Nattapong points out that flood management in Nan province requires a systemic solution. He proposes increasing local authorities' power to issue flood warnings, using GIS for command to reduce repeated losses, and establishing a nationwide machinery registry to enable incident commanders to allocate resources immediately.
On 27 Aug 2026, during an urgent debate on the flood situation in the House of Representatives, Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, a party-list MP and leader of the opposition, stated that flood solutions should not focus only on immediate relief and recovery but also on preventing recurring flooding problems, especially in Nan province, which suffered floods continuously in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Nattapong said that after visiting Pua district in Nan province with MPs Charoen Apiphatkosol (Nan constituency 3) and Chaowit Innoy (Nan constituency 1), they heard from residents of Ban Fai, Ban Hia, and Ban Ket that they had never before seen flash floods and sudden flooding like this in the past 100 years. This indicates changing climate patterns and the occurrence of localized heavy rain events, or 'Rain Bombs,' causing rapid flash floods that traditional response systems cannot handle in time.
Nattapong proposed that “the warning system must adapt to changing climate conditions,” suggesting the government develop a community-based disaster risk management (CBDRM) system alongside the Cell Broadcast warning system.
He cited field data from Nan province showing that many residents first heard bells, door knocks, and community leader warnings before receiving Cell Broadcast alerts. Because Rain Bomb events are difficult to predict accurately, having a community-level warning system is critically important.
He further proposed that the government empower local administrative organizations and area agencies to send Cell Broadcast alerts in their own areas immediately when local officers detect risky situations, without waiting for central government decisions.
Nattapong gave examples of differences in preparation times among Nan districts. From Pua district, water flows downstream to Tha Wang Pha, Phu Phiang, Mueang district, and Wiang Sa. Downstream areas receive earlier warnings and thus have reduced damage. In Tha Wang Pha, residents had about six hours advance notice but still saw deaths among bedridden patients who could not evacuate in time. He clarified that he did not intend to blame any agency but urged the government to review disaster management during that six-hour window, especially regarding locating and evacuating vulnerable groups.
In Mueang and Phu Phiang districts, residents had about nine hours' advance notice and improved preparation but still faced inaccurate water level forecasts. Alerts predicted water levels around 9.35 meters, but actual levels were about 8.85 meters, a 50-centimeter discrepancy. Nattapong suggested reviewing and improving forecasting models, as inaccuracies can affect decisions and public safety. In Wiang Sa district, residents had about one day’s notice before floodwaters arrived and suffered less damage, as they received advance information from multiple channels and had more time to prepare.
Proposed disaster command center to use GIS for real-time data on population and resources.
Nattapong continued that beyond warning systems, Thailand lacks a centralized disaster management system using GIS technology for command, allowing officials to view critical data simultaneously—such as which areas flooded first or later, elevation, homes with vulnerable populations, who has evacuated or chosen to stay, and locations of rescue teams.
“The foundation is establishing a centralized command center that consolidates decision-making and uses GIS technology for management,” Nattapong said. He noted that during the Nan floods, coordination of information, equipment, personnel, and private sector involvement remained limited, despite government command centers being set up when incidents occurred.
Nattapong proposed that such a system would assist before, during, and after disasters, especially in evacuating vulnerable groups. If the government has data on which homes contain vulnerable populations, it can provide aid before floodwaters arrive.
Relief system remains redundant; proposes using GIS and Geocoding for faster aid payments.
Regarding relief, Nattapong said that although the government communicated that documents are not required to claim aid, field visits found people still had to fill paper forms for payment processes. He proposed using house registration data with geolocation overlaid on flood maps via GIS to classify residents into groups and expedite payments. For residents whose names appear on house registrations in affected areas, payments could be verified and disbursed directly through the system. For renters or those whose names don’t match registrations, community leader certification might be used to allow most people to receive aid promptly without lengthy paperwork.
Proposed establishing a nationwide machinery registry.
For recovery, Nattapong suggested creating a registry of disaster response tools and resources showing which agencies have backhoes, loaders, or other machinery and their locations. This would allow incident commanders to allocate limited resources efficiently and reduce duplicated efforts. He stressed that disaster management should not only address immediate situations but also establish long-term systems, particularly updating the national disaster prevention and mitigation plan, which expires in 2027. Preparation for the 2028–2032 plan is underway, and he urged the government to incorporate lessons from real events and debates to ensure practical implementation. He also called for accelerating two related bills: the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act and the Budget Procedures Act, especially budget systems, which he views as key to long-term flood solutions. Even if agencies have good water management plans, if projects are developed separately without integration, flooding will continue repeatedly.
Urged government to clarify 2027 budget plan for upgrading Thong Noi Weir.
At the debate’s end, Nattapong cited Thong Noi Weir as an example of budget system and agency structure limitations, questioning the government's plans for its 2027 budget to improve the weir for optimal water management in the Nan River basin.
Nattapong noted that Thong Noi Weir is currently managed by the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency under the Ministry of Energy, not by the Royal Irrigation Department or the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. This highlights the need to view water management as a unified system rather than separated by agency tasks. “Today we are not just discussing immediate fixes but must look long-term at how to manage the entire water system.” He urged the government to incorporate field visit insights and debate proposals to improve water management systems so citizens won’t suffer repeated flood losses in the future.