We need to have enough tinned food and bottled water to be self sufficient for three days

[CruCru]

There’s a thing in the Times about the Prepare campaign - people need to be prepared for risks like localised flooding, another pandemic, a mass cyberattack which cuts off the internet, disruption to UK space systems that affect GPS signals, conflict and nuclear attack.

I must admit that my first thought was that there are countries in the West Indies who have these sorts of rules - mainly in case of hurricanes. It probably would be useful to have bottled water if we had flooding and the mains water would be turned off. Am a bit horrified by the mention of nuclear war but perhaps this has been overly highlighted by the Times.

Have you seen this? What do you think?

I had a Brexit stockpile and some of it really came in useful during Covid, so I can see the sense in always keeping a few supplies in reserve.

Two freezers here, plenty of tins and packets, good stock of bbq charcoal if the power is off. Loads of toilet rolls and about 20 bottles of wine, water is lacking though 🤔
Power bank and batteries, torch broke so need to get another. We have candles and battery lights.

If there is a nuclear attack then I’m not fussed for survival.

3 days? That doesn't seem like much.

We've got a chest freezer and bulk buy tins/pasta/rice/certain toiletries in general. And we have a wood store for the fire. Just for convenience and being sensible, not for any prepper reasons. Never buy bottled water, maybe that's something to consider.

I'd quite like there to be some sort of apocalypse as an opportunity to use up all the ill-advised purchases that linger at the back of my cupboards. Some of them would be quite chewy without any cooking facilities (eg the 17 tonnes of red lentils), but we have a fair few nonsense tinned foods like pre-cooked carrots and ratatouille. Plus of course 56,000 disgusting herbal teabags.

More uncertainty from the Tories? What a surprise. Is this because they've realise what an epic fuck up Brexit is on the imports now we finally have our ports set up?

I'm surprised it's only three days

why would it be longer? If all shops are empty after 3 days we have bigger problems. Obviously anyone who lives remotely/can be impacted by weather would have their own arrangements before this advice.

I know I was poking fun a bit upthread but my Brexit stash served us very well through covid and the first lockdown. We had a lovely little preppers thread going through 2018/19.

I went to some education for work on radiation injuries. I always thought it was bullshit that just staying inside for a couple of days would make a difference but actually if you are in the borderline areas of fall out and can stay in with your windows shut for a couple of days and have non contaminated food and drink it might well make the difference. Plus by then hopefully someone will come and get you if the country is functioning in any way

Considering the country is barely functioning now I doubt it will be after a nuclear war has destroyed half of it!

I agree.

Definitely food for thought. I tend to shop once a week, but cook with fresh majority of the time. Will try pick up some long life food and some supplies for the freezer. There probably only frozen peas and some ice lollies in our freezer.

I could probably manage food wise, although the thought of eating tins without heating the food would be less than pleasant.

I don’t have water though and I’m not getting any so il just have to hope I have enough time and it’s safe enough to fill pans etc from the tap although I’ve enough alcohol to fill that gap 😂

it’s just while they are counting votes ( 3 days in case of recount in some areas e.g Richmond)

I did so for Brexit and then the inevitable panic buying through covid.

I will restart now but it's sensible to have a steady stash anyway.

I agree tins and packets are better than freezer food.

From my own research you need to be further than a 50 mile radius in the event of a meltdown.

I've just done a cupboard audit. We could ration to survive for more than a week but would be very hungry after four days. Almost all of the freezer food would need a working utility to go alongside it and make it safe to eat such as raw meat that would need gas/electric to cook. There's one bag of bagels and some ice lollies that could just defrost for food and drink. So definitely think we could do with stocking up.

Well might be useful if things get desperate.

The most likely threat to happen is a cyber attack,targetting banks.
If you do one thing,keep a stash of cash in your house. That way you will be able to buy supplies.

I reckon I could do a month or two. I have a private water supply that is gravity fed. The uv light wouldn’t work so would have to boil for drinking, pan on top of wood stove would be fine. Wood stoves to keep warm if it’s cold, Ye olde Aga that runs off an oil tank (no electric needed) to cook on. There lots of cans, cupboard milk. I’d have to cook off all the freezer stuff.

How is chocolate non-perishable? It perishes in my mouth as soon as it is bought. Can you share a method of actually keeping it for more than an hour?

Me too.

Plenty of tinned food, pasta etc.

Just not lots of water.

Gin would be better than water anyway 😁 so no problem.

I grew up rurally where we would get snowed or flooded in. Mum always had a good week of food in and I am much the same. When Covid hit I lasted a week without needing to shop. I could get an Ocado delivery every week but I sent every other one to my parents so I lasted two weeks at a time. I didn’t set foot in a shop for a year.

I can’t imagine not having a week of food in. Even when I was on the bones of my arse I kept stuff in.

I strongly suspect this is a tory fear mongering election tactic given the timing.
There is also the issue that thanks to the tories we have people who can’t afford to stockpile and live hand to mouth.

I'd have eaten it all by the time the electricity went. 🤨

I live on soda water & peppermint cordial, I buy in bulk, so usually have around 24 litres in stock, I won't go thirsty. If the outgoing government sorted the water companies out, we wouldn't be worrying about storing water. They are recommending 10 litres per person per day to allow for washing etc, so 30 litres per person, can you imagine a family of 6 storing 180 litres of water just on the off chance there would be a disaster?

Not new advice. They issue it every now and then.

Announcement I assume has something to do with Rishi Sunak’s project fear. He’s been wibbling on about dangers on the horizon that only the Tories can deal with. Like they did Covid. And the economy.