SONGKHLA — The owner of the only house in the Songkhla neighborhood that escaped flooding has shared details about the most crucial piece of equipment he used, how he managed to set everything up within just one hour, and how he handled the drainage system, with results that exceeded his expectations.
The case went viral after a Facebook user named Wicharit Leelakorn posted photos showing that his house was the only one in his housing project that remained unflooded during the recent disaster in Songkhla province. The post attracted significant attention online, with many people asking him for detailed steps and techniques to protect their own homes.
The homeowner Wicharit Leelakorn told Khaosod Online that his house is located in Na Mom sub-district, Na Mom district, Songkhla province, near Hat Yai, an area that usually experiences flash floods rather than prolonged inundation.
Before this event, the Meteorological Department had issued warnings of heavy rainfall. Once the rain began, he noticed the water was rising faster than usual. Previously, floods in the area would last only about two hours, but this time was the most severe.
On the first night when water poured into his house, he barely had time to prepare. After finishing some errands with his partner, it was already dark. When he saw the water briefly recede and cars start moving again, he rushed out to buy a generator, tarpaulins, and other equipment, anticipating that the situation was far from over.
He hurried back to the village as the water began rising again. Together with his partner, he quickly assembled a flood-protection system. It took only an hour to complete, and when the water surged again later, his house remained dry, though some seepage still occurred.
He said the most important item was the generator, because if the power went out, he would not be able to run the water pumps needed to drain water from the house. Fortunately, he already had several pumps because he raises fish. The main protective materials he used were tarpaulins and metal bars.
He measured the tarpaulin to fit tightly across the front door, secured it with metal bars, and tied it to the fence to withstand the water pressure. He also plugged the drainage pipes with cloth and stones to prevent water from flowing back into the house.
He said the entire idea came from watching YouTube videos and learning from overseas practices, which he then adapted for his home and the results turned out far better than he expected. He admitted that if he had done this during the first surge, his home would not have been flooded at all.
Additionally, his house was the only one in the project that did not lose power. As a result, more than 20 neighboring households came to charge their mobile phones, power banks, and other devices throughout the day. He allowed them to use electricity for free, saying that as the village headman, he wanted to help everyone during a crisis.
Wicharit concluded that flood prevention is not difficult if people prepare in advance, especially in areas where floodwater is not too high. He urged flood victims not to rely solely on government agencies, as officials may be delayed during severe floods. “Help yourself as much as possible,” he said, adding that whenever evacuation warnings are issued, residents should leave immediately for their own safety and that of their families.
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