To ask what is your plan if the UK hits a period of civil unrest?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Another thread making me wonder really, but not a thread about that as there are so many potential fuckups that could leave things shaky for us mere commonfolk for a while. From a severe bout of bad weather, to a cyber attack on the grid, or a weird glitch like the Visa cards not working last week.

Not talking about a full on apocalypse! Rather emergency situations where everyone is freaking out, but that are hopefully temporary and can be resolved.

Some people are very prepared and have sensible plans. I am not one but thought it'd be interesting to discuss. Prepping in general I find quite fascinating, but also it's sobering to see how quickly talk turns to defending your supplies (if you bother to stockpile) so I guess I always know I won't bother stockpiling. As a woman on my own in a city full of ravenous hangry people, I ain't gonna stand a chance if it comes to a fight

What are your thoughts?

Oh & I have enough fat reserves to get me through a few days without food.

I’ve got quite a lot of wine. And a few bottles of gin. And all sorts of food really.

We’d be alright.

the more you read, the more shocking it is AbsentMindedWoman...

have been thinking a lot about our history lessons here in England recently...

Sorry for hijacking your post!

" We didn't start eating each other during the Blitz, or when the UK was barricaded and virtually no supplies were getting through."

'we' might have though, cos if 'we' did, it wouldn't have made the history books.
They did in St Petersburg.... but that was a total blockade.

I think it's a very pro-active thing to be taking precautions.

This Visa issue is a great example of things going wrong with no warning. If the 5hit really does hit the fan there'll be no government coming to knock on your door to make sure' you're alright.

I'll be fully embracing the chaos. There's loads of people I'd like to chuck half a brick at.

OP if you like preppers you should watch Doomsday Preppers on Netflix to get hints and tips.

We are as dependent on The Delivery as Ireland used to be on the potato in the 1800s.

We weren’t dependent on the potato. Irish people were starved by the English. It was genocide.

Here is my input as a prepper with some experience. Civil unrest is one of the more common scenarios.

First up pack a go bag with some food, water, medications, copies of your important documents, spare keys, knife, torch, first aid kit, phone charger, paper map of the area, cash clothes etc….. a pack of cigarettes/vape and a small bottle of spirits for trade may be a good idea. If you need to get out of dodge grab your bag and run.

Your first decision is should you bug in or bug out? Based on your OP you live in a city, and don't want to stock up , my advice would be to plan to abandon your home and go to a relatives home in the country, or outside the city. Drive if you have a car, take the back roads. Make sure you know the route by memory, with a couple detour options.

If you don’t have a car, you are going to have to walk, avoid public transport and people. If you are going to do this. Go for a few walks with your bag to get used to carrying it. If you jog use that as a change to plan your escape route.

English ruling class, MadMags, English ruling class...

"It's a ridiculous thing to stock pile because it is a sugar boost that will give you a rush then plummet."

Nope, don't agree. If it boils down to actual starvation, you need fat and calories. That's what keeps you alive. Chocolate is a good shout in terms of calorie dense, easily available stuff in shops. Of course, when you are really starving and desperate the wilderness survival experts encourage you to eat beetles and grubs because they have such a high fat content, they can also keep you alive in a pinch.

Plan a) relocate, build a bunker and make sure it has a cellar -(favourite day dream) & Party on through it.
Plan b) learn how to be a prepper - again need a bunker
Plan c) buy a house with a wine cellar, have it fully stocked and retreat

There are all very similar plans

I cleaned my kitchen cupboards today and discovered that i have about 20 tins of kidney beans, so i think I'm gonna be ok

Go to The Winchester, have a nice cold pint and wait for all this to blow over.

The Blitz Spirit, while lovely to read about, is definitely an example of something seen through rose tinted spectacles. There are for sure lots of examples of people helping one another, but talking about the darker aspects of human behaviour during WW2 was avoided.

There was a stampede at Bethnal Green tube station during an air raid resulting in children being smothered and squashed to death in the resulting panic. Hushed up and swept under the carpet for many years, because it didn't fit with the Blitz narrative.

" Go to The Winchester, have a nice cold pint and wait for all this to blow over."

I'll check out some Preppers shows on Netflix, but when they start canning food and stuff I zone out a bit I'm afraid Not that devoted.

I have a few days worth of bottled water and lots of tinned food. I also have some wind up lanterns. I still need to buy a camping stove.

I'll also try to have some cash at home after the recent bank malarkey.

I like feeling prepared for a few days of chaos.

I am sure that even after Brexit there will still be enough tin foil to make hats, not to worry.

I have a book "how to survive a zombie apocalypse" that this thread had just reminded me to read. Thanks OP. As an Island I think I read once that we are only 3 days away from a food shortage.

Lol OP have you been watching too much Walking Dead. This country is the master of civil control - the Army, Boy Scouts and RNLI will sort everything out. Get a few extra tins of food and long life milk if you're really worried

I'm just going to get on with my life as normal

I was without power for 8 days after Sandy. The only two things you need are cash and petrol.

I would scuttle back to Ireland for a bit. I keep a few hundred yoyos on hand for such eventualities.

Must admit, since the visa thing I've decided it might be prudent to keep some cash about my person.

Although that's probably sensible in any event.

I do wonder if targeting the banking and finance system will be the next thing in terrorism.

We would possibly be quite fucked in a crisis of more than a few days. No water, very little jars or tins as we tend to shop day-to-day.