Communicating to the public is a key factor in saving lives during a natural disaster. U.S. Embassy Bangkok, in partnership with the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM) from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, hosted a multi-day Strategic Communications in Disaster Management workshop, designed to strengthen public communications skills for, and interoperability between, 55 representatives of the variety of civil, governmental, military, and media entities involved in disaster response in Thailand. These participants came from all over Thailand to better disperse this life-saving information. The training included panels with experts such as Kathryn Flachsbart, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission U.S. Embassy Bangkok and Tavida Kamolvej, Deputy Governor, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration who shared their knowledge and experiences with the group.

Together, these participants strengthened skills in effective crisis communication, emphasizing the critical role of accurate and timely reporting during disasters. By enhancing coordination and response capabilities, lives are safer—those of residents, business owners, workers, and visitors, including Americans—across Thailand and beyond.
U.S. Embassy Bangkok appreciates the following for sending representatives from around the country: Royal Thai Armed Forces, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Ministry of Transport Marine Department, Prime Minister’s Office (Intl Relations Dept.), Department of Disease Control, Irrigation Water Management and Maintenance Division, Provincial PR, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Chiang Mai Municipality and media representatives from online, print, and radio.