BANGKOK, 8 February 2013 The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) held a seminar on the impact of solar storms that the US space agency predicted would hit the earth by May of this year.
DDPM chief Chatchai Promlert said the seminar is organized to provide accurate information on threats from the solar flares and to minimize panic among members of the public. Disaster management experts, DDPM officials and volunteers have been invited to join the discussion panel on the unusual solar activity.
Mr Chatchai elaborated that information gathered from the seminar is set to be incorporated into the department’s contingency plans. The department assured that back-up power generators and alternative power sources have been prepared for the fallout of solar storms.
By May of this year, the sun will reach the peak of its 11-year activity cycle, which puts the planet at greater risk of solar storms. The radiation from the storms that may shower the Earth could wreak havoc on satellite communications, radio waves and the electricity grid.
