Your ‘emergency supplies/stockpile’.

[ohyouagainclarence]

Has anyone else started stashing a few things away in the event of some kind of ‘national emergency’ and if so, what sort of things are you storing?

I’m certainly not going to turn into a prepper but as I have plenty of storage space, I’ve got two big plastic boxes filled with dried goods (rice/pasta etc) and then some tinned stuff. I’ve also stocked up on batteries, candles and matches and I bought a solar charger. And oh, got two 5 litre bottles of water.

The temptation to go a bit nuts and plan for Armageddon is high! 😂😂 But I’m being sensible and just having enough for the basics to keep us going for about a week. I’m also cycling through the food so it doesn’t get wasted - use a tin of beans and then replace it etc.

I’m not wrong. These threads about prepping for the apocalypse are scaremongering. I don’t go on to the preppers board because that’s their hobby and that’s fair enough. But on Chat it is more then reasonable to say that this is becoming insane.

Sounds like you’re somewhere very rural then so fair enough.

If there is no water than everyone’s dried pasta supplies are looking like bad planning.

Do most people you know have more? Great news. No need for them to prep then.

I'm happy to contribute to the food bank, and usually give "free from" alternatives for people with gluten or dairy intolerance because I know how hard it is for them and how expensive the stuff is, and that for kids it used to be available on the NHS but no longer is.

But giving extra stuff now won't make a difference if there is an event, because they won't stockpile it, they will give out what they have on a week by week basis.

I'm not prepping for the apocalypse at all. I couldn't if I tried so why bother. I know my family will be ok for a few days if we can't shop, have no electricity or can't heat our home. What's wrong with that? It's also government advice so perfectly sensible. If you would rather suffer, you go for it.

And no, we weren't particularly rural where I grew up.

By default, most people I know have more than "a couple of tins", yes.

But, that's not enough for the preparation we need, and it's not structured or planned. My DP, for example, is a terrible planner, but even he probably has a few tins of beans and a couple of tuna, maybe some soup. But it's not going to keep him going for very long, is it!

If you weren’t rural how have you been totally snowed in for days?

There are 'so many threads' about this subject right now due to the government's advice about stocking up some supplies for the minimum of 3 days in case of power outages or cyber attacks. It's a very good idea and is practised throughout many other countries. The UK is lagging behind.

Throw some potatoes or bread in the freezer and few tins of beans, a couple of tuna and soup would keep you going for a couple of days. I have no idea why these increasingly dramatic threads are springing up. As you say, most people have extra food already.

The government’s advice came out in 2024. It has hit the headlines again due to Angela Eagle saying that the weather conditions in the Atlantic might affect supply this winter.

I'm not "rural" and I've been snowed and flooded in for several days.

I guess it depends on your definition of rural. I live in a village. In 2024 all four routes in and out, plus the high street, were flooded for about four days. I could have swum out I guess.....

And we got frozen in in the beast from the east. Technically we could leave, but the roads were too hazardous and not gritted as are not priority, with no bus route. I think we do get done eventually but not very quickly.

My sister lives very rurally, just eight houses and no amenities where she lives, and she thinks I live in an urban area. I think I'm probably semi rural. Who knows. The village is just off a single carriageway A road. Her's isn't even a village and is off a muddy track.

You'd have to consult the weather Gods, I don't know but we were. We opened the front door to a wall of snow one day. We also suffered more recently. Remember the beast from the east?

Anyway, you seem determined to rebel against sensible advice. Good luck to you and yours.

He doesn't have a freezer.

How do you put potatoes in the freezer anyway?

I have a well stocked large freezer.

But anyway, you don't need to come on this thread and tell us what to do!

Well, she's not wrong! We don't really know what to expect with such a strong El Nino - could definitely have more storms this autumn/winter as a result with the resulting damage that can cause in the UK.

Yeah so buy three days of food then. Most will have that in frozen food and tins anyway. No one needs water purification tablets, gas bottles, sheds and garages full of bottled water, more candles than Westminster Abbey and, in one person’s case, a crossbow. Everyone needs to calm down.

Yeah, I think a village with only four routes out counts as rural!

Yes, I remember walking to the shops.

You pick the potatoes up, open the freezer door, put the potatoes into the freezer, and close the door.

It’s you again. Why go on another thread like this and take over, just replying with yet another question that doesn’t make much sense. Only acceptable to somewhat prep if you live in a rural place. I mean, I know you can because it’s a chat forum after all. But why bother, just do you.

Haha no that doesn't work, potatoes contain too much water and will be reduced to a mushy mess on defrosting. They have to be prepared first by blanching, I do know that. I don't try to freeze potatoes, I'd buy already frozen chips and store those.

Yet you say people don’t need bottled water, that’s over the top. So which is it?

Yes well obviously not raw. You can hardly cook full raw potatoes on your camp fire in December.

I think you do you is the best advice for people who think it isn't necessary. I don't think it's possible to change the minds of those who are determined they are right on this sort of thing. Some seem to get satisfaction out of sneering at others.

Most sensible people realise that when the world is so unstable for all sorts of different reasons, then it's sensible to listen to the government when they ask us to be prepared for emergency situations. Those who don't listen will be the ones complaining and standing in queues.

They don’t. The vast majority of us are not going to find ourselves in a position where our taps are not giving us water, and all the shops are closed. It’s ridiculous.