Pattaya Social Welfare Department inspectors toured areas affected by tropical depression Gaemi, promising financial aid to families whose homes were damaged.
Department bureaucrats visited Pacific Village in North Pattaya and Soi Wat Thamsamakkee in South Pattaya Oct. 9, three days after Gaemi came ashore weaker than expected, but dropping six hours of rain on the city. Numerous homes were flooded with electrical appliances and other items damaged.
Flood victim Prasert Sornkhum, 43, shows photos of the flood damage at his home, evidence to support receiving relief from City Hall.
Pacific Village resident Songsil Phetmuang, 43, said she has suffered repeated flooding woes over her 20 years in the neighborhood and while neighbors have retrofitted their houses to withstand rainwater better, she hasn’t earned enough selling barbecue chicken to fix her house.
She complained city representatives often come out and inspect and document damage, but do little to solve the source of the flooding.
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn said he empathized with flood victims, but also argued many had ignored warnings about the storm. Nonetheless, he said, city workers will again document damage and submit claims to city hall. However, he warned, compensation may not match the residents’ expectations.
Visiting bureaucrats told residents they would submit a stack of documents in order to obtain any compensation, including house registration, personal identification, rental contracts, deeds, photo documentation, details of damage and completed city forms.
For more information, contact the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department at 038-272-808.
