flooded area November 2011

Chao Phraya River

160‘000 km2

MQ: 883 m³/sQ=3‘500 - 4000 m³/s

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Facts

• Inundation triggered by monsun

• Affected population 23 Mio.

• Casualities 400 (Flooded area 60‘000 km2 , approx. 12 % of Thailand)

• Biggest flood in Thailand for 50 years

• Damages 11.8 Mrd. Euro

• Effects on world economy (Computer / Harddisks- and Automobile Industries)

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ACTIVITIES Nov. 3 - 9:

• Assessment to Bhumibol Dam, flight over flooded area

• Ground inspection of flood affected areas in North East and Western Bangkok and coastal pumping stations,

• Site visit on construction works of big bag dam

• Water quality testing in and around greater Bangkok and treatment plant

• Inspection of general conditions and water quality at Evacuation Centres

• On site inspection Interaction with focal points and experts at FROC (Flood Relief Operation Center)

• Meetings with staff of Ministry of Public Health

• Discussion/Evaluation on flood modelling computer simulation

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Inner Bangkok

Don Muang Airport

Suwarnabhumi Airport

Irrigation system around Bangkok

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Big bags along Defense line

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FINDINGS ON FLOODWATER MANAGEMENT:

• The resilience and humanitarian disaster response in dealing with the flood by everyone is outstanding

• The current event is considered as a natural disaster with a rare probability

• The scale and magnitude of the floods exceeds a controlled water management: damage control, humanitarian response and asset preservation is the only option

• The concept of diverting the floodwater to the Eastern and Western side of inner Bangkok is correct

• The influence of the built up area on the flood is only locally relevant (Anthropogenic effects)

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FINDINGS ON FLOODWATER MANAGEMENT:

• Drainage and retention infrastructures are not designed for such large scale floods

• At present no accurate predictions of floodwater inundations can be done

• Inflow of water towards inner Bangkok areas are still high

• King’s dyke and immediate dam reinforcement measures taken are crucial to manage actual and further floods

• The impact of the flood will be long term and risk reduction measures must be addressed long term

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CONCLUSIONS:

• The flood level in downtown inner Bangkok is assumed to be at very low intensity (if at all less than 30 cm)

• Existing and additional spot measures (sandbags, mobile pumps) reduce the impact of further damages significantly

• The outer areas will be flooded for several days and weeks

• Emphasise on maximum pumping capacity to reduce further flooding and drain off the existing inundations

• No additional technical options are identified to optimise the chosen strategy

• The existing infrastructures need to be adjusted to minimise the risk on future floods (long term floodwater management)

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RECOMENDATIONS:

Short term:

• Continue to verify and monitor the protective measures of the Suvarnabhumi airport as a priority

• Unaffected industrial areas require specialist expertise to advise on immediate localised protection measures to avoid flooding (inflatable flood barriers, sandbags, pumps)

• High priority towards all required measures to maintain unhindered access of the Highway to the South

• Communicate preventive steps and alert areas within the possible path of the flood as early as possible

• Maintain and monitor the inner city Klongs, install additional pumping capacity if not already enforced

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RECOMENDATIONS:

Medium term:

• Further develop emergency preparedness plans :

• Weather forecast and early warning/information to all relevant Departments

• Organise network on floodwater management, intervention, rescue and assistance services during extraordinary situations

• Incident documentation of the current floods in order to draw lessons learnt

• Expand currently developed floodwater modelling and simulation to identify required measures

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RECOMENDATIONS:

Medium term:

• In depth study required to identify various options for adaptive design on sustainable flood protection, if not already enforced

• Create a solid financial base to ensure the needed sustainable measures

Longer term:

• Further develop of an integrated risk management of all natural dangers in Thailand

• Establish a sound risk management dialogue of all stakeholders

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Meeting with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Nov. 10, 2011

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Activities

Thank you !