Can You Still Order Food Delivery and Receive Packages During a Typhoon? Delivery Suspension Rules and Stockpiling Advice
Under What Conditions Will Food Delivery and Instant Grocery Services Be Suspended Across the Board?
In coastal cities, once the meteorological authority upgrades the warning to a typhoon orange alert (red alert in some cities or Hong Kong's No. 8 tropical cyclone signal), or when average road-surface wind speeds reach Force 8–10 or above and are accompanied by severe waterlogging and flooding:
- Food delivery platforms (Meituan, Ele.me) and fresh food platforms (Hema, Pupu, Dingdong, SAM Express) will follow the government's five-suspension orders for flood and wind prevention, mandatorily suspending delivery services by area or pausing riders from accepting orders to protect their safety.
- Why is riding an electric scooter extremely dangerous during a typhoon? An electric scooter carrying a delivery box has a large surface area exposed to the wind. In Force 8 winds (17.2 m/s), crosswinds can easily blow the rider and vehicle over. On flooded roads, riders also face the potentially fatal risks of electric shock from leakage and falling into an uncovered drainage well.
Best Stockpiling Window: 24–36 Hours Before Typhoon Landfall
Do not wait until an orange or red alert is issued to order groceries online, as delivery capacity will already be overwhelmed or services suspended. The ideal shopping schedule is:
| Category | Recommended Supplies (3-Day Quantity) | Why It Is Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking water (most critical) | 2–3 × 5-liter jugs of purified water per person | A power outage in a high-rise residential building can stop the secondary water-supply pump, and power outages often also cause water disruptions |
| Food requiring no cooking or electricity | Eight-treasure porridge, instant cereal, whole-wheat bread, self-heating rice, compressed biscuits | Helps prepare for simultaneous power and water outages (instant noodles cannot be prepared without water in either case) |
| Long-lasting produce and protein | Potatoes, carrots, onions, cabbage, eggs, canned luncheon meat, milk | Leafy greens spoil easily and see the sharpest price increases before a typhoon, while root vegetables can be kept at room temperature for a week |
What If a Parcel Is Stranded in Transit During a Typhoon?
While a typhoon is passing, interprovincial air cargo, sea-crossing shipments through the Qiongzhou Strait, and inland trunk-line logistics in affected provinces and cities may suspend transit for 1–3 days. If a parcel is placed in an outdoor locker on the ground floor or at a low-lying pickup station, collect it as soon as you receive the pickup code and preferably before the typhoon's rain and winds arrive, so that it is not soaked by rainwater entering the locker or station.