ภูมิปัญญาท้องถิ่นกับการจัดการภัยพิบัติอุทกภัยในพื้นที่ลุ่มน้ำคลองอู่ตะเภา

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to investigate local wisdom relating to flood disaster management in the U-taphao basin area; and to compare the use of local wisdom for disaster management in each area (upstream, midstream, and downstream); and to develop ways to utilize the wisdom as knowledge or a tool for future disaster management of the community. This qualitative study recruited 25 key informants consisting of community leaders/village headmen, representatives of people affected by the flood disaster, and local wise men in three areas of Khlong U- taphao basin: Prik Sub-district Municipality (upstream), Phatong Sub-district Municipality (midstream), and Khlong Hae Town Municipality (downstream). Interviews and focus group discussions then were conducted, and data were analyzed using content analysis. The study results revealed that local wisdom in the three areas could be divided into four categories. (1) Mitigation wisdom-They modified houses into two-storey houses; for one-storey houses, storage and sleeping areas were elevated and they built houses on fill raised above the design flood level but this method could cause trouble for people living in the lower area as water would have no way to go but return to flood the area and cause even more damage. (2) Preparedness wisdom- People hoarded food and moved their belongings to higher places. In addition, they used wisdom relating to animals and plants as preparation for the coming flood. They observe if ants move their eggs to higher places or if snails lay eggs up high on posts, or if many earthworms come up on the ground; Yapylew flowers bloom, Khun flowers have two narrow petals, and Saeng Khan flowers bloom; and elderly people observe the weather like the direction of the Big Dipper, the direction of the wind, and the sunlight in the rainy season, all of these can tell them that there will be heavy rain and floods. They believe that these are warnings from nature and they should be prepared for it. (3) Response wisdom-They moved to the second floor of the house or a safe place provided by the municipality and they did fishing during the flood. (4) Recovery wisdom-They adapted their occupations; if they could not do trading because goods had been damaged by the flood, they went hunting for plants, fruits and fish for sale. They also improved their houses and made them stronger.