The Ban Pluak Ngam, Phitsanulok Flood in 2026 (B.E. 2569)

According to Matichon on 21 August 2026 (B.E. 2569), three days of heavy rain caused Khlong Chomphu to overflow, flooding around 150 households in Ban Pluak Ngam, Village 5, Chomphu subdistrict, Noen Maprang district. Wat Pluak Ngam School had water standing around 1 metre deep and had to suspend classes, and farmland was damaged (source: Matichon, 21 Aug 2026 / 2569).

Flooding then spread across many regions. Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) data as of 06:00 on 7 October 2026 (B.E. 2569), published by the Government Public Relations Department (PRD), showed 27 provinces plus Bangkok affected, with 123 districts, 984 subdistricts and 1,154,875 households, and more than 3.1 million people affected (source: PRD).

Water about 1 metre deep inside a school means desks, chairs, lower walls, sockets, bookcases, kindergarten toys and canteen equipment all went under. When it drains away, what remains is mud and damp pushed into every corner, which is a huge job for a small school with only a handful of teachers.

Example Case: One Week Before Reopening Day

Note: this is an illustrative example case built from situations that commonly occur in small schools after floods. It does not describe a specific person or school.

Wilai is the health teacher at a small rural primary school. On the morning the water dropped enough to walk in, she stood outside the kindergarten room. A tide line ran almost to the window sills, and a musty smell rolled out the moment the door opened. The children's floor cushions were soaked, and plastic toys were scattered across a floor covered in centimetres of mud. In the canteen next door, mud clung under the long tables. The pupils' toilets smelled so strongly she had to hold her breath.

The director said the education service area wanted classes to resume as soon as possible so children would not fall too far behind. Parents in the class LINE group asked every day. But teachers and caretakers together numbered fewer than ten. With community help they shovelled out the mud and washed the buildings in two or three days. When it came to disinfection, though, everyone hesitated. All they had was the caretaker's hand-pump sprayer for weeds and a few gallons of floor cleaner.

Wilai tried the kindergarten room with the hand pump. It took almost an hour. Liquid pooled on the floor and had to be wiped up again, the upper walls barely got any, and nearly ten more rooms were waiting, plus the canteen, toilets, library and multipurpose hall. She knew straight away that at this rate the school would miss its reopening date, or open on time without real confidence that every room was clean enough for young children.

Why a Flooded School Must Be Disinfected Before Children Return

Children touch everything. They grab desks, hold stair rails, play with toys and then put their hands in their mouths. Kindergarten pupils sit and nap on the floor, and everyone eats together in the canteen. Young children's immune systems are still developing, which makes them the group most at risk when a building still carries germs left by floodwater. The germ groups to watch are:

• Bacteria from sewage and waste such as E. coli and Salmonella, which cause diarrhoea, stomach pain and food poisoning, especially via the canteen and toilets, plus the leptospirosis risk from Leptospira in mud around play areas and buildings.
• Gut viruses such as rotavirus and norovirus, which spread quickly among children, cause vomiting and diarrhoea, and pass via shared surfaces.
• Respiratory viruses such as influenza and RSV, which spread easily once children are back together in classrooms; RSV in particular is common in young children.
• Moulds on walls, ceilings, wooden cupboards, books and cushions, which cause musty smells and can trigger allergies and asthma in children.

Key principle: the sprayer distributes the disinfectant; germ inactivation depends on a registered disinfectant used according to its label. Mud must be shovelled out and surfaces washed first. Spray only when no pupils are in the building, and let children back in only after the label's re-entry time. The best plan is to finish spraying at least one day before reopening.

The Pressures a School Faces After the Water Falls

1. Lost learning time. Every closed day is a lesson missed, so schools are pushed to reopen quickly, but they can only reopen when the buildings are genuinely ready.

2. Few people, a lot of work. Small rural schools have limited staff, and many teachers' own homes have flooded too. Restoring the school falls to a few people over a few days.

3. Many different spaces. Classrooms, kindergarten rooms, the canteen, toilets, library, multipurpose hall, playground and the grounds around the buildings all differ, so the tool must work in narrow rooms and open areas alike.

4. Parental worry. Many parents hesitate to send children back if they are not sure the school is clean. If several children fall ill with diarrhoea soon after reopening, trust disappears and the school may have to close again.

5. Tight budgets. Small schools have little money. Wasting chemical through hand pumps or mops is a burden, while hiring a service after every flood may not be possible in time when many schools need help at once.

6. Repeat flooding. Many canal-side schools flood almost every year. Owning equipment, or having it held by a local agency, means not starting from zero each time.

Why Hand Pumps and Mops Cannot Cover a Whole School

• Hand-pump sprayers depend on the person pumping, produce coarse droplets and leave liquid pooling on floors and dripping from desks. That wastes chemical and leaves slippery floors, which are dangerous for children. Their short reach means walking into every corner.
• Mops and cloths work well on floors and desks but cannot reach upper walls, under bookshelves, behind cupboards or the canteen roof frame, and they take a lot of labour.
• Small electric sprayers need sockets, and after a flood the school's wiring may not yet have passed a safety check. Their airflow is also too weak for a large canteen or hall.

Some schools search for a thermal fogger because they are used to seeing officials fog for mosquitoes on school grounds. A thermal fogger uses heat to turn liquid into white fog and is aimed at mosquito control. The SOLO PORT 423 is a mistblower: an engine-driven fan blows the liquid into fine droplets without heat, which suits applying disinfectant to surfaces in classrooms and large spaces.

The Answer for Schools: The SOLO PORT 423 Backpack Mistblower

The SOLO PORT 423 is a motorised backpack mistblower made by SOLO Kleinmotoren GmbH in Germany. One trained operator carries it through the whole school with no need for electricity, so it can be used even before the school's wiring has been inspected after the flood.

Engine, power, tank, airflow, reach, weight and sound figures are according to manufacturer data from SOLO. The ULV and under-30-micron figures are according to WHD product information; real droplet size depends on nozzle and settings.

How it works in a school. In a standard classroom, the operator stands in the far corner and sweeps the tube slowly from the upper walls down to the desks and floor. Up to 1,400 m³/h of airflow, according to SOLO, carries droplets under desks, behind cupboards and into gaps a mop cannot reach. In a wide canteen or hall, about 12 m of reach lets the operator spray from the central aisle toward both sides. Fine droplets settle as a thin film instead of pooling, so floors do not become slippery for children.

According to WHD product information, the unit has a rotatable spray tube, a long-reach nozzle and a wide-angle diffuser, so it adapts from narrow toilets to open playgrounds. The UV-resistant translucent tank has a wide filler, and the one-hand control lever, padded harness and four anti-vibration mounts let a trained teacher or caretaker work through a whole building. For other accessories in the SOLO range, check compatible models with the dealer.

About the chemical: germ inactivation belongs to the disinfectant, not the machine. Schools should choose a registered product suited to surfaces in educational settings, such as Chemgene HLD4H sold by WHD, and follow the dilution, contact time and re-entry time on its label. Young children's toys and canteen utensils should be washed with clean water and dish soap and then handled as the label directs for food-contact surfaces.

10 Reasons Schools and Education Agencies Should Own a SOLO PORT 423

1. Ready by reopening day. Strong airflow and about 12 m of reach, according to SOLO, make room-by-room spraying far faster than a hand pump, so the whole school can be finished before the deadline.
2. No waiting for power. A petrol engine means work starts immediately, even while the building's electrics await inspection.
3. Floors stay safe for children. Fine droplets form a thin film rather than puddles.
4. Reaches every corner of a classroom. Under desks, behind cupboards, upper walls and the canteen roof frame, thanks to the rotatable tube.
5. Saves chemical and budget. WHD product information describes the unit as ULV and says it saves chemical, which helps small school budgets.
6. 12 L tank. Several rooms per fill, with fewer trips back to the mixing point.
7. Indoors and outdoors. Classrooms, toilets, the canteen, the playground and the grounds, all with one unit.
8. Can be shared between schools. An education service area office or TAO can hold it as central equipment and rotate it between local schools after floods. At 11.0 kg dry according to SOLO, it is easy to transport.
9. Useful all school year. Beyond flood recovery, it supports school sanitation and disease control with suitable chemicals.
10. Builds parent confidence. A school that can show it washed and disinfected every room systematically before reopening earns the community's trust. See the SOLO PORT 423

Before and After: Preparing a School for Reopening

This comparison is an illustrative example. Real results depend on school size, post-flood conditions, staff numbers and the disinfectant used.

Step by Step: Disinfecting a School After a Flood, Before Reopening

Step 1. Check building safety. Have a technician inspect the structure, wiring and any sockets that were submerged. Cut power to buildings not yet cleared and keep pupils out.

Step 2. Plan backwards from reopening day. Set dates for mud removal, washing and spraying, and allow at least one day for re-entry time and ventilation. Start with the kindergarten, canteen and toilets.

Step 3. Remove mud and sort items. Shovel out mud. Discard cushions, carpets, books and paper teaching materials that stayed wet long enough to grow mould. Set plastic toys and utensils aside for washing.

Step 4. Wash. Wash floors, walls, desks, chairs and toilets with clean water and detergent until all mud is gone. Open doors and windows and run fans to dry the buildings.

Step 5. Prepare chemical and machine. Mix a registered disinfectant per the label, fill the 12 L tank, inspect the unit and refuel per the manufacturer's manual with the engine off and cool, away from classrooms and flames.

Step 6. Put on protective equipment. Ear muffs or plugs, gloves, goggles or a face shield, a respirator as the label requires, long sleeves and boots.

Step 7. Spray indoors. Room by room, from the far side back toward the door and from top to bottom. Focus on desks, door handles, stair rails, switches, toilets, sinks and canteen tables. Close each finished room and post a "Do not enter" sign.

Step 8. Spray outdoors. Treat the playground, play equipment, walkways around buildings and waste points. Never spray into the wind, and keep away from school vegetable plots and ponds.

Step 9. Wait and ventilate. Allow the full contact and re-entry time on the label, ventilate, and have teachers do a final walk-through before reopening day.

Step 10. Record, communicate and maintain. Log dates, rooms, chemical and operator. Inform parents via the school LINE group or page. Rinse the tank and nozzle, clean the air filter and lock the unit away from pupils.

Safety When Using a Mistblower at School

• No pupils in the area: spray only on non-teaching days or in buildings already closed off. Keep children, parents and pets away.
• Hearing protection: 97 dB(A) at the operator according to SOLO. Always wear ear muffs or plugs.
• Vibration and working time: spray in sessions, with breaks and operator rotation.
• Chemical PPE: gloves, goggles or a face shield, a respirator, long sleeves and boots as the disinfectant's label and safety data sheet (SDS) require.
• Refuelling: engine off and cool before refuelling, outdoors and away from flames. Store fuel and chemicals locked away from children.
• Weight: 11.0 kg dry according to SOLO, roughly 23 kg or more with a full 12 L tank. Adjust the harness and lift correctly or with help.
• Re-entry times: pupils return only after the label time has passed and rooms have been ventilated.
• Training: teachers or caretakers who use the unit should first be trained in operation, chemical mixing and maintenance.

Pupils or staff who develop fever, calf pain, diarrhoea or skin rashes after a flood should see a doctor. Disinfection reduces environmental risk; it is not medical treatment.

Buy Your Own, or Call a Service?

Canal-side schools that flood often, and education service area offices or TAOs that look after several schools, get the best value from owning a SOLO PORT 423, because it is ready immediately with no queue. For pricing and procurement documents, request a quotation from WHD directly.

Schools not yet ready to buy can choose the WHD disinfection service, a separate service delivered by WHD's team with the service's own equipment and chemicals.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does a school need disinfecting after a flood before reopening?

Yes, after mud removal and washing. Spraying a registered disinfectant reduces germs left on surfaces, which matters greatly for young children.

2. How many days before reopening should we spray?

Finish at least one day before reopening, or longer if the disinfectant label's re-entry time requires it, plus time to ventilate.

3. What is the SOLO PORT 423 price?

It depends on quantity and accessories. Please request a quotation from WHD on 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

4. Mistblower vs thermal fogger: what is the difference?

A thermal fogger uses heat to make fog. The SOLO PORT 423 uses airflow to create fine droplets without heat, which suits applying disinfectant to surfaces.

5. Which disinfectant should a school use?

A registered product suited to school surfaces, such as Chemgene HLD4H sold by WHD, at the dilution and times on its label.

6. Can teachers or caretakers operate it themselves?

Yes, once trained in operation, chemical mixing and safety, and when wearing full protective equipment.

7. Can an education office or TAO buy one to share between schools?

Yes. WHD sells to government agencies and organisations and can provide a quotation and procurement documents.

8. Does it need electricity?

No. It runs on a 2-stroke petrol engine, so it works even if the school's power is not yet ready.

9. What should we do with flooded toys and books?

Wash plastic toys with clean water and dish soap. Books, cushions and carpets that stayed wet long enough to grow mould should be discarded, not sprayed and reused.

10. What if we do not have a unit yet?

Book WHD's disinfection service as a separate job: 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

Help your school reopen with confidence after the 2026 (B.E. 2569) floods

Quotations and advice: call 065-556-6294 | LINE @whd268

Related Reading and References

• SOLO Port 423 backpack mistblower against dengue outbreaks, for municipalities and TAOs (Thai)
• Spraying against emerging diseases with the SOLO Port 423, for provincial public health offices (Thai)
• Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant
• WHD disinfection service
• Matichon, 21 Aug 2026 (B.E. 2569), Ban Pluak Ngam, Noen Maprang, Phitsanulok flood: https://matichon.co.th/region/news_5856830
• PRD, DDPM data as of 7 Oct 2026 (B.E. 2569): https://www.prd.go.th/th/content/category/detail/id/33/iid/548715
• Department of Health, Thailand: https://www.anamai.moph.go.th/
• CDC flood guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/floods/