CHIANG MAI –Mae Chaem District in northern Thailand awoke to floods that had overtaken homes, markets, and fields. Torrential rain started on September 21 and caused the Mae Chaem River to overflow, sending muddy water rushing through streets and farmland. The rice we planted last month is gone.” Stories like Somchai’s are common across Mae Chaem, where farming supports most of the 30,000 people. Emergency crews, joined by Mae Chaem Volunteer Defence Unit 7, used inflatable boats to reach those stuck in their homes. Emergency alerts helped save lives, but the water rose much faster than expected.”This isn’t the first time Mae Chaem has been hit.