To be very worried?

Lilianna55 · 2024-05-23T15:19:13+00:00

i suffer with anxiety so try not to watch the news . But a friend of mine has now told me to stockpile food and water because the government has warned us of war/ cyber attack etc. Now my anxiety has gone through the roof. Please can anyone offer reassurance? I’m so on edge since her words. As I said I don’t watch the news, has there really been such a dramatic warning?

KreedKafer · 23/05/2024 16:19

No.

There was an article in the Times recently suggesting that it's a good idea to have a few days' worth of food and bottled water in the cupboard at all times, just in case there's a flood or a snow or power outages. But there's been no warning of war or anything like that. They're not telling anyone to prepare for a specific incident, just pointing out that if something did happen that meant you couldn't access shops for a couple of days, it's good to have some supplies to fall back on.

Nobody is being told to 'stockpile' anything.

You know how people are advised to have a blanket, a torch and a bottle of water in the boot of the car in winter, in case there's snow and they're stuck on the motorway for ages? This is like that. Or like having a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit in an office. It doesn't mean they think something's going to happen. It just means that they're reminding people that it's good to be moderately prepared just in case.

greenmario · 23/05/2024 16:21

F

TinkerTiger · 23/05/2024 16:21

KreedKafer · 23/05/2024 16:19

No.

There was an article in the Times recently suggesting that it's a good idea to have a few days' worth of food and bottled water in the cupboard at all times, just in case there's a flood or a snow or power outages. But there's been no warning of war or anything like that. They're not telling anyone to prepare for a specific incident, just pointing out that if something did happen that meant you couldn't access shops for a couple of days, it's good to have some supplies to fall back on.

Nobody is being told to 'stockpile' anything.

You know how people are advised to have a blanket, a torch and a bottle of water in the boot of the car in winter, in case there's snow and they're stuck on the motorway for ages? This is like that. Or like having a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit in an office. It doesn't mean they think something's going to happen. It just means that they're reminding people that it's good to be moderately prepared just in case.

Edited

as above.

Allfur · 23/05/2024 16:21

No there hasn't

parietal · 23/05/2024 16:21

No. The news is currently obsessed with the general election. No warnings of anything unusual

HowDoTheyGetThroughLife · 23/05/2024 16:21

Your friend is incorrect - the government has announced an election in July, so quite clearly, is not thinking we're all going to die before then

I don't watch the news, either - it's depressing, and the wosrt thing is that we, the ordinary little people, cannot do anything about it all

vodkaredbullgirl · 23/05/2024 16:22

Ignore your friend, if she was a friend she would know about your anxiety.

Beezknees · 23/05/2024 16:22

No.

longdistanceclaraclara · 23/05/2024 16:23

Well sort of. the dep pm advised people to store 3 days of water and food to 'build resilience'. He also advised last year that people should store batteries. power banks etc. The man is a twat.

Allfur · 23/05/2024 16:23

Doomsday scenarios have been around since the dawn of man

July4th2024 · 23/05/2024 16:26

It's been suggested that everyone should have a supply for 3 days of tinned food/water etc (as Google will easily tell you) it just brings in line with other nations.

Of course there's always a chance of an cyber attack etc but I'm not sure that it's any less or more likely than any other time.

Tbh we've had an OFRS for ages just in case but we live in a remote area which can get cut off in snow

ThreeB · 23/05/2024 16:28

The Government launched a new website yesterday morning to provide information as to how the country can better prepare for possible emergencies.

One of the many, many suggestions it makes is to consider having non perishable food and bottled water. You may find that taking a look at the website helps to reassure you and see that this is about improving resilience and informing people. Having the right information from the website will help you rebut some of the more conspiracy/panic lines that people are coming out with

spuddy4 · 23/05/2024 16:28

Apparently it's called the "prepare campaign" and it's for some London Defence Conference.

Reading about it online they are advising it for people at risk of flooding in case of power outages etc. They wouldn't be telling people to keep copies of important documents in waterproof bags if it was some doomsday scenario.

FrancisSeaton · 23/05/2024 16:29

Three days worth of supplies is pointless if war is coming so I wouldn't worry too much about that

Deathbyfluffy · 23/05/2024 16:30

Your friend is an idiot - it's life as usual and we're not going to see Armageddon in the next couple of months.

Sure, we can't afford to live and the NHS is in bits - but that's just another day in the life! 😆

ICantThinkofAnythingClever · 23/05/2024 16:38

Preparing water bottles and tinned food is pointless if, say, nuclear Armageddon comes, so there wouldn't be any such advice for truly dire circumstances. However it is useful to have a plan for less apocalyptic emergency situations such as problems with the water supply or power outages. These are reasonably likely if not common events, they will happen more often given climate change and the increase in extreme weather events, and it's smart to be somewhat prepared. See e.g. the recent news about cryptosporidium outbreak in water reservoirs in the UK.

There are many degrees of potential outcomes between EVERYTHING IS FINE and ABSOLUTE DOOMSDAY. If anything, having a backup plan for unexpected situations should help with anxiety rather than increasing it.