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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Thread gallery
5
Unpaidviewer · 28/02/2026 16:41

The government have advice on this here https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/get-prepared-for-emergencies/

From that page is this list along with other things you should know and be able to do (ie turn the gas off to your property)

Get emergency supplies

  • Consider what supplies you and your household might need during an emergency lasting a few days, such as a power cut or water outage, or situations where you are advised to stay at home or to leave your home (evacuate) for safety reasons.
  • It can be helpful to keep these items in one place in your home and ideally somewhere easy to find if the lights aren’t working – if you are escaping your house due to a fire you should not take anything with you at all. You could consider keeping items you might need to take with you if asked to leave your home quickly in a spare bag – you might hear some people call this a ‘grab bag’.
  • You should ensure you have enough of the medication you need to keep you going for several days.
  • Pack a few essential items in your car boot to make sure you’re ready in case of getting stuck in wintry weather – this can include a torch, in-car phone charger, warm clothes and blankets, high-visibility clothing, jump leads, food and drink, and a shovel for snow. It can also be helpful to keep a first aid kit in your car.
Put together an emergency kit of items at home This could include: Battery or wind-up torch – torches are safer than candles. Portable power bank for charging your mobile phone. Battery or wind-up radio to get updates during a power cut – a car radio can be used, however in severe weather it might be safer to stay inside. Spare batteries for torches and radio and a backup battery for any medical equipment you rely on. A first aid kit (or some first aid items) including items such as waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings and gloves, medical tape for dressings, and tweezers. Hand sanitiser and wet wipes for hygiene purposes when the water is off. Bottled water – there is no standard figure for this as emergencies can vary in duration and people use different amounts. A minimum of 2.5-3 litres of drinking water per person per day is recommended by the World Health Organisation for survival. 10 litres per person per day will make you more comfortable by also providing for basic cooking and hygiene needs. Additional water might be needed to make up baby formula, for medical devices and for pets. Non-perishable food that doesn’t need cooking, such as ready-to-eat tinned meat, fruit or vegetables (and a tin opener). As with water, how much you need will vary based on your own circumstances. Don’t forget food for pets. Baby supplies such as nappies and baby formula – ready made or ‘ready-to-feed’ formula is best as you may not be able to boil water or sterilise bottles. Rather than buying all the items at once, you could just add to your emergency kit when you are able and build it up over time.

Get prepared for emergencies - Prepare

How to get informed and put a plan in place to prepare if an emergency comes to you in your area.

https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/get-prepared-for-emergencies

TheignT · 28/02/2026 16:41

OlympicWomen · 28/02/2026 16:27

Oh, that's all we need. Folks all panic buying petrol, balaclavas and dates. What about Dubai chocolate?

I've given up chocolate for lent so a few weeks till I need to panic about it. I am finding it a struggle though.

OlympicWomen · 28/02/2026 16:41

RedRiverShore6 · 28/02/2026 16:40

I need to get some tinned mackerel in tomato as there will be a rush on that anyway as Waitrose announced they are stopping selling it so the other shops might run out

Oh my god! I hate mackerel, but I must stockpile this

OlympicWomen · 28/02/2026 16:42

TheignT · 28/02/2026 16:41

I've given up chocolate for lent so a few weeks till I need to panic about it. I am finding it a struggle though.

Edited

You have given up chocolate ?!
Your mental strength is astonishing.

Thechaseison71 · 28/02/2026 16:42

Olympeagal · 28/02/2026 16:37

@Tikitaka20 i am reading and trying to stay calm.
Thankyou for your measured reply. I did not realise the Dubai hotel had been hit by missile debris and was not an intended tsrget. Although this does illustrate how serious this situation is now.

My partner is now in Asia. He travelled from Kuwait but his flts and next job route him back through the Middle East. Unlikely to happen now, i guess its a wait and see situation. This is why im so on edge.
For those calling me selfish, if it was your husband/partner you may feel the same.

As for some of the sarcastic food stockpiling digs, i never once mentioned it.

Realistically if the situation is bad( as in air space close) in the ME when he's due to returns it's easy enough to fly on a partner airline avoiding the ME. For example Qatar airways are one world. If for example partner is in Tokyo now can go with Cathay via Hong Kong, or JAL or BA to the UK

UYN · 28/02/2026 16:42

Olympeagal · 28/02/2026 16:19

Read my posts. My partner is away and is definately not.in a safe place. Read before you post.

Yes i am feeling frightened.

You said your partner is in Asia.

You said you were worried about petrol prices.

I stand by what I said.

Insidesains · 28/02/2026 16:43

Thankyou for your measured reply. I did not realise the Dubai hotel had been hit by missile debris and was not an intended tsrget.

do a, oh I don’t know, 10 second google, before latching on to something you think you read

InterestedDad37 · 28/02/2026 16:44

TheignT · 28/02/2026 16:37

Bizarrely so do I but I hate tomato soup and think I might prefer to starve.

😂😂 I'll have them 😀🍅

PurpleLovecats · 28/02/2026 16:44

He will be fine OP, they’ll just re-route the flights.

Other than that, try to keep calm. This is happening a long way away and we are in a fortunate position of being able to carry on as normal.

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.

TheignT · 28/02/2026 16:46

Unpaidviewer · 28/02/2026 16:41

The government have advice on this here https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/get-prepared-for-emergencies/

From that page is this list along with other things you should know and be able to do (ie turn the gas off to your property)

Get emergency supplies

  • Consider what supplies you and your household might need during an emergency lasting a few days, such as a power cut or water outage, or situations where you are advised to stay at home or to leave your home (evacuate) for safety reasons.
  • It can be helpful to keep these items in one place in your home and ideally somewhere easy to find if the lights aren’t working – if you are escaping your house due to a fire you should not take anything with you at all. You could consider keeping items you might need to take with you if asked to leave your home quickly in a spare bag – you might hear some people call this a ‘grab bag’.
  • You should ensure you have enough of the medication you need to keep you going for several days.
  • Pack a few essential items in your car boot to make sure you’re ready in case of getting stuck in wintry weather – this can include a torch, in-car phone charger, warm clothes and blankets, high-visibility clothing, jump leads, food and drink, and a shovel for snow. It can also be helpful to keep a first aid kit in your car.
Put together an emergency kit of items at home This could include: Battery or wind-up torch – torches are safer than candles. Portable power bank for charging your mobile phone. Battery or wind-up radio to get updates during a power cut – a car radio can be used, however in severe weather it might be safer to stay inside. Spare batteries for torches and radio and a backup battery for any medical equipment you rely on. A first aid kit (or some first aid items) including items such as waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings and gloves, medical tape for dressings, and tweezers. Hand sanitiser and wet wipes for hygiene purposes when the water is off. Bottled water – there is no standard figure for this as emergencies can vary in duration and people use different amounts. A minimum of 2.5-3 litres of drinking water per person per day is recommended by the World Health Organisation for survival. 10 litres per person per day will make you more comfortable by also providing for basic cooking and hygiene needs. Additional water might be needed to make up baby formula, for medical devices and for pets. Non-perishable food that doesn’t need cooking, such as ready-to-eat tinned meat, fruit or vegetables (and a tin opener). As with water, how much you need will vary based on your own circumstances. Don’t forget food for pets. Baby supplies such as nappies and baby formula – ready made or ‘ready-to-feed’ formula is best as you may not be able to boil water or sterilise bottles. Rather than buying all the items at once, you could just add to your emergency kit when you are able and build it up over time.

Well I'm in trouble. Did mine and DHs med requests last night, surgery probably won't do them till Tuesday or Wednesday and my poor underactive thyroid will be struggling if the pharmacy is cleared out. I get my weekly shop on click and collect on Monday morning so not much in the fridge.

I do have a full tank in the car though.

OlympicWomen · 28/02/2026 16:46

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'm old enough to remember Protect and Survive, in case of nuclear attack. I think we were supposed to go under the stairs and switch the gas off.

midlifeattheoasis · 28/02/2026 16:46

Rainydaycat · 28/02/2026 16:22

I’m stockpiling balaclavas 🤔

That’s how I read it initially 😂

CreamolaFoam26 · 28/02/2026 16:46

@Olympeagal Although this does illustrate how serious this situation is now

Its only sabre rattling.

MikeRafone · 28/02/2026 16:47

mrsgilfeathers · 28/02/2026 16:31

You haven’t said anything OP. 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! I remember a little while ago we were paying £1.89 a gallon! Take care.

£1.89 a gallon that wasn't a little while ago - it would have been the 1970s, when a packet of 20 tipped cigarette was the same price. Now cigarette are how much for 20 and a gallon of petrol is £5.76 so very cheap compared to cigarettes

OlympicWomen · 28/02/2026 16:49

MikeRafone · 28/02/2026 16:47

£1.89 a gallon that wasn't a little while ago - it would have been the 1970s, when a packet of 20 tipped cigarette was the same price. Now cigarette are how much for 20 and a gallon of petrol is £5.76 so very cheap compared to cigarettes

Bargain.

OlympicWomen · 28/02/2026 16:50

Important question:
Is it still ok for me to have a Persian carpet?

TheignT · 28/02/2026 16:50

OlympicWomen · 28/02/2026 16:42

You have given up chocolate ?!
Your mental strength is astonishing.

I do it every year. It's good for my body and soul. I don't drink, smoke or do drugs but I am addicted to chocolate. I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack if I realise we are out of chocolate. Lent helps me to reset a bit but I eat too much cake to compensate.

BerryTwister · 28/02/2026 16:50

OlympicWomen · 28/02/2026 16:46

I'm old enough to remember Protect and Survive, in case of nuclear attack. I think we were supposed to go under the stairs and switch the gas off.

@OlympicWomen I remember that too. It was horrible wasn’t it. Even now, if I find the “advert” on YouTube and listen to the tinkling noise of the fallout, it makes me feel anxious!

Threads was the most disturbing film I’ve ever seen.

JMSA · 28/02/2026 16:50

Nah.

OlympicWomen · 28/02/2026 16:51

TheignT · 28/02/2026 16:46

Well I'm in trouble. Did mine and DHs med requests last night, surgery probably won't do them till Tuesday or Wednesday and my poor underactive thyroid will be struggling if the pharmacy is cleared out. I get my weekly shop on click and collect on Monday morning so not much in the fridge.

I do have a full tank in the car though.

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

OlympicWomen · 28/02/2026 16:51

BerryTwister · 28/02/2026 16:50

@OlympicWomen I remember that too. It was horrible wasn’t it. Even now, if I find the “advert” on YouTube and listen to the tinkling noise of the fallout, it makes me feel anxious!

Threads was the most disturbing film I’ve ever seen.

Oh yes, utterly terrifying.

mrsgilfeathers · 28/02/2026 16:52

MikeRafone · 28/02/2026 16:47

£1.89 a gallon that wasn't a little while ago - it would have been the 1970s, when a packet of 20 tipped cigarette was the same price. Now cigarette are how much for 20 and a gallon of petrol is £5.76 so very cheap compared to cigarettes

It wasn’t 1970’s! It was just after Russia invaded Ukraine. It averaged around £1.89 in my area in Central Scotland.

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 28/02/2026 16:52

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, are you planning to drive there?

OlympicWomen · 28/02/2026 16:52

TheignT · 28/02/2026 16:50

I do it every year. It's good for my body and soul. I don't drink, smoke or do drugs but I am addicted to chocolate. I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack if I realise we are out of chocolate. Lent helps me to reset a bit but I eat too much cake to compensate.

❤️ 🍫 🍰

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