For households in Thailand
How ready are you for a disaster?
Find out which hazards apply where you live, and what to prepare first.
Takes about 5 minutes. No account, and we never ask for your name or address.
What could affect you?
Risk is not the same everywhere in Thailand. Here is what each hazard means, and what to do about it.
FloodingWater rising over hours or days, often during the rainy season.
What to do
Before
- Move important belongings and electrical items to a higher floor or shelf.
- Fill water containers and charge your phone and power bank.
- Put copies of your documents somewhere waterproof.
During
- Follow evacuation instructions from the authorities without waiting.
- Turn off electricity at the main switch if you can reach it safely and dry.
- Keep following official channels for updates.
After
- Treat floodwater as contaminated — wash anything it touched.
- Do not switch the power back on until wiring and appliances have been checked.
- Boil or use bottled water until the authorities say tap water is safe.
Flash floodingWater rising very quickly after heavy rain, with little warning.
What to do
Before
- Know the quickest route to higher ground from your home.
- Keep a torch and shoes where you can find them in the dark.
- Pay attention to heavy rain warnings during the rainy season.
During
- Move to higher ground immediately — do not wait to see how high it gets.
- Stay away from streams, drainage channels and low bridges.
After
- Wait for official confirmation before returning.
- Watch for ground that has been washed out or undermined.
Storms and heavy rainStrong wind and heavy rainfall, which can bring down power lines.
What to do
Before
- Bring in or tie down anything loose outside — pots, signs, furniture.
- Charge your phone and power bank before the weather arrives.
- Check that your torch works and has batteries.
During
- Stay indoors and away from windows.
- Avoid using wired appliances during heavy lightning.
- Follow weather updates from the Thai Meteorological Department.
After
- Stay well clear of fallen power lines and report them.
- Check your roof and drains before the next rainfall.
LandslidesSlopes giving way after sustained heavy rain in hilly areas.
What to do
Before
- Learn whether your home sits below a steep slope.
- After days of heavy rain, watch for new cracks, tilting trees or muddy water.
- Agree in advance where your household would go.
During
- Leave immediately and move away from the bottom of the slope.
- Move sideways out of the path, not downhill ahead of it.
After
- Stay away until the authorities confirm the slope is stable.
- Expect further movement while the ground is still saturated.
EarthquakesGround shaking, which can also be felt from distant earthquakes.
What to do
Before
- Secure tall furniture and anything heavy above head height.
- Keep shoes and a torch beside your bed.
- If you live in a tall building, learn where the stairs are.
During
- Drop to the floor, take cover under something sturdy, and hold on.
- Stay where you are until the shaking stops.
- If you are outside, move clear of buildings and power lines.
After
- Expect aftershocks, which can follow for hours or days.
- Check for gas smells, water leaks and cracks before settling back in.
- Leave a building with new structural cracks and have it inspected.
TsunamiSea water surging inland after a large undersea earthquake.
What to do
Before
- Learn the evacuation route and the nearest high ground.
- Know what the warning towers in your area sound like.
- Keep a small bag ready if you live close to the shore.
During
- If you feel strong shaking near the coast, move inland and uphill at once.
- Go on foot if roads are crowded.
- Follow the official evacuation route and the warning towers.
After
- Stay on high ground — later waves can be larger than the first.
- Return only when the authorities say it is safe.
Extreme heatLong stretches of very hot weather, hardest on older people and children.
What to do
Before
- Keep more drinking water at home than usual during the hot season.
- Work out which room in your home stays coolest.
During
- Drink water through the day, before you feel thirsty.
- Stay out of direct sun in the middle of the day.
- Check on older relatives and neighbours living alone.
After
- Keep drinking water for the rest of the day after being out in the heat.
- Seek medical help for confusion, fainting or a very high temperature.
DroughtExtended dry periods that can reduce or interrupt the water supply.
What to do
Before
- Keep a filled water container at home year-round.
- Fix dripping taps and leaks.
During
- Follow any water restrictions announced locally.
- Keep drinking water separate from water for washing.
After
- Refill your stored water once the supply is reliable again.
Haze and air pollutionSeasonal smoke and fine dust that make outdoor air unhealthy.
What to do
Before
- Have N95 masks at home before the haze season starts.
- Find a room you can keep closed, and seal obvious gaps.
During
- Check the air quality before going out, and keep windows closed when it is poor.
- Wear an N95 outdoors — a cloth mask does not filter fine dust.
- Cut back outdoor exercise, especially for children and older people.
After
- Air the house out once readings return to normal.
- See a doctor about a cough or breathlessness that does not settle.
Fire in the home or buildingFire can start in any home, which is why it applies everywhere.
What to do
Before
- Know two ways out of your home or floor.
- Keep the escape route clear of stored things.
- Test your smoke alarm and check the extinguisher's gauge.
During
- Get everyone out first, then call for help.
- Stay low, where the air is clearer.
- Close doors behind you as you leave.
After
- Do not re-enter until the fire service says it is safe.
- Have electrics and gas checked before using them again.
Power outageLosing electricity, which also takes lighting, phones and lifts with it.
What to do
Before
- Keep a torch where you can reach it in the dark.
- Keep your power bank charged.
- If you depend on a lift or medical equipment, plan for it being off.
During
- Use torches rather than candles.
- Keep the fridge and freezer shut.
- Unplug sensitive appliances so a surge does not damage them.
After
- Throw away chilled food that has been warm for too long.
- Recharge your power bank and torch batteries.
Water supply disruptionTap water stopping or becoming unsafe to drink for a period.
What to do
Before
- Keep some drinking water stored, separate from washing water.
- Fill containers as soon as a shutdown is announced.
During
- Use bottled or boiled water for drinking and brushing teeth.
- Wet wipes and sanitiser go a long way when taps are dry.
After
- Run the taps before using the water again.
- Do not drink water that is discoloured or smells unusual.
Which of these apply to you?
Answer a few short questions and ReadyTH will show only the hazards your province is exposed to, and what to prepare first.
How it works
Tell us about your household
Who you're preparing for, where you live, and what you already have at home.
See the risks relevant to your area
We show which hazards your province may be exposed to — and skip the ones that aren't relevant to you.
Get your preparation plan
A specific checklist with quantities, costs, and the assumption behind every number.
Prepare gradually, within your budget
Start with what matters most. Add to it when you're ready, at your own pace.
Why a personalized plan
A generic checklist tells a family of five on a ground floor by the river the same thing it tells someone living alone on the fourteenth floor. Those two households need different things, in a different order, at a different cost. Your plan starts from your situation.
Only what applies to you
Hazards your area isn't exposed to are left out, not listed as "low".
Real quantities, real baht
Litres of water, numbers of items, and an estimated cost — with the assumption shown.
Built around your budget
A ฿500 plan is a genuine ฿500 plan, not a longer list with most of it cut off.
Where our guidance comes from
Preparedness recommendations are drawn from Thai government agencies and established international preparedness guidance. Every recommendation carries its source and the date we last checked it.
ReadyTH does not predict disasters and cannot tell you that any event will happen. For warnings and official instructions, always follow the relevant Thai authorities.
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