U.S. Government Assistance to Thailand: Flood Relief 2011

November 1, 2011

Relief Supplies

• $100,000 in immediate assistance to the Thai Red Cross for relief supplies on October 7.
• $500,000 in assistance from USAID’s Office of Disaster Assistance (OFDA) through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Management for relief supplies and equipment on October 20.
• $500,000 in additional assistance from USAID announced October 31.
• 18 boats, 300 life vests, and a water pump provided to the Royal Thai Police.

Personnel and Technical Assistance

• 10-person U.S. Marine Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team (HAST) from the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Thailand since October 15.
• USAID’s OFDA team assessing conditions in flooded areas to pinpoint assistance needs.
• U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) experts provided crisis response technical assistance to the Thai Ministry of Information and Communications Technology.
• U.S. crisis management expert assisting the Flood Relief Operations Command (FROC).
• U.S. PACOM supplying satellite imagery to the Royal Thai Military.
• The USS Mustin - part of the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group - is visiting Thailand.  Sailors from the ship have participated in community support and have donated 300,000 baht in personal funds.  Helicopters from the ship are working closely with the Thai Military to conduct aerial surveys.

U.S. Embassy Community Assistance

• U.S. Embassy community collecting relief supplies and donations.
• Community members donated blood to the Thai Red Cross.
• Community members volunteered to package first aid kits with the Thai Red Cross.
• Embassy volunteers prepared food for flood victims through the Volunteer Kitchen at Bangkok University. 

Long-term Recovery Assistance

• USG finalizing grant to The National Disaster Warning Center/Ministry of Information and Communications Technology to develop an integrated flood warning network.
• Annual Cobra Gold joint military exercises integrate humanitarian, disaster relief and recovery activities.
• USG to leverage Thailand-based medical resources to aid in recovery efforts.