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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think the stockpile advice suggests something to come??

388 replies

OhNoooooooooooooooo · 02/09/2026 15:27

The government is low-key telling people to stock up with tinned food, bottled water etc

I have tinned food, gas camping stoves etc just need to think about water really..

Do you think that they know something is happening/going to happen?

OP posts:
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Barkoof · 02/09/2026 16:53

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LilyBunch25 · 02/09/2026 16:52

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Could be a big drawer. Some pan drawers are as big as a kitchen cupboard!

Barkoof · 02/09/2026 16:51

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Barkoof · 02/09/2026 16:51

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WecanbeheroeslikeBowie · 02/09/2026 16:50

Given the state of the world, I think the planet would be grateful if there was an E.L.E. humans, like annoying relatives, have overstayed their welcome.

LilyBunch25 · 02/09/2026 16:49

PensionPTake · 02/09/2026 16:48

It's just sensible really isn't it and I suspect a lot of us are not sensible (myself included). If anything happened I think it would be a cyber attack affecting card payments or something similar that would cause chaos.

Totally agree- it'll be cyber, and it'll hit finance and or energy supplies.

PensionPTake · 02/09/2026 16:48

It's just sensible really isn't it and I suspect a lot of us are not sensible (myself included). If anything happened I think it would be a cyber attack affecting card payments or something similar that would cause chaos.

LilyBunch25 · 02/09/2026 16:47

TunnocksOrDeath · 02/09/2026 15:41

I think it’s generally good advice anyway to keep a rolling stock of a couple of weeks spare food in the form of frozen batches, frozen veg, cans and dried rice/pasta IF you are fortunate enough have the space and money to do that.
Specifically though, the way things are going in Iran and Russia, it’s fairly likely that the transportation of some essentials is going to be disrupted.

Tbh spare food, you should avoid relying on frozen. Tinned or dried, and a back up heating source eg gas canister stove.

LilyBunch25 · 02/09/2026 16:45

BeanNaGealai · 02/09/2026 15:32

It's standard, sensible advice. It's to be prepared for storms, illness etc. It's really not about anticipating the apocalypse.

Exactly. We do keep significant stores in my house as well as water, gas stove, wind up radio, his medication, pet food, etc but my DH is ex military and thats the way he likes it. I do help, rotate items and replace the water regularly etc. We could manage approximately 3 weeks with no other resources.

Happyjoe · 02/09/2026 16:32

I have always been one to make sure there's enough tinned beans etc and food in the freezer and a replacement for things like tea bags when running low. It came in handy when covid hit and the supermarkets were stripped bare.

Nothing about being fearful, just hate running out of things and realising half way through cooking!

DollymixtureIcecream · 02/09/2026 16:31

We only drink bottled water anyway but due to the advice we did a massive restock and our whole dining room is now full. If it’s not needed we will get through it but the plan is to be able to supply neighbours and family if necessary. Weve also started to build up a stock of basic supplies tinned foods etc with enough to distribute locally to anyone in need.

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 02/09/2026 16:30

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5570978-hm-gov-telling-us-to-get-tinned-food-and-bottled-water
New week.
New thread.
Same topic.

EuripidesTrousersEumenidesTrousers · 02/09/2026 16:22

I think it's difficult not to wonder, personally!

Tunaboona · 02/09/2026 16:21

I'm in Kent. Our water is under constant threat. It's very very hard to deal with. Even if you have a water butt full for the toilet and bottled water it only lasts a few days.

ChopstickNovice · 02/09/2026 16:19

We have a few days' worth of food between the cupboard and freezer and then another couple of days of tinned food in the pantry. Useful just in case. Was pretty useful back in 2018 (?) when the beast from the east weather shut a lot down!

bottleofpop · 02/09/2026 16:07

Don’t start the panic buying!

The terror threat has been severe for 4 months so something is likely to happen but I don’t think it will be an apocalypse

smallglassbottle · 02/09/2026 16:04

Popularpodcast · 02/09/2026 15:44

That starmer character once gave a speech telling us our kids were going to have it worse than our grandparents.

does he not have a point in many respects @smallglassbottle ?

It was more the context, which was about war and conscription.

Bedheadbeachbum · 02/09/2026 16:03

Popularpodcast · 02/09/2026 15:57

Hopefully something doesn’t happen imminently then if his current stockpiling consists of one drawer

Show quote history

You already made that point.... why make another one?

C8H10N4O2 · 02/09/2026 16:03

Bedheadbeachbum · 02/09/2026 15:32

I think we're one of the few European countries that doesn't stockpile.

For example, there are many countries that suffer power cuts in bad Winter weather, so people are accustomed to having supplies of water and non perishable food in case it takes a few days to reconnect.

It's not a new thing for many, it's just we're not used to doing it, or being asked to.

My very sensible DH has been stockpiling in a drawer for months before this advice, he's the least likely person to be a doommongerer, he's just being sensible if there's a power cut.

You don’t have to be overly rural to have that problem in the UK - power cuts are common outside urban areas. Most country dwellers will have a few days stock on hand and a decent UPS for the router/essential household controls

Popularpodcast · 02/09/2026 15:57

Bedheadbeachbum · 02/09/2026 15:49

I know, we need more space - I'd love to have a full on prep basement.

Thinking of using space under one of the beds, problem is our house gets so hot in the Summer and you need to keep it all cool.

Show quote history

Hopefully something doesn’t happen imminently then if his current stockpiling consists of one drawer

MrMarkhamsFanClub · 02/09/2026 15:52

I don't think theres anything sinister going on. I live in a rural area, it is not unusual to have power outages and road blocks for several days, up to a week, at a time, so we always have torches, candles, camping stove, blankets, power banks, non frozen food stocks etc. We are on a private water supply so there's no need for us to have water stocks but if your water is pumped in you would need water supplies.
I think it's mainly in case of power outages, our national grid is creaking and renewable power overloading combined with possible extreme weather power cuts and potential gas shortages makes a weeks stockpiling quite a sensible idea.

Edited: typo

Catza · 02/09/2026 15:52

Yes, something is coming. We are heading into autumn/winter and this means more rainfall, flash floods, northern regions affected by snow, rural areas potentially being left without power and road access due to high winds. It's the same every year. Hardly unexpected.

TomahawkSteak · 02/09/2026 15:51

SilverGlitterBaubles · 02/09/2026 15:45

This seems to come up every now and then but I cannot see that we have received any concrete advice to stockpile.

https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/get-prepared-for-emergencies/

Get prepared for emergencies - Prepare

How to get informed and put a plan in place to prepare if an emergency comes to you in your area.

https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/get-prepared-for-emergencies

Bedheadbeachbum · 02/09/2026 15:49

Popularpodcast · 02/09/2026 15:42

In a drawer? How long would that last you?! 😆

Show quote history

I know, we need more space - I'd love to have a full on prep basement.

Thinking of using space under one of the beds, problem is our house gets so hot in the Summer and you need to keep it all cool.

BelleEpoque27 · 02/09/2026 15:48

smallglassbottle · 02/09/2026 15:43

I go from thinking it's just run of the mill sensible advice to wondering what fresh horror they have planned. I trust the government about as much as I trust a rabid raccoon, so who knows what's going on? That starmer character once gave a speech telling us our kids were going to have it worse than our grandparents. It doesn't help when you're bombarded with people on social media saying it's the end of the world this autumn and there's a new world order coming in by 2030 🙄 I think Russia is the usual threat, but they can't even take eastern Ukraine. Maybe cyber threats from Iran? Power cuts? Rain?

We do have stuff in as it happens, but that's because we're well organised. As long as the cats have enough food I'm happy.

Our kids are going to have it worse than our grandparents. Inflation, reducing public services, housing shortages, late stage capitalism, climate change, societal breakdown due to social media propaganda... it's not looking great, is it.

The current government aren't going to inflict anything on us other than possibly small tax rises, but god knows what will happen if Reform get in.

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