US Embassy in Bangkok advises citizens to stock a two week supply of cash, food and medicine

[impulse]

imo crazy overreaction.

And on the outside chance something does go wrong, and an innocent American or 5 get caught in some kind of crossfire, they'd be crucified in the press for not seeing it coming and warning us.

A prudent warning IMO.

One American I know just came back to BKK after a trip to the USA and found a bullet hole in his high floor office window, and a bullet lodged in the wall.

Edited January 10, 2014 by impulse

[focus27]

In 2010 I lived just off Rangnam Road; near enough to the redshirts village to keep a wary eye on news but far enough not to have daily life affected. However, when the army moved in their barbed-wire enclosure included my condo block. Rangnam Road was deserted, food was gone within 2 days, plus occasional power and mobile phone outages.

Just to say, things can change quickly, and it depends on where you live.

Re food: noodles, rice, pasta etc sound great but they are inedible without some boiling water. With both threats and assurances about utilities, stock up on foods that are immediately eatable - but then again, fasting diets are becoming popular!

[Neeeko]

As for me, I'm making a homemade bow to hunt the street rats if food runs out. I will make a costume to go with it... still debating a shield also

[kkerry]

Anyone read the Survival Guide in the other English language newspaper today from Chalit Limpanavech, Marketing Association of Thailand? He thinks the shutdown won't last long because people would suffer if it did and the PDRC don't want that. In his opinion, unlike 2010 this protest involves educated people... if any violence occurs the Army will be asked to step in... see, nothing to worry about...

[55Jay]

There a difference between being prudent and having a plan vs. being a "scaredy cat".

Embassy is just typical government weenies trying to look productive and helpful while really just covering their <deleted> by spoon-feeding info to the lowest common denominator out there.

[maddas]

news worthy?, everybody knows the 13th is another d day, if u dont then stay in ya cave, me i postponed another trip till who knows when

[romapizzeriabkk]

Ok... so you people are telling me there's a chance you gonna die of starvation... basically ? This guy couple of comments up said food was gone in Rangnam in 2 days... so go out of bloody rangnam then. 1 kilometer in any direction, you'll find food.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSrzwB1DVFs

Here's your answer. Pussification.

[NancyL]

How quickly everyone forgets. Wasn't it just a couple years ago that the floods interrupted the supply lines in this country and you couldn't get toilet paper and bottled water here in Chiang Mai for weeks?

I remember what it was like trying to find essential items like kitty litter and brown rice. I see nothing wrong with stocking up on essential items, knowing the way the centralized distribution channels for manufactured goods work in this country. The management of our local Tops, Tesco-Lotus,7-11, etc don't seem to have any independent purchasing authority. Like so much in so many sectors in this country, all the decision-making comes from Bangkok and if everyone stays away from work in Bangkok, no decisions get made.

Is there any harm in having a couple weeks supply of cat food around .... just in case?

[MrBanks]

Who needs the Embassy......... my wife has been banging on about getting extra cash out from the bank for days.

[upena]

Kuwaiti Embassy urged their people to leave Thailand. I am in Khon Kaen, but just to be safe, sent the wife out to stock up on beer.

[kblaze]

As for me, I'm making a homemade bow to hunt the street rats if food runs out. I will make a costume to go with it... still debating a shield also

gave you a "like" just for the image conjured up

[Jingthing]

Probably the U.S. embassy is just doing a C.Y.A.

Wouldn't want a Bang-ghazi-gate, would we?

[supaprik]

thanks for the warning, i am heading now to the drugstore!

let see 14 days, 4 time a days that make 14 x 4 = 56

so i will need 56 condoms pack of condoms

so glad to see your calculator still has batteries, perhaps stock up

[impulse]

So call me a wussy with a capital "P".

Just don't call me if you run out of cash, food and water and I'm fat, dumb and happy.

Edited January 10, 2014 by impulse

[DrTuner]

Better print this for reference: http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-05-70.pdf

[almavro]

The US Embassy is in full cover-your-ass mode, as it should be, given the litigious nature of our nationals. State didn't have the chance to issue a similar warning in advance of the Reds because the Reds were not considerate enough to provide prior notice of intent.

Having lived through a dozen or so coups here, in Laos, and in Vietnam, I may have developed a little of the blitzkrieg attitude, when Londoners went about their business despite the almost daily German bombing. You do get used to things, for sure. On the other hand, despite the clear desire of the "mob" to keep it friendly, there are bound to be groups (on both sides!) anxious to stir up trouble. So there is nothing certain except uncertainty, which is the case whether or not you're in the middle of a political storm.

Be prudent; follow social media; weather the storm in a friendly pub.

[Malthus101]

Typical American over-reaction.

I am 100% certain that at the end of 2 weeks, I'll still be able to withdraw cash and buy food and water.

I'm surprised they didn't tell us to put up barbed wire around our compounds and lay down concrete blocks in the road.

Maybe hideout in a Radiation proof safe room and cling to out assault rifles for dear life.....

[Jingthing]

100 percent certain? Hmmm.

[tingtongteesood]

Just go to Isaan for a few weeks. Plenty of food, nice people and no lunatics.

That's true, they are sending all the lunatics to surround Bangkok so Isaan will be a bit dull for a few days.

[CIHUAHUA]

i am an American and when I was a kid everyone who could afford it built bomb shelters because the Russians might come. It could not hurt to have some good water but you will always need that. Don't worry the Thais are not going to be without food so why would an American.

[dao16]

Doesn't really sound like an overreaction. If you can, stock up on water and food for a two-week supply. You may not want to go out during that time, depending on where you are. They have to issues these warnings. That is what the embassy exists, or should exist for, in part. If nothing happens, GREAT! Now you don't have to buy water for a few weeks.

Didn't seem alarmist to me at all, although the US embassy in any country errs on the side of caution. That is their job. If warning citizens to be prepared makes them p%%s$$s, then fine. I guess that's what it is.

[Jingthing]

i am an American and when I was a kid everyone who could afford it built bomb shelters because the Russians might come. It could not hurt to have some good water but you will always need that. Don't worry the Thais are not going to be without food so why would an American.

My family had such a bomb shelter. I was living at a direct target. Learning the history later, full scale nuclear war between Russia and the USA actually was very, very close to happening then. We were really lucky. Hope we stay lucky here in Thailand!

Edited January 10, 2014 by Jingthing

[anon8]

Is this the beginning?

Looks very much like it.

[CMfoodie]

The US Ambassador has been briefed by both sides on what will transpire in the coming days... it is her job to find out and report back.

As for the advisory - they must know the situation is about to get ugly.

[ttthailand]

America is not over reacting. I would bet that if anything gets a little out of hand or if there is a coup that it will be difficult to find water and other supplies. Already the condo where I stay is almost out of stocked water where they normally have tons that you can buy. A perceived shortage can have a major effect on availability. Best to stock up a little just in case as I will use it anyhow. Stupid not too !

[anon8]

Typical American over-reaction.

I am 100% certain that at the end of 2 weeks, I'll still be able to withdraw cash and buy food and water.

I'm surprised they didn't tell us to put up barbed wire around our compounds and lay down concrete blocks in the road.

Maybe hideout in a Radiation proof safe room and cling to out assault rifles for dear life.....

Don't be so sure.

Sent from my C6802 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[romapizzeriabkk]

How quickly everyone forgets. Wasn't it just a couple years ago that the floods interrupted the supply lines in this country and you couldn't get toilet paper and bottled water here in Chiang Mai for weeks?

I remember what it was like trying to find essential items like kitty litter and brown rice. I see nothing wrong with stocking up on essential items, knowing the way the centralized distribution channels for manufactured goods work in this country. The management of our local Tops, Tesco-Lotus,7-11, etc don't seem to have any independent purchasing authority. Like so much in so many sectors in this country, all the decision-making comes from Bangkok and if everyone stays away from work in Bangkok, no decisions get made.

Is there any harm in having a couple weeks supply of cat food around .... just in case?

Why ? Because the embassy said you should or you would do it anyway on your own ?

First of all, on Monday and Tuesday nothing will happen. On Wednesday and after, something might happen, but you'll know on Tuesday at which point you can go and get food for 3-4 days, what ppeople usually do. Case of eggs, milk, bacon whatever you're eating. In 3-4 days you gonna figure out a way (without thinking at all, same as every other day or almost) to get food for next 3-4 days... etc.

I can already see bunch of scared-of-everything americans/europeans walking around big c pushing those carts filled with food and other bs they don't need. Such an image pisses me off. Probably because I grew up in war so for me this is laughable... protests and the reaction of foreigners on a first sign of trouble.

It makes me feel ashamed.

[dao16]

i am an American and when I was a kid everyone who could afford it built bomb shelters because the Russians might come. It could not hurt to have some good water but you will always need that. Don't worry the Thais are not going to be without food so why would an American.

My family had such a bomb shelter. I was living at a direct target. Learning the history later, full scale nuclear war between Russian and the USA actually was very, very close to happening then. We were really lucky.

It was common in my family for tornadoes and hurricanes, depending on where people lived. Guess it seems weird to other falangs living here, but in the states, a lot of people do have a week or two worth of food and water plus emergency supplies. Just a fact of living in places that can be dangerous sometimes. Anyway, I think the embassy did a good job on this.Obviously, they are covering for themselves if something goes wrong, but that gets info out and each individual can make a decision on his or her own.

[kkerry]

It's all going to be ok so long as everyone doesn't do anything stupid like start shooting, then watch all those well stocked stores shut up shop real quick. The CEO of The Mall has already said, one bullet gets fired and they start closing nearby supermarkets. I'm outside of Bangkok and last Sunday was the busiest I've seen it in Tesco since the floods. Now where did I store the boat...

[marcusd]

Ridiculous. Once again, America shows itself to be the premiere scaredy-cat nation on earth.

what a nit wit post from you.

If they did not advise and something happened they would be wrong.

Just because it is the US government. Eh?

The first one your country will run to when in trouble.

And no, I am not American.

They have done what they are supposed to do

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