Table-Top Exercise for Testing the Efficiency of Community Database for Flood Management in Two Subdistricts in Songkhla Lake Basin

Abstract

The objective of this research is to study the efficiency of using a community database for flood management in two communities in Songkhla Lake Basin-Banthad Mountain Range Community in Phatthalung Province and Lake Community in Sonkhla Province. A table-top exercise (TTX)-simulations

of emergency situations, including two cases before flooding and eight cases during flooding, were employed so that participants would analyze what actions they would take to cope with the emergencies in relation to their particular roles/responsible positions. The community database system for flood management, which was collaboratively developed by the researcher and

community core-team members and staff of local authorities in both areas, was used in the activity. The database system is comprised of five aspects of data: physical and environmental, economic, and social aspects, as well as floods in the past. The target group included community core-team members and leaders, staff of local authorities, government officials, and civil hazard protection volunteers. The numbers of participants in Banthad Mountain Range Community and Lake Community are fourteen and twelve respectively. Data collection methods entail two records forms of flood coping actions and problems/obstructions in the exercise, together with semi-structured interview.

It was found that the participants could use data from the database system to cope with the situations both before and during flooding. Most data used were mainly physical and environmental aspect, population, economic andsocial one.