Building National Capacities in Thailand

A high-level delegation from Thailand met with the Pacific Disaster Center on Maui to plan for the development of Thailand's National Disaster Warning Center. Front row from left: Dr. Cherdsak Virapat, Thailand National Disaster Warning Center; Dr. Atchara Wongsaengchan, Thailand National Disaster Warning Center; Ray Shirkhodai, PDC; Dr. Plodprasop Suraswadi, Thailand National Disaster Warning Center; and Dr. Allen Clark, PDC.
Back row from left: James Buika; Sharon Mielbrecht; Stanley Goosby; and Dr. George Buck, PDC.

The Executive Director of Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Center, Vice Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister, Dr. Plodprasop Suraswadi, visited Maui during July 28-29, 2005 for planning discussions with the Pacific Disaster Center. The visit by the Vice Minister and his assistants, Dr. Atchara Wongsaengchan, and Dr. Cherdsak Virapat, follows the opening of the National Disaster Warning Center in Bangkok two months ago—during which PDC played an important role by conducting a tsunami exercise for Center staff.

Since the December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that claimed more than 7,500 lives in coastal regions of southern Thailand, the Thai government has sought to strengthen its disaster-warning infrastructure. The National Disaster Warning Center enables experts to monitor, analyze, and disseminate warnings about potentially deadly natural disasters. The Center is linked to disaster-related agencies—including Hawaii’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Japan Meteorological Agency.

“The people of Thailand suffered an extraordinary tragedy as a result of the Indian Ocean tsunami,” said PDC Director Allen Clark. “Since then, PDC has assisted the Thai government in their program to develop a system that will deliver timely warnings and save lives and property.”

PDC’s work in Thailand began prior to the Indian Ocean tsunami, when it engaged in a landslide project with the Thai government. Immediately after December 26, PDC staff deployed to the region to provide data analysis support for Thai response and recovery operations.

In May, PDC completed a deployment to Bangkok to provide technical assistance to support the National Disaster Warning Center. This included conducting a tsunami tabletop exercise for Thai officials, a televised meeting with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and attending the Center’s Grand Opening along with representatives from 19 countries from throughout South East Asia and the global community.

July’s visit by Thai officials officials also included meetings in Honolulu with the East-West Center, the Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, and Hawaii State Civil Defense.

PDC’s Chief Scientist Stanley Goosby and Dr. George Buck received an award in Bangkok
from the Thai Government at the Grand Opening of the National Disaster Warning Center.