PHUKET is prepared to deal with a major disaster on a similar scale to the 2004 tsunami, either natural or manmade, meetings of key security personnel heard yesterday.
In a series of discussions at Provincial Hall, key security experts from Australia met with the Governor, Dr Preecha Ruangjan, then talked with other officials and law enforcement agencies.
The Australian delegates also have a plan in place to evacuate expat citizens if required.
Bushfires that killed more than 200 people in the Australian state of Victoria last month offered some more lessons for dealing with disasters, wherever they might occur.
Australia was the first nation to respond to the 2004 tsunami and, with the experience of the 2002 Bali bombing fresh in memories, the Australian team were able to advise Thai officials on key aspects of aftermath recovery.
Among those at yesterday's meetings were Brent Hall, director, Crisis Management and Contingency Planning, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Graham, Vice Chief of Defence Force Group, Directorate of Operational Planning, Tracey Wunder, First Secretary and Consul, Australian Embassy, and honorary consul, Larry Cunningham.
Other honorary consuls also joined in talks with local police and other groups with an interest in contingency planning, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Discussions also included Chodnarin Koedsom, Chief of Phuket Provincial Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
He said that Phuket was well prepared and disaster drills were frequently practiced.
Local hospitals were a key, Khun Chodnarin said, and senior doctors there would oversee first reactions to a disaster.
In the case of a terrorist attack, it would be up to the Prime Minister to decide the appropriate person to head a more complete response.
Issues of security at sea, dissemination of vital information, the potential for having all of Phuket's hospitals filled and other hypothetical outcomes were discussed in detail.
Mr Hall offered Australian support in reaction to a terrorist attack or a natural disaster.
Khun Chodnarin said offers of help would be appreciated and channeled appropriately, depending on the circumstances.
Vice Governor Smith Palawatvichai said that the experience of the 2004 tsunami had equipped the six Andaman provinces to react speedily, and even to collect DNA information if necessary.
The US Army had also been involved in aspects of training, Khun Smith said.
Assurances were also given that Phuket clubs, pubs and nightspots would be checked regularly in the wake of the New year's Eve Santika blaze in Bangkok, in which more than 60 people died.
A Foreign Ministry office opens on Phuket in April, in existing rooms at Provincial Hall.
Renewals of Australian passports will soon be possible through the honorary consul, without applicants having to travel to Bangkok.
In a series of discussions at Provincial Hall, key security experts from Australia met with the Governor, Dr Preecha Ruangjan, then talked with other officials and law enforcement agencies.
The Australian delegates also have a plan in place to evacuate expat citizens if required.
Bushfires that killed more than 200 people in the Australian state of Victoria last month offered some more lessons for dealing with disasters, wherever they might occur.
Australia was the first nation to respond to the 2004 tsunami and, with the experience of the 2002 Bali bombing fresh in memories, the Australian team were able to advise Thai officials on key aspects of aftermath recovery.
Among those at yesterday's meetings were Brent Hall, director, Crisis Management and Contingency Planning, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Graham, Vice Chief of Defence Force Group, Directorate of Operational Planning, Tracey Wunder, First Secretary and Consul, Australian Embassy, and honorary consul, Larry Cunningham.
Other honorary consuls also joined in talks with local police and other groups with an interest in contingency planning, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Discussions also included Chodnarin Koedsom, Chief of Phuket Provincial Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
He said that Phuket was well prepared and disaster drills were frequently practiced.
Local hospitals were a key, Khun Chodnarin said, and senior doctors there would oversee first reactions to a disaster.
In the case of a terrorist attack, it would be up to the Prime Minister to decide the appropriate person to head a more complete response.
Issues of security at sea, dissemination of vital information, the potential for having all of Phuket's hospitals filled and other hypothetical outcomes were discussed in detail.
Mr Hall offered Australian support in reaction to a terrorist attack or a natural disaster.
Khun Chodnarin said offers of help would be appreciated and channeled appropriately, depending on the circumstances.
Vice Governor Smith Palawatvichai said that the experience of the 2004 tsunami had equipped the six Andaman provinces to react speedily, and even to collect DNA information if necessary.
The US Army had also been involved in aspects of training, Khun Smith said.
Assurances were also given that Phuket clubs, pubs and nightspots would be checked regularly in the wake of the New year's Eve Santika blaze in Bangkok, in which more than 60 people died.
A Foreign Ministry office opens on Phuket in April, in existing rooms at Provincial Hall.
Renewals of Australian passports will soon be possible through the honorary consul, without applicants having to travel to Bangkok.
Having seen the tremendous community response in Phuket after the tsunami in 2004, well before all this special training and emergency procedures were put into place, I feel very confident that if, God forbid, another disaster strikes here, we are in very good hands.
Posted by SR on March 6, 2009 22:01