As Thailand heads towards a general election next year, political parties are drafting their electoral campaigns, most of which focus on bread-and-butter issues, the cost of living and the welfare of the public.
These issues are certainly relevant.
Yet, I hope to see parties also place strong emphasis on disaster-management policies.
The recent floods in Songkhla's Hat Yai provide a stark reminder of the country's vulnerability to natural disasters and the urgent need for far better disaster-management plans and policies.
A huge number of local people and foreign tourists, mostly Malaysians, were affected, with many residents criticising the government's slow response, inefficient warning system and sluggish evacuation work.
In case we forget, Hat Yai mayor, Narongporn Na Phatthalung, initially assured communities the situation was under control and that heavy flooding would not occur.
Such misinformation and false signals made communities complacent and discouraged early evacuation.
That may explain why, when the waters rose quickly, many Hat Yai residents -- despite being familiar with annual floods -- panicked and felt clueless.
When the Songkhla governor issued an immediate evacuation order, many residents did not know where to go.
The government, however, denied criticism of its disaster response, insisting that warnings and evacuation orders had been issued in advance but that many residents refused to leave.
This is not the right time to assign blame or deflect responsibility.
Water levels in Hat Yai have already decreased and the situation is beginning to improve.
Efforts are underway to accelerate drainage and ease the impact so flood victims can return to their normal lives.
What we must do now is understand the entire situation and figure out how to fix the problems.
It is time to discuss and develop stronger flood-management plans to minimise the impact of future disasters and improve Thailand's disaster-management and evacuation systems.
The Hat Yai flood exposes critical weaknesses in the country's disaster-management structure and underscores the need for more resilient, adaptive and community-centred strategies.
All stakeholders -- affected residents, local and national authorities, the private sector, academics, water-management and disaster experts, even engineering students, and, most importantly, politicians -- should come together to share ideas and draw lessons from Hat Yai's experience.
Together, they should develop a plan, a set of lessons learned, or an action plan that can guide effective measures going forward.
As everyone knows, serious flooding has become normal and more frequent in Thailand.
Over the past several years, farmland, homes and infrastructure have been repeatedly hit, leaving thousands displaced and communities struggling to recover.
Beyond economic loss, floods carry profound social and psychological consequences, affecting the mental and physical health of survivors and placing heavy burdens on families.
I would like to see politicians and policymakers work towards stronger disaster-management plans and policies.
From my experience reporting on natural disasters in the provinces, I have spoken with experts, rescue staff, local officials and flood victims.
Their views are consistent: government agencies and policymakers have long ignored urban planning and land-use policies.
Integrated urban planning can be a powerful tool to prevent floods and protect environmentally sensitive areas such as natural floodplains that absorb excess water.
Flood-prone cities like Hat Yai require zoning laws that discourage development in high-risk areas and encourage flood-resilient construction.
More importantly, quality warning systems must be available everywhere.
Central and local governments must rehearse evacuation procedures and educate the public on what to do.
Good warning systems save lives and reduce damage.
The government should also preserve existing wetlands and mangroves and restore damaged natural waterways.
These natural catchment areas are among the most effective forms of flood control.
Local governments must also work harder to dredge small canals and, where necessary, build new ones.
Efficient drainage systems are essential for flood-prone areas in the South and the Central Plains.
Of course, smaller flood-related issues fall under local authority. But for major disasters such as Hat Yai, the national government must take charge, mobilise resources and direct all disaster-management efforts in a unified manner.
With the election expected in early March, political parties and all parliamentary candidates should use the remaining time to develop substantive proposals.
They might even highlight successful examples from other countries' flood-management strategies as part of their campaign message.
This would demonstrate that, if elected, they are capable of addressing Thailand's flood problem effectively.
It is high time for us, as eligible voters, to exercise our right to choose the right MPs and the right parties to take responsibility for disaster-management -- a challenge no less important than economic or social issues.
We should cast our votes for parties with good and practical policies, rather than making decisions based solely on personal or political preference.
Flood-management policy should be recognised as a matter of national security and economic stability.
Just as voters demand policies on jobs, education and healthcare, they must also demand substantive plans for disaster resilience.
Parties with strong disaster-management policies should be elected.
Politicians with no interest in improving disaster management are irrelevant -- and disposable.
