Yotchanan held an urgent meeting with governors of all northern provinces to prepare for floods, highlighting five directives to open War Rooms in every province and proposing two plans to urgently involve private and government sectors in assistance.
On 20 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Yotchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, and chairman of the committee on flood and drought prevention in the northern region, visited Nan Province to monitor flood conditions. He called an urgent meeting with all northern provincial governors to prepare for a new wave of flooding, ordering the establishment of War Rooms in every province and calling for integrated assistance from all sectors.
Due to recent floods and landslides in several northern provinces such as Sukhothai, Mae Hong Son, and Phrae, the Deputy Prime Minister convened an urgent meeting with full participation from relevant agencies. Attendees included Je-sed Thaised, Deputy Minister of Interior; Chainarong Wongyai, Governor of Nan; and Thoraphat Kachamat, Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, along with governors from all northern provinces.
Yotchanan emphasized at the meeting the need for all areas to closely monitor water situations and effectively alert residents in vulnerable zones in advance to minimize damage. The meeting set five urgent directives as common guidelines for all northern provinces:
Establish a Single Command War Room in every province with the provincial governor as the director, to manage and coordinate the situation comprehensively.
Prepare necessary equipment such as water pumps, vehicles, and other rescue gear to be immediately available.
Set up warning systems and evacuation plans, including public alerts and rehearsals for relocating residents in risk areas.
Ready personnel and staff to be on standby for continuous operations.
Provide real-time situation reports directly to the Deputy Prime Minister, Ministry of Interior, and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation immediately upon emergencies.
Beyond these primary defensive measures, the meeting assessed the situation and prepared two additional management plans to enhance aid efficiency:
Coordinate cooperation with the private sector to mobilize resources and strengthen assistance capabilities for affected residents.
Integrate support from other government agencies by requesting additional assistance to ensure relief and recovery efforts are swift and comprehensive.