Preparing for power and water outages before a typhoon
Store water ahead of the typhoon, and turn off the water pump's power when water is cut
This guide is for Taiwan.
01 What to do now
- 01
Before the typhoon
Store water early; secure signs, scaffolding, and exposed antennas; set up flood barriers or sandbags in basements or flood-prone areas; anyone relying on life-support equipment should prepare a generator or UPS in advance
- 02
When water is cut
Immediately turn off the water pump's power to prevent it overheating while running dry; don't dip household hoses into standing water to draw water — siphoning can contaminate it
- 03
When power is cut
Never touch a fallen or exposed power line — report it to the power company immediately; prefer a flashlight over candles, and open the fridge as little as possible
02 Common myths
Dipping a household rubber hose into standing water to draw water: siphoning can contaminate the water
Using candles as the main light source during a power outage: fire risk — use a flashlight instead
03 Sources
- Taipei Water Department — Disaster prevention FAQ Official source
- National Fire Agency Disaster Prevention Museum — Power outage response Official source