Thailand poll finds most feel ready for a 72-hour emergency — but want backup internet plans

Most respondents to a survey in Thailand feel confident they could handle a 72-hour emergency. But many still want the government to have backup plans ready if essential services fail.

Here's what to know

Government recommendations to store three days of food and essentials left 56.97% of those surveyed by Suan Dusit University concerned for their safety, according to the regional news outlet Thai PBS World.

In the poll, 57.14% of respondents said they felt they could cope for three days. For 29.16% of respondents, losing electricity or tap water was the biggest worry.

More background

Among respondents expressing concern, 62.05% worried about disruptions to the public health system, while 62.55% saw cyberattacks as a threat to online banking and the safety of people's personal information.

Montol Suwanprapha, who works in science and technology at the university, told Thai PBS World the findings showed people understood how much they rely on steady infrastructure, even though many still felt confident they could manage an emergency.

She added that residents understood why the government's recommendations mattered but didn't always know how to put them into practice.

What can be done?

Pornpun Buathong, who chaired the poll, called for clearer government communication about emergency preparedness. She also urged authorities to spell out the risks and what residents should prepare for, rather than relying on reassurance alone, according to the regional outlet. 

Outside of stocking supplies, Suwanprapha called on the government to teach people how to tell factual reporting from misinformation.

Having contingency plans ready for phone networks and internet service was a priority for 62.47% of respondents, who wanted those systems to stay online, Thai PBS World noted.

Where can I learn more?

Questions about three-day emergency supplies and service outages aren't unique to Thailand:

• UK officials urged households to stock three days of supplies for floods, cyberattacks, and outages.

• In Maryland, a power outage disrupted water supplies, leaving 1.9 million people conserving water.

• A generator owner's first outage exposed gaps in backup preparations, including lighting and Wi-Fi.

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