"Puean Pueang (Phor)" and its mission to prevent and assist flood victims is one of the valuable royal projects of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha.
Volunteer Foundation Puean Pueang (Phor) in Distress, Thai Red Cross Society. It was established in 1995 under the royal initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali, the Princess Suddhanarinatha, who served as the lifetime honorary president, and Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati, the Princess Rajasarinisiri Patchara Maha Vajrarajathida, who serves as the chairperson of the board.
Initially, it was just a volunteer project to assist with the major flood in Bangkok in 1995. It then continued its operations and was officially established as a foundation on 21 November 2001, allowing donors to receive tax deductions. The foundation has operated continuously for over 30 years, specializing in comprehensive flood relief, linking, supporting, and collaborating with government, private sectors, and the public to alleviate flood suffering. Currently, it has more than 20,000 volunteers.
The flood relief efforts are divided into three parts. The first part is Flood prevention. If anticipated and partly prevented, losses can be reduced. The foundation has a project for disaster early warning by installing "Automated Telemetry Stations" to prepare for water situations. These stations measure weather conditions, rainfall, and water levels in rivers and transmit data to a central computer or the National Water Data Center. Officials analyze the data, and if the water exceeds set thresholds, SMS alerts are sent to at-risk communities.
The first automated telemetry station was installed in Uttaradit Province in 2006 after a major flood in Laplae District caused significant loss of life and property. Then in 2007, additional stations were installed in flood-affected areas of Uttaradit and Phrae Provinces, totaling nine stations. In 2019, 14 more stations were added in Nan and Sakon Nakhon Provinces.
In 2020, the foundation signed memorandums of understanding with seven agencies: Provincial Electricity Authority, Department of Provincial Administration, Department of Local Administration, Department of National Parks, Department of Forestry, National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, and the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute to install 510 telemetry stations in watershed forest areas covering the entire country. Later, in 2024, cooperation expanded to include the Office of the National Water Resources, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and the Royal Thai Army. As of 31 August 2024, 242 stations have been installed nationwide.
The foundation not only cares for citizens domestically but also Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati, has initiated expanding cooperation to install automated telemetry stations in neighboring countries, specifically Laos, after the 2018 major flood in Attapeu Province in southern Laos caused by the collapse of the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy dam and heavy rainfall. An MOU was signed to exchange flood early warning information.
The foundation also follows this royal initiative by planning to install telemetry stations in Myanmar to prevent losses in both countries, especially in the Mae Sai–Tachileik border area, an important economic zone prone to annual flooding. In 2024, three stations were installed in Tachileik Province, Myanmar.
In addition to installing telemetry stations, Princess Bajrakitiyabha has the royal initiative to establish the "Puean Pueang (Phor) Community Disaster Warning Network" in high-risk and frequently flood-affected areas. Volunteers in 19 vulnerable communities nationwide have been trained to use technology for disaster warnings and to support each other within their communities, creating sustainable disaster monitoring. Princess Bajrakitiyabha places great importance on training and knowledge exchange, often personally attending the opening of disaster management courses for the warning network.
"Our nearly 30 years of relief work helps during floods. Distributing royal relief bags and operating royal kitchens provide short-term aid, but if people know the impact beforehand, they can evacuate or avoid these dangers," said Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, vice chairman of the foundation's advisory board.
Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai cited the policy of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha, chairperson of the foundation, who assigned him to coordinate with relevant agencies to install telemetry stations.
The major flood in Chiang Rai in September 2024 was one of the largest floods, but thanks to Princess Bajrakitiyabha’s vision to use technology combined with the royal principle of "Arrive first, leave last," the foundation's team was able to assist from day one.
Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat, a foundation board member who was in the field with the team, said, "Arrive first, leave last" means that as soon as information from telemetry stations and other sources is received, the Puean Pueang (Phor) volunteers deploy immediately. If any area lacks equipment or tools, they request supplies from the foundation, which can approve funding via Line instantly. All this comes from the vision of the foundation’s chairperson to provide timely aid.
Mr. Chaichan Supaveerakul, an advisor to Puean Pueang (Phor) volunteers, shared that on 9 September 2024, the first day of the disaster, the team received a warning from the automated telemetry system about heavy rain and rushed north. They arrived on 10 September, coinciding with the breach of the dam on the Myanmar side, flooding Chiang Rai. The volunteer team reported to the Chiang Rai coordination center, and with ready boats and equipment, they were sent to assist in red zones, rescuing a 94-year-old man and an 88-year-old woman safely. Had they arrived 1-2 hours later, the floodwaters would have submerged their houses.
For over 30 years, the Volunteer Foundation Puean Pueang (Phor) in Distress, Thai Red Cross Society, has demonstrated the far-reaching insight of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha, transforming relief efforts from reactive to preventive by integrating automated telemetry technology with the power of community volunteer networks.
Under the working principle "Arrive first, leave last," the foundation not only provides immediate relief but also builds a sustainable warning system, expands assistance to neighboring countries, and serves as a reliable support protecting the lives and property of the people.