Help Flooded Villagers in Northern Thailand: Your Support Can Make a Difference

Hi, my name is Eric Southwick, I live in and work in the affected area below. I am raising funds to support villagers in Northern Thailand who have been devastated by severe flooding. Several communities, including Ban Mae Taman, Ban Muang Kuet Chang, Ban Sop Kai, Pong Ngaen, and Ban Pa Khao Lam, have been hit hard, with 166 households losing most, if not all, of their lifelong possessions. Some homes and businesses were completely swept away. This is the largest flood in over 40 years, and only the village elders can recall anything similar.

Ban Muang Kuet has been the hardest hit, with 127 households and 656 people affected, so we are focusing our relief efforts there.

On October 4th, the river surged early in the morning, engulfing much of Ban Muang Kuet within just 30 minutes to an hour. The flooding cut off road access to much of the river valley, and landslides made rescue and recovery efforts even more difficult. The speed of the flood, combined with thick sediment turning the water into liquid mud, left homes filled with 1 to 3 feet of mud, creating enormous challenges for clean-up and rebuilding.

My company, 8Adventures, operates whitewater rafting, ATV, and trekking tours in the area, with our base camp in Ban Muang Kuet. In response to the disaster, my team and I immediately put our skills and equipment to use. We used rafts, life jackets, and inflatable kayaks to evacuate elderly residents, children, and those unable to swim to higher ground. The village temple became the command center for rescue efforts, overseen by the village head.

As the floodwaters receded, we began the daunting task of recovery. We have already contributed more than 1,344 hours of volunteer labor, digging houses out of the mud so families can return home. We've also donated hundreds of meals and drinking water, and now we’re helping provide essential items like beds, stoves, and mosquito nets.

We need your support to continue this effort. While we’ve done everything we can with our own resources, the need is still immense. Your donations will go directly to purchasing basic necessities—beds, sheets, mosquito nets, and stoves—for families who have lost everything. We will personally ensure that money goes to buying goods and is not just handed out for the families, and will keep you updated on the progress of every family we help.

Since this campaign wasn’t planned, I haven’t had time to set up an official nonprofit. Your donations will go into my personal account, and I will transfer the funds to Thailand to purchase the necessary items. Rest assured, we will be transparent every step of the way, and your generosity will directly impact those in need.

Thank you so much for your support during this critical time.