The assessment of the health, environmental and economic risks of people affected by the floods in 3 floodplain areas Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

The purposes of this research were to study the impact of floods and to assess the health, environmental and economic risks of people affected by floods in the 3 river basins of Nakhon Ratchasima Province. A total of 405 samples living in 3 river basins namely Lam Takong Basin, Lam Chiangkrai Basin, and Lam Mun Basin were obtained by stratified sampling method. Data were collected using questionnaires with a reliability value of 0.80. The data were analyzed and presented using descriptive statistics. The results showed that 53.6% of the samples were females, 99.5% were affected by floods, and 58.7% of them had their house flooded. From the risks assessment, 52.8% were at a moderate level. By each aspect, the economic aspect was at a high level of 28.6%: the cultivation areas, gardens, and fields were damaged; rice and rice varieties for family consumption and sale were damaged. The social aspect was at a moderate level of 83.3%: external agencies and communities provided support on foods and sustenance appropriately and timely. The mental and physical health aspect was at a moderate level of 57.1%: skin disease issues such as athlete’s foot; life stresses, illnesses, debts, properties, damaged items; and insomnia, anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. Public health and environmental aspect were at a moderate level of 100.0%: an increasing number of poisonous or dangerous animals. The physical environment and town plan aspect were at a high level of 60.0%: the low-lying areas, reservoirs for runoff from other areas. The biological aspect was at a high level of 60.0%. Flooding affects industrial crops, household crops as well as fishery resources and aquaculture. Therefore, in order to prevent flooding problems every year, an integrated flood management plan in the 3 river basins should be prepared to prevent risks that will affect the economy, the physical environment and town plan, and the biological environment for a short and a long term.