RAPID FLOOD MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT

Lesson to be learned : Worst flood in Modern Thai History

Reflection on 2011 Flood

Very costly in term of social and economic impacts Provide opportunity to learn and share experiences Better prepare to handle future Flood

Rapid Flood Management assessment

To understand what actually happen To identify problems and key issues To conceptualize future framework

Overview

Flood scenario

Total Damages 1.4 Trillion Baht

(WB estimate)

Flood damage
Social Sector
Population Households Deaths Temples cultural sites Evacuee Shelters Schools
Bangkok Others

13,595,192 4,086,138 693 313 1,820,931 1,739 3,088

436 2,652

Flood damage
Economic Sectors
Agriculture Inundated farmland Industry
Inundated Industrial Estate Factories (only Industrial Estate) Workers

12.61 million ha.

7 838 382,693 50 billion Baht

Tourism
Estimated losses

What actually happen?

Rainfall record

Accumulated rainfall and major storm events in Thailand during 2011

Chao Phraya River Basin

Chao Phraya River Basin

mm

Heavy rainfall along Chao Phraya River Basin

Reservoir Operation

Data of inflow, water release and storage of Bhumibol Dam in 2011

The 2011 operation rule curve of Bhumibol Dam compares with the previous year rule curves

Sirikit Reservoir 2011 250 12,500

200

Max (avg)

NOCK-TEN

10,000

Inflow, Release, MCM

50%

100
HAIMA

5,000

Min 50 2,500

1-Jan

1-Feb 1-Mar
Release

1-Apr

1-May

1-Jun

1-Jul

1-Aug

1-Sep

1-Oct

1-Nov

1-Dec
Min

Inflow

Storage

Upper Curve

Lower Curve

Data of inflow, water release and storage of Sirikit Dam in 2011

Storage, MM

150

HAITANG , NASAT and NALKAE

7,500

Sirikit Reservoir 2011 11,000 10,000

9,000 8,000

Max (avg) Upper Rule Curve

Inflow, Release, MCM

7,000
Lower Rule Curve

6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000

2,000

Min

1-Jan

1-Feb 1-Mar
2011

1-Apr
2010

1-May

1-Jun

1-Jul
2008

1-Aug

1-Sep
2007

1-Oct

1-Nov

1-Dec
Lower Curve

2009

Upper Curve

The 2011 operation rule curve of Sirikit Dam compares with the previous year rule curves

HAITANG , NASAT and NALKAE

Data of inflow, water release and storage of Parsakchonlasit Dam in 2011

Flood Diversion

A sample of water diversion scheme for central and lower Chao Phraya River Basin

Nakorn Sawan (C2)

Sing Buri (C3)

Ayutthaya (C29)

Locations of gauge station along Chao Phraya River at Nakorn Sawan (C2), Sing Buri (C3), and Ayutthaya (C29) province

20 Aug to 6 Dec 2011 35

30

16 Sep
Nakorn Sawan (26.3 m)

13 Oct

28 Oct

25
Water Level, MSL (m)

20

15 Singburi (11.7 m) 10

23 Oct 5 Sep

15 Nov

25 Oct
5 Ayutthaya (3.04 m)

24 Sep

31 Nov

0 01-Aug-11

01-Sep-11

01-Oct-11 Date

01-Nov-11

01-Dec-11

Water level record of Chao Phraya River at Nakorn Sawan, Sing Buri, and Ayutthaya province

Major breaches of flood control infrastructure along Chao Phraya River

Date
Tidal record at the Royal Thai Navy Station during July to December, 2011

Pumping stations and drainage canal systems of Bangkok

Extend of Flooded area

Flood extent map in July 2011 (interpreted from Radarsat image)

Flood extent map in August, 2011 (interpreted from Radarsat)

Flood extent map in September, 2011 (interpreted from Radarsat)

Flood extent map in October, 2011 (interpreted from Radarsat)

Flood extent map in November, 2011 (interpreted from Radarsat)

Flood extent map in December, 2011 (interpreted from Radarsat)

How responsive ?

Government response
Name of Committee Responsibility Establishment date 1 National Committee on Floods, Tropical Storm and Mudslides - Oversee and manage national disasters due to floods, tropical storms and mudslides - Preparedness, prevention, response and recovery of all the major phases of disaster management 2 Twenty Five River Basin National Joint-Committee 3 Flood relief committee (the structural, economic, and social subcommittee) 4 Flood Recovery and Restoration Committee - replacement of the flood recovery and restoration committee - to corrordinate the flood relief management for structural, economic, industrial, and peoples livelihoods and quality of life 5 Public Communication Committee - to improve public information on flood disaster to Thai people 4-Nov-11 4-Nov-11 - support national water management and flood warning systems - assist the affected populations from flood disaster 14-Sep-11 12-Oct-11 25-Aug-11

6 Strategic Committee for Reconstruction and Future Development (SCRF) 7 Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management (SCWRM)

- prepare strategies for reconstruction and national future of sustainable development

10-Nov-11

- manage water resources with principles of sustainability

10-Nov-11

Analytical Observation
Practice approach Diverse roles and responsibilities Coordination Public Communication Public risk perception Preparedness

Lessons to be Learned
Structure aspect Non-structure aspect

Structure aspects
Highway/ road Bridge Sluice gate Flood wall/ Bearier King dyke Canal system/ water way

Examples of Highway obstructing natural surface runoff

Examples of bridge obstruct channel flow

Sluice gates under flooding condition

Various types of flood wall

Kings dyke and flood retarding area

Kings dyke

Elevation of Kings dyke and flood protection dykes for Bangkok and vicinities

Example photos of sand bag and temporary earth embankment along kings dyke.

Two opening were found along kings dyke, leading water flow into the city and northern Bangkok was flooded.

Canal network

Canal dreging

Canal river encroachment

Maintenance requirement for drainage system

Non structure aspects

Land use pattern Town planning Encroachment of flood plain Protection wall vs Diversion Relief efforts/ Evacuation Informal effort/ social media/ volunteer Innovation

Deforestation of Nan Watershed

Deforestation of Nan Watershed

Summary

 Abnormal rainfall due to the contribution of four tropical storms and one typhoon is the main cause of the 2011 Thailand worst flood. Change of land use pattern, filling up of wetlands and lack of town planning increase surface runoff and retard flood water flow. Inappropriate planning and improper engineering design of infrastructure without consideration of natural water flow pattern further complicated flood management by obstructing flow of surface runoff.

 Public awareness and culture of preparedness with respect to disaster risks are indispensible. Maintenance of natural and city drainage system is essential for effective flood management. Community participation and civil society involvement are indispensable.

Observation

 Climate change creates more uncertainty in weather prediction change, in perception and practice of all concerned agencies, including decision makers A comprehensive flood management plan to cope with extreme flooding condition is called for, however, it is essential not only to strike for a balance between hard engineering and soft engineering , but also to go out of the water box to recognized the governance issue as demanded by forces of economic and urbanization

 Natures possess powerful force and are at a time delegate to deal with, may be learn to live with nature is a better option than to overcome nature. Therefore a recognition of limits to engineering , but also of community resilience are called for With the flooding problem becoming more complicate, exercise of common sense and local knowledge may simplify an acceptable solution. In this sense , attention to conflict management and broader platform of learning among stakeholder are essential