Rotary Club of Patong Beach Tsunami Relief Trip Report

Date of Trip: 9-10 September 2006

Trip location: Kuraburi, Phang Nga Province, Thailand

Name of Rotarian(s): Bradley Kenny and Larry Amsden

Project: Toe-Min Family House, Kuraburi, Phang Nga Province

The purpose of this Tsunami Relief trip was to check up on all Rotary Club of Patong Beach projects in the Kuraburi area in general and specifically check on the finishing of the Toe-Min Family House.

Background: The Toe-Min Family consists of Mr. and Mrs. Toe-Min and their 7 children. Prior to the Tsunami they lived in a floating house above their fish pens in the Kuraburi Aho Koie area.

They were in their house the morning of December 26^th 2004 and fortunately they received a frantic phone call from relatives in Phuket telling them of the “waves” hitting Phuket and to get out of their house. They immediately got into their longtail boat and headed for land just arriving and getting to high enough land prior to the first wave hitting the Kuraburi area.

Although very fortunate to have survived with all their children unhurt, they lost all else for their house was totally missing along with their fish farm pens. Additionally, their long tail boat was damaged.

Mr. Toe-Min was able to temporarily house his family in a relatives small work warehouse and took temporary work with many other relief agencies assisting others. He became engrossed with the relief work assisting and building houses for so many, that he didn’t understand he himself was missing government deadlines to file for assistance for his own house. He did get some assistance for his damaged boat and on top of being basically a squatter, did not receive any assistance for his lost house and business.

Mr. and Mrs. Toe-Min and 4 of their 7 children outside their temporary house in November 2005.	Leaking roof of their temporary house.

Their plight was brought forward to Brad Kenny through Mr. Giro and his relief agency in Phang Nga. After our Rotary Club of Patong Beach normal due diligence, proper documentation was presented to build a new house on land owned by family members in the Kuraburi area near the Kuraburi Boat Pier. The RCPB Board then approved the house construction and our Rotary Corps Village of Baan Pak Triam was selected to do the construction at a discounted rate.

Many delays were encountered in this project and the house was finally in a move in condition by June 2006. At the time of this report the house was completed with the exception of the toilet in the back and a new construction company was selected to finish the toilet for Baht 20,000.

A final inspection is therefore due in a 2 week period and this project should be finalized at that time.

Mr. and Mrs. Toe-Min new house under construction.	The Too-Min family with new house.

Mr. and Mrs. Toe-Min new house under construction.	The Too-Min family new house.

The only item remaining to complete this project is the Toilet behind the house. Updated report planned in 2 weeks to close out this project.

Brad Kenny - RCPB