HM Gov telling us to get tinned food and bottled water?

[DecisionTime123]

Call me old fashioned, but isn't this sort of thing likely to provoke a run on toilet rolls? Couldnt find any other threads on it, but I think there is a "preppers" topic on here somewhere. In any case, what do you think? I'm sort of concerned, should I be? Or has this gone under the radar?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/aug/25/uk-to-warn-citizens-to-stock-up-on-food-amid-threat-from-climate-crisis-and-hostile-states

You are a prepper mate

I’m not sure toilet rolls are a top priority when you have no water! How would you flush? Baby wipes would be better in my opinion.

loo roles for a wee

oh that's helpful thank you. how much water to pasta please?

This is me tbh.

I keep a very much just in time stock in my kitchen.

I do keep flours though.

What I do have is a trillion seed packs. Pretty sure if I could get through the first year I could repopulate the planets food supply 😂

This is me tbh.

I keep a very much just in time stock in my kitchen.

I do keep flours though.

What I do have is a trillion seed packs. Pretty sure if I could get through the first year I could repopulate the planets food supply 😂

I'm also thinking that some sort of cyber attack is a possibility, as well as the various implications of extreme weather, and this thread has been a useful reminder of how to be a bit more resilient. I've always got some tins in a cupboard, so I'm increasing those. I've also checked whether I've got a radio which works off batteries and have bought some batteries. I've also just bought a couple of water containers (10L each) which - once I tidy up the cupboard under the stairs - will be filled up and live there. If I'm really organised I'll do a diary reminder to change the water in them every six months. I have a woodburrner and always have matches & candles of various types. I also quite like the idea of a "go bag" - but, because I'm quite organised, I could probably find everything which needs to go in one in a few short minutes.

Thanks for the reminder, I also have a lot of sprouting seed packets and they'd do in a pinch to supply some vitamins, minerals and a bit of interest to food.

Also make sure you've got enough cooking oil in stock, it is high calorie and therefore very useful!

PollysKenwood · 25/08/2026 23:37
The Economist is running a story in it’s cover asking if AI will become conscious and yet we are being told it should be embedded in all systems and we are also told it will kill
off many jobs and we are also told it uses huge amounts of energy and water and we are told climate change as a byproduct of our energy use habits will further impact on the availability of water. Rather than prepping, I’m going out the back to introduce my arse to my elbow. Then at least one person in amongst this mess definitely knows the difference.

I do find it mind boggling that data centers will add to the climate craziness and people don’t want them but don’t see the correlation between them using their phones all day and using ChatGPT daily.

In Ireland we’re going to be getting leaflets on getting prepared- it will absolutely lead to the assholes out there deciding they should go loot sports shops for designer gear, which we all need in a crisis of course plus people fighting over toilet rolls and bread (god we can be a shit country!!)

I have always got at least a week's worth of food in stock. Plus extra tins and stuff in the fridge. I also have powdered milk. I have plenty of tins of coke and other drinks. I have lots of loo roll.

We live in a semi rural area. Power cuts are normal. Water leaks and no water are normal. Therefore, we always have candles and a camping calor gas cooker to hand. We have a battery radio, it may need new batteries. We have hot water bottles. I can heat water on camping stove. I also have a BBQ and fuel. Plus, enough solid fuel in stock to get me through winter. I have enough fuel in the car to last for a week. I always carry cash.

I'm quite surprised that most people aren't prepared for emergencies.

I don't keep everything in my go bag, just the basics that can sit there all the time. Change of underclothes, small first aid kit, water purification tablets, matches, slab of kendal mint cake, wipes, loo roll and bin bags. I'd use that few minutes to add phone, spare phone battery, passport, wallet, cash stash spare glasses and a few sentimental things.

Can I suggest that people look at wind up tech? I have got a wind up radio, torch, and a charger that will charge my phone. They are pretty cheap now and save having to keep up to date with battery expiry dates, even though they can be years.

Gosh this reminds me of the early 1970s - playing cards by candlelight, scratch suppers depending what was available.

The UK has

• no energy security
• no food security (40% of food is imported)
• massively underfunded water / sewage infrastructure (England and Wales are the ONLY countries in the world where water has been privatised so that it generates private wealth)
• underfunded military …
• one of the most densely populated countries in Europe (population growth driven mostly by migration not birth)
• a political system whereby politicians seek re-election every few years rather than making long term plans and difficult, sometimes unpopular, decisions for the future

Climate change is a growing concern but Europe has an ongoing war on its borders (dating back to 2014) with the aggressor making subliminal threats against the UK at a time when the UK has detached itself from the European Union.

We have had that leaflet twice I think. It’s really good with a checklist as well.

https://rib.msb.se/filer/pdf/30874.pdf

Its nothing to do with climate

Its nothing to do with climate

other countries advise this too. its sensible. I want to be the one with dog food. cat food and human food and water for maybe 3 weeks when others may be panic buying if putin hits logistics .

I also have a month's supply of pet food. I buy in bulk.

You’re right that’s important and something I’ve never done. Always have bursting cupboards but nutritious food would quickly disappear. I’ve purchased 5 tins and a crate of water. I’ll do that for 3 weeks and then rotate them. Plus I’m going to order a wind up radio. I have been meaning to do that for years. I always keep random candles.

I tend to have a decent stock of food as I buy stuff when it’s at the lowest price if it’s not perishable and it’s stuff I regularly use
I also keep a couple of litres of water after waking up to a boil water notice one year. It gets used up for filling my windscreen wash and I buy a couple more

the other thing I keep is a hospital bag but I guess it’s also kind of a go bag? So I wouldn’t have to ask anyone to get me stuff. Underwear, PJs, socks, clean top, baby wipes, deo, face wash/shower gel, toothbrush and paste, phone charger, headphones, power bank and charger for it plus spare meds

I agree it’s worrying and clearly the government is trying to leak this message without causing widespread panic eg by putting it on the national news at 6.

wow if that was sent round in the uk, the panic would be IMMENSE

I live in forrin and here currently supermarkets have 'hamster' weeks - stuff sold to stock up. this includes vegetables suitable for winter storage (potatos, carrots, beets etc) veg suitable for canning (mainly cabbages)

It would. Also they speak of civil Defence centres - something we don't have in the UK, other than the historic ones that still remain or if you are in the area of London's underground (imagine how crammed those would be!). Honestly this country is so unprepared it's untrue.

Actually, all local authorities have emergency centres for any civil disaster, usually sports centres, libraries etc as part of civil contingencies planning. The local mosque near me acts as this when we have severe flooding and provide beds, food etc. We are better prepared than people think, its just not as well known.