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

All in all it has been a very good thread though I have to say.

I do struggle with the "whataboutery"

Agree.

But common sense is not so common.
And the need to blame someone else is so strong, some would rather do that than take responsibility to do what you can, no matter how small that might be? I don’t know.

very true

If you was in a town centre flat in Croydon ( because historically that's been a looting riot flash point) I'd prep for that.

How do I get out if the shop below was set alight. What do I need to grab? How much time do I have to get out - people are smashing a Tesco a street down so I can pack up with time to spare? A grab bag can just be knowing where your backpack is and writing a list of what you need to takevon your phone. Very handy when you gave to ho to A&E as well.

I’m no prepper but we have a gas stove (camping), some pasta, cans of tomatoes, canned soup and some dried beans left over from covid I think, combined with a case of Fanta bought cheap we can last a few days, can’t imagine getting cut off from Lidl anyway, it’s under 5 minutes walk

The thing is that fear feels bad, but actually fear in the presence of a real risk is valuable because it's what makes us take action (panic is different and stops normal functioning).

Governments generally prefer to avoid anything that might cause fear, sometimes because they can't tell the difference between that and panic when they see the population acting on that fear.

However the risk if they're too reassuring is that they end up with a complacent population who aren't psychologically or practically prepared for a particular danger.

The other thing (I said this upthread) that fear and stress is made worse but feeling that you have no control, no agency. Even small actions can make people feel less stressed.

I certainly feel better for getting organised and putting away extra items that may come in handy (they have done so in the past) so it gives me a feeling of control and that helps with anxiety.