14 Oct 2026

Emergency food and water supplies: floods or evacuation

Emergency supplies laid out on a dry surface: sealed bottled water, canned food, crackers, a can opener, a flashlight, batteries, a radio, face masks, a plate and cutlery, and a first-aid kit bag — Photo: Roger Brown / Pexels (Pexels License)

Preparing water, food and essentials in advance helps your family cope when shops close, the tap water stops or the power goes out.

In a real emergency, follow announcements from local authorities. If you are told to evacuate, leave straight away; do not delay to pack.

1. Prepare two sets: home supplies and a go-bag

Thailand's DDPM advises preparing enough supplies for at least 3–5 days. Splitting them into two sets makes this easier: home supplies are about having enough, while the go-bag holds essentials you can grab at once and carry.

	Home supplies	Go-bag
Used when	You can stay home, but shops are closed, tap water stops or the power is out	You must leave home now
Focus	Enough for everyone at home for several days	Essentials you can grab and carry
Water	Stored drinking water for your household and number of days (see section 2)	As much bottled water as you can carry; you do not carry the whole supply
Food	Ready-to-eat food that keeps, plus a manual can opener	Small ready-to-eat portions you can finish in one go
Other items	Flashlight, batteries, first-aid kit, regular medicines, rubbish bags	Regular medicines, documents in a waterproof bag, phone, power bank (see section 4)
Keep it	High up or on an upper floor	Near the exit, easy to grab

Reference: [1] DDPM via PRD · [6] Ready.gov kit

2. How much water to store

The CDC recommends storing at least 1 US gallon (about 3.8 litres) of water per person per day for at least 3 days, and a 2-week supply if possible. This covers drinking, cooking and brushing teeth; it is not the amount you need to drink.

Example: 2 people for 3 days = 2 × 3 × 3.8 litres, about 23 litres, or roughly 16 bottles of 1.5 litres.

People	3 days	5 days
1 person	about 11.4 litres	about 19 litres
2 people	about 23 litres	about 38 litres
4 people	about 45 litres	about 76 litres

Store more if anyone is pregnant or sick, if you have pets, or in hot weather
Choose sealed bottled water and check the expiry date on the label
Store it as the label directs, in the shade, out of direct sunlight and above flood level
Never drink floodwater or use it to mix food or drinks. If you are not sure the tap water is safe, follow local announcements

Reference: [2] CDC water supply · [4] CDC floods

3. Choose ready-to-eat food that keeps

Ready.gov advises storing at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food that needs no refrigeration, cooking or water.

Easy-to-find examples in Thailand: ready-to-eat canned fish or meat, canned fruit, ready-to-eat pouch meals, crackers, cereal bars, nuts, dried fruit, and UHT milk that keeps at room temperature as the label states
Some products need refrigerating after opening; during a power cut choose sizes you can finish in one go
Pack a manual can opener, spoons and containers
Set aside food for young children, older people, people with food allergies or eating restrictions, and check ingredients and allergens on every label
Include main foods as well as snacks; do not let the list be only snacks or protein drinks

Reference: [5] Ready.gov food · [6] Ready.gov kit

4. Go-bag checklist

The emergency bag list published by DDPM covers dry food, drinking water, clothes, soap, a toothbrush, medicines, a flashlight, a radio and important documents. The checklist below combines it with Ready.gov's advice.

Small ready-to-eat food portions and a manual can opener
As much bottled water as you can carry
Regular medicines and a list of what you take
A basic first-aid kit
A flashlight and spare batteries
A battery-powered or hand-crank radio
Phone, charger and a charged power bank
Important documents or copies in a waterproof bag
A change of clothes, soap and a toothbrush
Personal items such as glasses, sanitary products and baby supplies
A whistle to signal for help
Rubbish bags and wet wipes

Make each bag light enough for its owner to carry and keep it near the exit. If you are told to evacuate, grab the bag and leave straight away.

Reference: [1] DDPM via PRD · [6] Ready.gov kit

5. Keep supplies above water and check them regularly

Put water and food high up or on an upper floor
Use covered containers or waterproof plastic boxes
Write the expiry date on the front, use older items first and replace them
Check the bag and expiry dates regularly, for example before the rainy season

Waterproof bags and boxes lower the chance of water getting in, but if floodwater reaches the packaging, follow section 6. Being in a bag does not make it safe.

Reference: [5] Ready.gov food

6. After a flood or power cut: what to throw away

Situation	What to do
Food that may have touched floodwater	Throw it away, including food in cardboard cartons such as UHT milk, juice boxes and boxed infant formula, and food in packaging that is not waterproof
Undamaged cans or pouches that touched floodwater	Can be kept if washed with hot soapy water, rinsed and sanitised: soak for 15 minutes in 1 cup (240 ml) of unscented bleach mixed with 5 gallons (about 19 litres) of water, or boil for 2 minutes. Re-label with the food name and expiry date, and use soon
Refrigerator during a power cut	Keep the doors closed. Food stays safe about 4 hours in the fridge, about 48 hours in a full freezer and about 24 hours in a half-full one. After 4 hours without power, throw away perishable food such as meat, fish, cut fruit, eggs, milk and leftovers
Chilled food that warmed up	Throw away perishable food kept at 4°C (40°F) or above for more than 2 hours
Cans that bulge, leak, or spurt liquid or foam when opened	Throw away
Dented cans	Throw away cans with a deep dent you can lay a finger into (often with sharp points) or a dent on a seam. USDA says a small dent on an otherwise sound can is safe
Rusty cans	Throw away heavily rusted cans, which can have tiny holes that let bacteria in. Surface rust you can wipe off is fine, but if there is rust inside when opened, do not eat the food

Never taste food to check whether it is safe. Food can look normal and still be unsafe. Throw away food with an unusual smell, colour or texture, and when in doubt, throw it out.

Reference: [3] CDC food after emergencies · [5] Ready.gov food · [7] USDA dented/rusty cans · [8] FoodSafety.gov outages

7. Where drink powders fit in your supplies

Drink powders need clean drinking water, a clean cup or shaker and a spoon, so during a flood or evacuation they can be less convenient than ready-to-eat food. If you keep them in your supplies, count the mixing water in your water reserve.

Different powders belong to different food categories; check the food type, directions and serving size on that product's Thai label
If you mix with UHT milk instead of water, the energy and nutrients change according to the milk label
Throw away canisters with lids that are not waterproof if floodwater touches them; keep them in a waterproof box up high
Treat them as an extra; ready-to-eat food and drinking water come first

Reference: [3] CDC food after emergencies

8. Emergency numbers in Thailand

On a phone, tap a number to call.

Reference: [1] DDPM via PRD

This article is general information, not medical advice. In a real emergency, follow announcements and instructions from local authorities. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or take medication, keep spare medicine and talk to your doctor in advance.

References

Image credits

Cover image: Roger Brown / Pexels ↗ (opens in a new tab) · licence Pexels License ↗ (opens in a new tab)

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