During the 2011 Rainy Season, Thailand was hit by several typhoons (aka hurricanes or cyclones). In the North, many communities and villages were hit by flooding 7 or 8 times within a 2 months period. They’d clean up their homes and possessions, but before anything had time to dry, another flood would sweep through the village.

Thais are very pragmatic. The floods are a part of life. Your figure out work arounds to get on with life. You wade through waist deep water to get to the high place where your motorbike is parked into order to ride to work. You transform your food cart into a boat, so you can keep making money. You sleep in a bed infested with termites looking for a new home. You sit in your flooded living room, watching T.V. You eat your lunch as the flood waters swirl around you. This may sound crazy to you, but it’s the truth. Our friend experienced all of this and more. And she always managed to keep that Beautiful Thai Smile on her face.

One Third of Thailand is covered in flood waters. The ground is saturated. The rivers are bursting. The Dams are braking.  There’s nowhere for the water to go, except South to the Gulf of Thailand. But the problem is that Bangkok is in the way. So, the flood waters continue to rise. Bangkok is being inundated with 16 billion cubic meters of water, flowing down from the Mountains and Rivers of the North and North East. Many of the levies have broken, or are too low to contain that volume of water within Bangkok’s rivers and canals. Many areas of Bangkok are expecting 1.5 to 2 meters of water to rush through streets, businesses and homes. And it will take One to Two Months for the flood waters to completely subside.

The immediate impact is already being seen. Millions are displaced by evacuation. Infrastructure is disrupted. Industry and Economy effected. Dramatic inflation in cost of basic needs like food, water, shelter, and toilet paper. All over the country, supplies are scarce as Bangkok is the main port and supply route.

I can’t imagine what long term impact of this flooding will be. Some reports say that the economic repercussions will effect much of Asia. 

Thailand is suffering, but as you can see by many of the photos on the web, they are still displaying the Thai Smile that hides all the turmoil that is churning underneath.

Life Goes On. When the flood hits, you adapt, you play, you just have to wait for it to pass.

You help your neighbour as much as you can. It’s a community event. No such thing as ‘every man for himself’ (in most places).

But what will the long term impact be? How long will they be able to suffer before something breaks?

Please keep Thailand in your prayers. Think about donating to one of the NGO’s that are working within Thailand to provide food, water, clothing and toilet paper to the Millions effected by this flood.

If you want to know more, you can visit the following sites to get news and to find out who’s helping and how to donate:

News:
www.bangkokpost.com
www.nationmulitmedia.com

NGO updates and Donations:
http://www.ywamthai.org/news/

(Edit : I have tried to find info on other organizations that are accepting donations, but so far have found nothing. So, YWAM is the way to go).

NOTE: as I wrote this, as friend posted a report on Facebook about escalation of unrest in Southern Thailand. Even more reasons to keep this wonderful Nation in prayer!!!