The Government advice re emergency packs

I wouldn't dream of turning to Just Giving and expect other people to fund me.

I might put some bottled water in the spare room and possibly look out for a battery operated radio in a charity shop.

I feel we need to mindful of out MH in these times. Try to get out, talk to other humans and so on.

Looks like there's been a run on wind up radios.

The government is certainly prepared. There is a big country house near us used by government security services - in the estate there is a bunker - just the doors are visible. Bet they have loads of supplies in there😊. Real 007 stuff, with blacked out cars etc.

We had a power cut last night. I was glad of the torch and candles and matches. I’ve ordered a wind up radio. I might order sleeping bags, which they also recommend.

My DH, who thinks I’m nuts, had to eat his word last night during the power cut.

As I keep saying, I am not frightened (never mind panicking).

I have house insurance, in case the place catches fire, or other unspecified problems crop up, and a first aid kit in case of accident. This is more of the same, as I see it. There are always those who don't look ahead, and end up starting JustGiving pleas and so on to compensate. Deliberately avoiding storing a few bottles of water etc is the same way of thinking - 'it probably won't happen, and someone will sort me out if it does'

People are not digging bunkers or converting their garages to warehouses - it's a box in a spare bedroom with things that will help to get us through a few days without power or access to the things we are used to having on hand (eg shops). Nothing to do with a zombie apocalypse or a nuclear winter, but knowing we can be a bit more comfortable than otherwise if the power goes off for whatever reason.

I believe that parts of the UK had weather-related power cuts last night, for instance. A lantern to see in the dark, blankets for when the heating goes off, and water to drink is a good start, surely?

I give up now. It seems that we are in two camps - those who want to be prepared and those who don't. I doubt, after all the posts and threads discussing this, that one camp will ever persuade the other (until after a long power cut, at least )

But we are all fending for ourselves these days aren't we?

I don't see how ramping up fear is helping anybody at all.

Margs

No, a couple of surplus tins will hardly buy us more than a few days.

And to those who have replied to me that "it doesn't mean we're going to have a war!" I can only say: watch the drama 'Threads' on YouTube.

Then tell me war cannot happen in Europe. Again.

Nobody is saying there won't be a war - how can anyone say that?

What we are saying (repeatedly) is that the government advice is not to prepare for war, as that would be pretty much impossible, really. We are being asked to be able to fend for ourselves for a few days in the event of a power cut or disruption to the supply chain for whatever reason, so that the government can concentrate on getting things going again, instead of having to bail people out.

Why is that unreasonable? Who do people think should have to fend for them if they don't do it themselves?

MT62

Our two close neighbours moved just before Covid. So practically on our own. I have to say I really missed them as we could talk to them over the fence 😞
Anyway now we have two lovely young families who moved in. They said to knock on if we want anything 😊

Oreo

Our two close neighbours moved just before Covid. So practically on our own. I have to say I really missed them as we could talk to them over the fence 😞
Anyway now we have two lovely young families who moved in. They said to knock on if we want anything 😊

Wyllow,

“Two days, and don't forget to get yourselves on the special needs list if you are old enough or disabled for water and energy.”

Do you mean the Priority Services Register”?

MT62

greyfur16

I would share anything with anybody who needed it.

I would. I did during Covid. I made sure my family were ok for everything.

Same here, and also with close neighbours.

Delene100

Oreo

We all have food cupboards and tins and packets and a freezer which you could use food from.We have a gas camping stove as we have regular power outages every Winter and two battery charged lamps for the same reason.Nobody needs anything else.It’s the most ridiculous nanny State scaremongering.

If the power is cut, the food in freezers will perish.

You can eat it before it perishes, or at least the things you can cook on your camping gas cooker.😃

greyfur16

I would share anything with anybody who needed it.

I would. I did during Covid. I made sure my family were ok for everything.

Floradora9

To-day I have charged everything that needs charging including our power banks . We have found an old radio that uses batteries so that is done . I have also started filling large empty milk containers with water to store that could be used for flushing toilet . We have bought lots of tins of food and bottles of water and I ordered some dried potato packets ( not smash ) lovely flavoured ones. We have a camping stove and lots of canisters to use and I also ordered new hot water bottles from Amazon plus a camping kettle . Wondered how I could fill a hot water bottle from a saucepan as that is the answer. Some day in the distant future someone might find my hidden tins and wonder what we needed them for .

If you dont have a proper funnel that you could use to fill a hot water bottle, perhaps you could make one from a plastic bottle or something similar if it has a neck that will fit into the top of the hot water bottle. Just cut the bottom off it - or cut nearer the neck, depending on the length of the bottle - and carefully use that as a funnel. Just find a safe way to do it so that you dont scald yourself.

To-day I have charged everything that needs charging including our power banks . We have found an old radio that uses batteries so that is done . I have also started filling large empty milk containers with water to store that could be used for flushing toilet . We have bought lots of tins of food and bottles of water and I ordered some dried potato packets ( not smash ) lovely flavoured ones. We have a camping stove and lots of canisters to use and I also ordered new hot water bottles from Amazon plus a camping kettle . Wondered how I could fill a hot water bottle from a saucepan as that is the answer. Some day in the distant future someone might find my hidden tins and wonder what we needed them for .

Delene100

4allweknow

What am I missing with all the USB rechargeable items. Don't the USBs need to be plugged in to electricity to charge up. Yes, there are storage packs but they have to be charged up too.

You can also charge power banks beforehand.

My wind-up torch has a slot to recharge a phone or small item on. That will use up some of the wound-up charge, of course, and lead to more winding up. I suppose turning the handle is one way to spend the time if the power is off and the TV screen is dark.

No, a couple of surplus tins will hardly buy us more than a few days.

And to those who have replied to me that "it doesn't mean we're going to have a war!" I can only say: watch the drama 'Threads' on YouTube.

Then tell me war cannot happen in Europe. Again.

4allweknow

What am I missing with all the USB rechargeable items. Don't the USBs need to be plugged in to electricity to charge up. Yes, there are storage packs but they have to be charged up too.

You can also charge power banks beforehand.

Oreo

We all have food cupboards and tins and packets and a freezer which you could use food from.We have a gas camping stove as we have regular power outages every Winter and two battery charged lamps for the same reason.Nobody needs anything else.It’s the most ridiculous nanny State scaremongering.

If the power is cut, the food in freezers will perish.

One thing worth adding for anyone on regular medication: keep a few days' spare if your pharmacy allows, plus a written list of your medicines and doses with your important papers. And if your hearing or sight isn't great, a battery radio with big clear buttons is worth having, as it'll be the main source of news if the power and phones are off.

Bazza

I have bought a couple of packs of bottled water, but I heats Jeremy Vine today saying that they have a sell by date as after a while the plastic will make the water unsafe become unsafe by discharging chemicals, who knew? Not me.

As for women panic buying, I fear most men will just expect an emergency pack will have been sorted by the lady of the house.

There is a date on all the bottles.
Keep in a cool dark place and replace regularly to keep in date.

petra

Unless your someone who relies on a pump to keep you alive an 8hr power cut isn’t a tragedy.

One outage of one utility for a short time isn't a tragedy, though there are more people and organisations who DO depend on the power, or the water supply, or contact via a phone line, than you would think.

Repeated and/or sustained outages of multiple utilities in multiple locations can strain repair attempts beyond their abilities. That can cause tragedies.

Storm damage is a "natural" disaster (if you ignore the effects of human activity on the climate) but currently there are also several situations where deliberate aggressive human action could be suspected.

Here is a theoretical question for you to ponder - If you wished to stress a community to the maximum, with a view perhaps to stepping in and controlling them without or even with open warfare, in what order would you disable the utilities? (No need to post your reply to that, just base how you prepare for the coming winter of discontent on it)

Tinygranma

Should we not ensure we have an extra month's worth of our prescription meds as well? That is at the top of my list

How, though? Our GP practice won’t do this.

alisonsmith4

Definitely scaremongering - we are so gullible!

No, just common sense. We’ve become so complacent. A major cyber attack, digital lines cut under the ocean or tampering with the water supply and things would become very difficult very quickly.

You don’t need me to point out that power is not always restored after 8 hours, and the more widespread storms are, the longer it is off for many people. Not everybody’s power is back on yet following Storm Austen.