HII and MHESRI Join Forces with MOI to Establish War Room for Flood Response and Support
20/09/2024
On September 15, 2024, at 9:45 a.m., at the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Center (NDPMCC), the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, chaired a meeting to monitor the flood situation and provide assistance to affected communities. The meeting was attended by Ms. Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESRI), Dr. Teerarat Samretwanich, Deputy Minister of Interior, and relevant ministry officials, provincial governors, DDPM, Meteorological Department (TMD), Hydro-Informatics Institute (HII), Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR), the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), and senior officials from MHESRI and MOI.
Mr. Anutin stated that the government is closely monitoring the situation, and various agencies have been mobilized to assist affected communities. To ensure efficient response and preparedness, the Ministry of Interior has collaborated with MHESRI to establish a War Room to communicate water situation data in flood-risk areas. This initiative aims to provide accurate information for field operators and the public to prepare and respond effectively, reducing potential losses and impacts on the community.
Ms. Supamas announced that MHESRI is fully prepared to support government efforts in flood and drought response. MHESRI has set up the Flood Situation Operations Center at MHESRI headquarters on August 26, and today, the War Room has been relocated to the Ministry of Interior to streamline flood management efforts. HII will activate the ThaiWater real-time data system at the Command Center of DDPM. Additionally, more than 150 universities nationwide have been designated as MHESRI Frontline Mechanisms, establishing provincial operations centers to assist affected communities, working in coordination with MOI’s local authorities, police, and military forces.
Ms. Supamas outlined the three operational phases of MHESRI’s flood response:
1. Post-Flood Rehabilitation: MHESRI will work on post-flood recovery, supporting local communities with resources and technology for water management and disaster relief.
2. Flood Monitoring: HII will act as the National Hydroinformatics Data Center, collecting and integrating data from 52 agencies across 12 ministries, using advanced water situation monitoring and forecasting systems.
3. Assistance During Floods: MHESRI will deploy Mobile War Rooms to flood-prone areas to monitor weather and water conditions in real-time, using satellite images and rainfall data. HII will also use predictive models to identify high-risk areas and report through websites and mobile applications such as the National Water Data Center website, Provincial Water Resource Management Center website, and ThaiWater Mobile Application.
Ms. Supamas emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation, stating, “Today, MHESRI has collaborated with the Ministry of Interior to establish this War Room to communicate integrated water situation data. MHESRI’s role is to prepare and translate data, support data systems, technology, and innovations for monitoring and communicating water situations to relevant agencies and local organizations. We also have the www.thaiwater.net website for monitoring and reporting water situations to aid in planning and decision-making in affected areas.”
In addition, Ms. Supamas stressed the importance of public participation in monitoring and reporting water situations in their communities and encouraged downloading and using the ThaiWater application, developed by HII, for quick and easy access to water situation information.
