A case study for early warning and disaster management in Thailand

The article is suggesting that socio-economic change plays significant influence on disaster risk management, thus the current linear model for the assessment tool should be improved. This comprehensive instrument adopted an indicator-based approach for each element that makes up country's disaster management system Using Thailand as a case for application, the author has developed a more comprehensive assessment tool for early warning system and disaster management at the national level. It keeps the ordinal quality for comparison, yet nominal details which appear crucial for institutional and social conditions. Also it is suggested that the outline is to be country specific as based on national disaster management institutional structure. The study builds upon the premise that early warnings will only be as effective as the collective strengths of policies, laws, institutional frameworks, and capacities of national and local officials responsible for disaster management systems; hence this assessment method will clarify and advance the political mandate for disaster management responsibilities for Thailand. It also assesses policy and regulatory frameworks that define Thailand's approach to disaster management and support targeted national policy arid regulatory interventions that strengthen overall national emergency management organizations and systems in Thailand. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.