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Original poster

Getting prepared just in case

549 replies

Olympeagal · 28/02/2026 15:24

Is anyone else preparing or making plans, in case the situation in the Middle East escalates?
Ive filled my car up with fuel. Should i be doing more?

OP posts:
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5
cramptramp · 28/02/2026 22:45

You’re being stuff so other people can’t if there are shortages? That’s nice.

Carla786 · 28/02/2026 22:46

TheGander · 28/02/2026 20:55

And Dubai chocolate.

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🤣

wanttokickoffbutcant · 28/02/2026 22:46

BMW6 · 28/02/2026 16:17

I was going to start stripping off wallpaper in a bedroom this weekend but may wait a few days in case I needn't bother.........😏

I'm a bit pissed off now that I had my hair cut today and have also just put on some new face cream that I am hoping will help and wondering if I should have just had a cig and a glass of wine or two (dozen) instead......

tooloololoo · 28/02/2026 22:46

Where you running to with fuel in the car 😂

Carla786 · 28/02/2026 22:49

Flomingho · 28/02/2026 18:59

This. No point stressing about a situation you have no control over. Sadly, there will never be peace in the Middle East during most of our lifetimes.

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Never say never...but yes, the leaders there seem overwhelmingly unpleasant in the main..

Carla786 · 28/02/2026 22:51

Dappy777 · 28/02/2026 18:25

Well I certainly won’t be fighting to defend this island, if that’s what you mean. In 1940, after the fall of Dunkirk, my grandfather cycled into town to join the RAF and defend his country. I wouldn’t lift a toenail to defend modern Britain. I don’t even feel British anymore. As two tier Keir put it, this is now “an island of strangers.”

The Left have got what they wanted. They’ve created a new Britain with a new identity, and THEY can go and fight for it.

It's very unlikely Britain will be attacked.

I can understand why you feel like that...but remember mass immigration was not only a left-wing thing- the Boriswave was also a big contributor.

Sober23 · 28/02/2026 22:58

OP, Where are you gonna go with your full tank of fuel in an actual war? If it really kicks off we are all fucked.

Carla786 · 28/02/2026 23:02

BerryTwister · 28/02/2026 16:45

I think the best thing to do in these situations, especially if prone to anxiety, is to just try and avoid hearing about it. There is literally nothing we can do to prevent the powerful egos bombing each other.

I remember the gulf war in 1990, I was a final year medical student studying for finals, and we were advised to read up on treating injuries from bombs and poisonous gas. It was horrific, and I became quite depressed for a few months. It came to nothing (for me anyway), and ever since then, I’ve tried not to get too immersed in disasters until they’re on my doorstep.

I get that but I think it is worth keeping some level of awareness until then.
Russia probably pose more of a threat though chance of invasion is slim.

hedgheog · 28/02/2026 23:10

Olympeagal · 28/02/2026 15:24

Is anyone else preparing or making plans, in case the situation in the Middle East escalates?
Ive filled my car up with fuel. Should i be doing more?

Why does everyone on mumsnet make every conflict about themselves.

Unitedthebest · 28/02/2026 23:19

Yeah….stockpile the Easter eggs

FOJN · 28/02/2026 23:22

ProudCat · 28/02/2026 22:42

The reactions here are a little bit strange to be honest.

It's not about the OP's car needing petrol, it's about every other transportation and trade system that needs petrol. I think something like a third of all crude goes through the Straits of Hormuz (that Iran has just closed) ... Going to be quite difficult to deliver food to the shops if there' no fuel for ships and lorries.

Trump's recent actions in Venezuela mean he's probably secured enough oil for the US. He can probably hold the line a lot longer than Europe can.

I should imagine the global economy will take a hit. The action has taken place at the weekend to give the stock market a bit of time to assess the situation before it reopens on Monday. I expect we'll see the impact then.

Long story short, no, it's not unreasonable to do some prep. Don't need to buy a goat or anything.

The US is a net exporter of oil. It only imports oil because of a mismatch between crude oil grades and their current refinery capabilities. 50 - 60% if their oil imports come from Canada. The Venezuelan oil is not easy to extract at volume.

I think you're right about the knock on effects for us. Even if closure of the SofH doesn't directly impact our oil imports a reduction is global supply will push prices up.

CautiousLurker2 · 28/02/2026 23:24

UpAndDownAllTheTime · 28/02/2026 15:25

Stockpile baklava.

And haemorrhoid cream!

UnNiddeRides · 28/02/2026 23:32

AmyWinemouse · 28/02/2026 20:00

Cheers !

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You really should have given a Simon Pegg warning.

DBSFstupid · 28/02/2026 23:39

MorrisonsPlatter · 28/02/2026 15:28

Toilet paper 🧻

👏

VikingLady · 28/02/2026 23:40

LittleRed34 · 28/02/2026 22:37

I'm worried too..but my worries are more crazy then if I run out of loo roll or fuel for my car.

I'm terrified we will be nuked in our sleep, war is going to start and we are literally screwed. I'm terrified and scared witless.

I’m worrying a lot less about that, because there’s literally nothing I can do about it. I worry about the more minor stuff that I can affect.

JJWT · 28/02/2026 23:46

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 28/02/2026 15:43

FFS what are you talking about? How is filling up the car with fuel going to make a damn bit of difference to anything?

Edited

Because the war is unfolding in the part of the world that produces most of our petrol. I can remember petrol being restricted to £20 per car in the early 2000s, with HUGE queues. Also the distribution of food relies on the availability of fuel. So she's actually not as batshit as she sounds. I don't think she meant in case she needed to drive away from danger!

OneFunBrickNewt · 28/02/2026 23:50

Get ready to buy Iranian carpets and caviar when those markets open up!

Thecows · 28/02/2026 23:57

EsperTillus · 28/02/2026 18:12

I don’t usually fuss about all this stuff going on in the Middle East but we’ve been personally affected today. Our flight to Qatar got turned back just as we were leaving UK airspace and we were returned to Manchester. We were on our way to Doha to get a connecting flight to New Zealand to go and say goodbye to my dying aunt who likely now has less than 24 hours to live. Her only wish was to have family around her when she goes and she’s now going to die alone. By the time we can all get alternative flights and get there she will likely be gone. we certainly won’t ever forget this. My dad, who had been terrified to fly and had taken a Fearful Flyers course to prepare him for this flight, had a huge panic attack when they announced on the tannoy that the plane was being turned around and I doubt he’ll ever try flying again after this.

in terms of being prepared in our day to day lives, fuck knows. It never ends up reaching the UK so I don’t think it’s necessary to do anything

Edited

Oh that's just too sad for all concerned 😔 xx

OneFunBrickNewt · 01/03/2026 00:04

Thecows · 28/02/2026 23:57

Oh that's just too sad for all concerned 😔 xx

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The first sentence in the post made me cross- you mean you didn't care about the 1200 Israelis and 70,000 Gazans recently killed in the ME just because it didn't affect you personally.......and then I felt very sorry for you and your aunt reading the rest of your post.

ImFinePMSL · 01/03/2026 00:07

Should I be doing more?

YES! Of course you bloody should! What are you waiting for? You need to:

  • Construct your bomb shelter
  • Stock pile the pasta, tinned goods and toilet roll (remember the procedure in Tescos March/April 2020?)
  • Black-out all your windows WWII style
  • Gas masks at the ready!
  • Pray
Wynter25 · 01/03/2026 00:08

No

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 01/03/2026 00:11

OlympicWomen · 28/02/2026 16:51

There's someone on here who could send you tomato soup.

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I make my own.
But I'm not sharing it.
I obviously haven't got the wartime spirit.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 01/03/2026 00:13

ImFinePMSL · 01/03/2026 00:07

Should I be doing more?

YES! Of course you bloody should! What are you waiting for? You need to:

  • Construct your bomb shelter
  • Stock pile the pasta, tinned goods and toilet roll (remember the procedure in Tescos March/April 2020?)
  • Black-out all your windows WWII style
  • Gas masks at the ready!
  • Pray

Pegs on all the curtains, to keep them shut and the light in.

Another76543 · 01/03/2026 00:17

Livelovebehappy · 28/02/2026 21:53

An uneccesary side swipe at ‘retired’ people there. How do you know the demographic of who is posting on this thread? People can be dicks about hoarding and stock piling whatever their age.

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I was referring to a poster who said

“But no doubt there will be increased prices at the pumps, we filled our cars today too. We are retired so we don’t use our cars every day and often for short distances, so full tanks take us a bit longer to get through. If that saves us a few pounds, I’ll be happy!”

Behaviour like that from people who aren’t in immediate need of fuel is what leads to shortages. It’s the same with toilet roll. No one needs to be stockpiling hundreds of rolls, leading to shortages and meaning others can’t get hold of any.

Theroadt · 01/03/2026 00:31

dapsnotplimsolls · 28/02/2026 16:21

You said he's in Asia. You didn't say he wasn't in a safe place before.

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Plus how does buying petrol help her partner in a dangerous position in the ME (or Asia - I lose track)