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

Nobody should be encouraging people to use camping equipment and homemade heating devices in doors.

You've said this over and over - and over again - and I am saying adults in an emergency situation can and will make their own choices. Observing safety is obviously important- so are hot drinks and a way to heat food for many, and you give everyone the same lack of credit for having any common sense which I actually think is more patronising than anything.

People absolutely shouldn’t be making these devices indoors.

https://news.sky.com/story/london-fire-brigade-issue-warning-over-people-using-camping-stoves-and-barbecues-indoors-in-bid-to-cut-energy-bills-12784870

Sadly many people are lacking common sense.

Many people are unaware and fire services say
camping equipment absolutely shouldn’t be used indoors for both the huge carbon monoxide risk and risk of fires.

HP

They didn’t feel the need to. Once they had a source for hot water they were fine. They were born just before WW2, and are very stoical.

I haven't told anyone to rush out and buy anything. I've passed on what we in our house and a lot of others I know have in place for emergency. They can be safely used by sensible people, indoors- following the LONG LIST OF SAFETY PROCEDURES you mention. Maybe you should give people credit for having common sense.

Only works if you have family to go to or the means to pay for a hotel.

Then it’s if the hotel has space and even power itself.

Some people also decide to stay as once it becomes public knowledge of empty streets the looters appear.

For anyone rural/ semi rural, long power cuts ( 24 hrs or more) are a fact. We soon learn life is a lot easier if you have some readiness!

Most people would just move out.

France too
https://www.newsweek.com/france-pulls-all-gold-out-of-us-federal-reserve-11792591

A really useful thing to know about camping stoves (or any gas stove) is that if the flame turns orange/yellow it's producing carbon monoxide and your room is not sufficiently ventilated. Even a tinged green flame is not safe. Gas flames should be blue.

If a gas flame is orange it means that the fuel is not burning sufficiently due to lack of oxygen, you need a lot of ventilation to burn a camping stove.

@RedToothBrush "One group which just gives up and dies because they are too stupid to work out what to do, and one group who are going to be able to survive because they actually have a basic level of general knowledge and understanding that the government and the internet will not save them." A significant amount of people in the unprepared and unadaptable group will not just give up but will become very violent. Parts of UK society are ready to go out looting and become violent with almost no provocation.

DH teaches his scouts to make tea light stoves.
He uses a coke can and a tea light.

So even if you couldn't afford a gas stove, there are cheap ways to be able to heat food.

I wouldn't recommend this for use in a tower block but I should not need to say this...

What bothers me most about the lack of critical thought is that it makes us weak by being unprepared in terms of having stuff on standby, but also wide open to manipulation of thoughts.

If we do have some crisis, chose your information sources carefully.

It is absolutely sensible to have a stock of supplies. There is no need to worry about it, just add a couple of extra tins and some water to your weekly shop and stick it in the garage or shed. Have a place where you keep everything- charged battery packs, we have an old radio and have got some more batteries for it, torches. Keep 2/3 large bottles of water in your car.
States such as Russia are capable of exploiting weaknesses in our national energy security, The Times is a good source of trustworthy rigorous journalism on this.

I’ve stockpiled for 40 years!! I always have extras of everything. I did read about it a few days ago but it’s just second nature to me to have spare toiletries, OTC remedies, tins, food in the freezer etc. If you are able to stockpile items, it’s a sensible idea. I’m not sure if the government advice is sinister in any way though…

This is the Swedish guidance:

https://www.mcf.se/en/advice-for-individuals/home-preparedness--prepping-for-at-least-a-week/basics-of-home-emergency-preparedness/

(Page in english, further material in Swedish). I like their factual tone and it summarises the principles - if everyone does a few basic steps, it will be easier to manage whatever situation would arise.

The only part I don't see in the summary is loads of bin bags - would be used if toilet flushing won't operate.

People do not take responsibility for themselves anymore. They expect everyone else to do it for them.

It's bewildering.

There's definitely a phenomena where people can't cope without having been 'told' something. AI is making this worse. We have friends who go around sprouting utter shit "well AI says this". And when you ask them a couple of questions about it the nonsense they are spouting completely falls apart and they get all over defensive trying to justify his nonsense. The lack of responsibility and critical thinking is insane. These idiots don't develop life skills and understanding of the world around them.

In a disaster there are going to be two types of people in the UK. One group which just gives up and dies because they are too stupid to work out what to do, and one group who are going to be able to survive because they actually have a basic level of general knowledge and understanding that the government and the internet will not save them.

It's actually quite scary to see people rabbiting on about safety standards when we are talking about disaster planning. Normal rules will go out the window. That's the point. You will have to make do with what is available, compromise and dynamically risk assess what's the least risky option under the circumstances which might not be ideal. Rigid ideas that "you can't do this" are not really helpful, because lots of people live and survive without that level of protection and would think you were nuts for refusing to do it if you needed.

It's about having some food and water, basic hygiene and sanitation levels above everything else most of the time. Along with adequate shelter and not being exposed to the elements. If you get wet and cold, do you know how long you can stay in that state and do you know how to get dry and warm quickly? These are the ways you are most likely to get sick and die quickest.

Not gassing yourself with a sodding camping stove.

Portable induction stoves need a mains electricity supply, which will not be available in a power cut etc. But if you have a campervan battery you're all set...... but most of us won't have either of those two things realistically.

I'm not going to worry about hot food/drinks I won't die as a result of not having them, but I will be in trouble without fresh/potable water.

Honestly some people just seem to take a weird sense of delight in mocking people who are sensibly stocking up. It's truly astonishing how stupid and selfish some people are. Take some responsibility for yourselves.

We are literally being told that the risk is high and our country doesn't have enough food resilience.

National audit office report just released this week confirming that we have a food resilience problem.

here

Everyone should be taking some steps to have a back up supply for a few days at the very least.

It's hardly a secret conspiracy that sea trade through Iran has been severely limited since February including fertiliser, which will definitely affect crops planted this year for harvest next year so I don't know why the paranoia about 'knowing things we dont' - we know there is a problem coming down the road!

It's more a case that this Government thinks everyone should be dependant on the state for all guidance and instruction, the emergency alert was another good example of this philosophy.

If you have the space, time and money it's a good idea to have some independent resilience, you shouldn't need the state to tell you this.

If I had to use my stove inside living in a flat and was worried about the carbon monoxide I’d use it in the bathroom with the window open. Then I could leave the window slightly open and close the door once done. Easy peasy.

As it is I have a space that’s both inside and outside technically so well ventilated that I’d use mine to cook in. I could also use my camping log burner in there. But I also own a carbon monoxide alarm so I could just use it anywhere.

Not everyone is stupid.