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 don't really have the space to store the loo rolls. Some are in a corner in our bedroom, some in the bathroom, some under the bed and some in the bottom of the wardrobe.

I just think loo rolls are something we all need and to be forever buying 2 or 4 packs that, obviously, not last long, seems a bit ridiculous.

The Prepare campaign is Government advice, it's on the Gov.uk website. I'm attaching a couple of screenshots in case it helps anyone.

I think the Government doesn't shout about it as they know a lot of morons then act like headless chickens and want to strip the shelves but advice seems to have slowly been drip fed and I'm seeing it crop up more and more often so I think the message is starting to get through. With the awful harvest farmers have had this year due to fertiliser costs and the crazy heat we had I think that in itself could well cause supply chain issues. Add in talk of El Nino and this winter potentially being very bad then I reckon having a few extra items in stock at home is sensible.

Barter.

Electricity might go too so watch that!

Agree. It's not just us by the way. Europeans are being told the same by their governments (well the Dutch anyway).

I’m also considering how to keep warm if there are power cuts in the winter so I’ve bought an Oodie and a foot muff from Vinted.

Yes, I thought about that. I have a camping stove and I will admit to buying some water purification tablets in case of not having clean water - we always have plenty of rain.

I’m actually beginning to sound more like a prepper. I’m really not though! 😂

Our brochure came years ago, sent to all households, and it’s not the first one either.
It’s not a big deal, but common sense which we do need to follow.

I mean, not on purpose, but due to a brain blank whilst shopping (and not checking the cupboards before I went) we probably have enough baked beans, tuna and pasta to see us through to 2028. I am investing in a few decent torches though, and a power bank, after we had a couple of electricity cuts last winter!

Please don't rely on candles and matches. Whenever I wargame this sort of scenario, there always ends up being a house fire due to unattended candles. Add torches and batteries but please not candles and matches.

It's all very well the gov suggesting we store a few days of necessary medications. Three of the four of us are on daily meds that need reordering monthly and can't be stockpiled. You get 28 of each and that's yer lot.

If the emergency happens near the end of the four weeks, we're doomed, I tell you, doomed.

Actually, if anything major happens and the medical supply chains collapse... let's just say we won't need as much pasta.

Just no. Keep candles and matches, and obviously use them responsibly.

This got me wondering about how long things keep and a quick google said:
Commercially tinned food lasts for 2 to 5 years past the manufacture date, while properly stored dried staples like white rice and dried beans can remain safe and edible for 25 to 30 years.
It depends on the item though as low acid goods (e.g veg, soup) keep longer than high acid goods (e.g. tomatoes, pineapple). Also consider storage conditions like temperature, light, moisture and having the space.

I'm also thinking that cooking is fine if you have a camping stove but then it's the washing up of everything that's going to be an issue if there's no water!

I did this a bit pre Brexit and then used a lot of it during covid.

But I've since realised that I don't really need to do this consciously because I do it unconsciously.

There's no point at which I don't have a few tins of different types of beans, tins tomatoes, tinned soup, pasta sauce, tuna, anchovies, all the herbs and spices....I currently have a six different types of rice, four of pasta, some polenta, three types of flour, four types of sugar, all the ingredients for a heavy fruit cake.....
....plus a large freezer full of salmon, pork chops, chicken breasts, home made meal portions.....

I just keep stuff IN! So I'm OK really. I live alone.

I've got a camping stove and I did just buy three five litre bottles of water as contingency. Drinking rather than washing.

Oh, and I have about six power banks, of which one is solar, and one runs on two AA batteries, which I keep loads of in stock.

In the camping box are a couple of handy lanterns too and head torches.

I don't really have any means to keep warm if the gas and electric were off, I suppose I could use the camping stove to heat water for a hot water bottle (I'd reuse the same water each time). But I do have loads of clothes and blankets.

We have a free standing bioethanol fireplace. Didn’t expect it to heat up a room so much but it actually does.

We have hardly any storage space and all of that is occupied by normal household things.

The concept of cupboards appeared to bypass the architect of these houses altogether lol.

Why?!

And while we are here, what is everyone "prepping" for? 3 day Armageddons don't exist 🤭

Of the gas and electricity supplies interrupted, how are you cooking that 5kg of rice? And the gas canister in your cooking stove lasts how long?

Toilet hoarders Unite but I think it's rather silly...

Do you not watch the news or read the papers?

It's not about armageddon, it's about disruption. Powercuts, cyber attacks, bad weather - all of these can disrupt the normal services that we have become reliant on. Those who can look after themselves for 3 days mean that services can concentrate scarce resources on those who can't. Being prepared for disruption reduces pressure in the event something happens.

I have enough stuff in my cupboards that I don’t want to eat to last my 3 days, will be some odd combos though!

A minimum of 2.5-3 litres of drinking water per person per day is recommended

For survival?!

I do think you can feel more in control & therefore calm by prepping. Obviously there is a world of difference between getting snowed in & Russia cutting off gas.