AIBU to think the stockpile advice suggests something to come??

[OhNoooooooooooooooo]

The government is low-key telling people to stock up with tinned food, bottled water etc

I have tinned food, gas camping stoves etc just need to think about water really..

Do you think that they know something is happening/going to happen?

This is not scaremongering. Any sensible person who can put stores and emergency supplies by for at least 3 days and doesn't because it's 'scaremongering' is very short sighted.

Just to add, for anyone thinking it's scaremongering and we just shouldn't prepare because, well, it's all going to be fine...The extreme weather events including El Nino, yes are one good reason, but the extreme weather also gives good basis for government to push the preparedness narrative without causing more alarm by actually saying what they're, actually trying to say: this is also because we know a cyber attack or interference with our power infrastructure is very possible and very soon. The emergency alert last month citing wildfire risk was relevant, but also a good opportunity for them to test the system. It wasn't all about the wildfires. I don't understand the reluctance if you're in a position to do so to put away supplies that will deal with a few days plus emergency, leaving emergency services to help those who literally haven't been able to do so or are perhaps alone/vulnerable/had no means to do so. Plenty of other civilised nations encourage their citizens to do just this, on, usually, a 72 hour basis, to leave emergency services and aid for those who really need it if it becomes necessary.

So are we supposed to be storing food that can be prepared with or without access to heating it?

NRTFT. What sort of food are people stockpiling? If we lose power so can’t cook pasta, rice etc what are people planning to eat? Canned fish, cold beans ? Any tips on what to stock up on? We rarely have power cuts here & never for more than an hour or so.
Tbh I’m not one for having loads of food in as we don’t have a huge amount of storage space. I also tend to buy mainly fresh ingredients to cook from scratch. Eg never eat tinned soup, always make my own. My food cupboard will usually have rice, pasta, tinned toms, tuna, beans, ketchup, stock & herbs/spices. This advice has thrown me a little.

Both is sensible. A portable gas stove and canisters is the best option as a standby for heating food and water, but food that doesn't need heating should be part of anything you decide to store.

A week's food/provision is not a stockpile. It's a week's shopping.

I wish I had a pound for how many times in my life we’ve been threatened with all sorts of Armageddon. 🙄

If we lost power, then stockpiling freezers, or cupboard stuff that needs heating up, blending, cooking and other stuff won’t be much use.

If it did happen, then shops, banks, garages etc won’t be able to take cards etc - so you’d probably be better stockpiling cash indoors. 🙄

In those unlikely circumstances, cash will shout the loudest.

Climate change is a big part of this. Less food , and less working infrastructure. Plus all the wars.

As per my OP.... I have a gas camping stove and 8 bottles of fuel.

Don’t really want to buy a gas stove as it’s not something I would use ( if the crisis doesn’t happen) & storage space is limited. I’ll have a look & think about it. I wouldn’t last long without a cuppa.

Not all 'cupboard stuff' needs heating up, and if it does, plenty of people have already shown they can manage that with alternative cooking methods including portable gas stoves. Talking about armageddon and punctuating it with eye rolls is why we are so behind other sensible countries who prepare sensibly as a matter of course and don't treat it as some kind of affront to their sensibilities. Yes you can have cash to hand, thats sensible, but as the majority of shops, including a lot of local ones now, rely on electricity to even open and close their doors (and are highly unlikely to wedge them open in a power outage) it wouldn't always be the answer. Being prepared for at least 3 days is pretty manageable for most people.

But there’s very little you can buy that keeps that
doesn’t need heating.

Have they suggested families rush out and.spend £££ on camping stoves and gas? Because I can see a lot of people wasting money for nothing. You need to store gas safely. What about youngsters at uni, those in flats or without gardens to use said stoves and the elderly?

Why hasn’t there been proper info info if they’re serious about camping stoves.

They're not big.

And you can also get smaller tripod type ones :)

Nuts, dried fruit, fruit cake, tinned fruit.

Have they suggested that?

Not everybody can store or cook on them safely.

@LilyBunch25 all my independent corner shops have doors that you push open and lock with a key.

Well don't fucking complain when there's a shortage of something, or the gas and electric is shut off for 2 days, or you can't have a hot drink in winter, or have to queue for hours like we did in COVID and get some pasta you can't heat up.

And we'll enjoy our coffee, our hot food and not worry about if it just so happens to be tinned soup for that day or two.

I was just suggesting an alternative of space is an issue 😕 😕 😕

Just eat the tinned rice pudding or whatever cold if needed.

There is quite a lot of food you can buy that keeps and doesn't need heating. And no there's no official guidance to buy camping stoves they just happen to be something a lot of people do have, including me, who have experienced power cuts in their area and/or use them for day trips, camping, etc and have at home anyway. They're £15-£20 to buy and the canisters are about £1 each. My 81 and 82 year old PILs have one as well; they're prone to power cuts where they are. I've never said everyone can/will have one. It's just a good option. Being in a flat for example is no barrier to having one. You don't need a garden for these one ring stoves, either, nor does being at uni make any difference....? They're perfectly safe to use indoors. The canisters are also perfectly safe to store indoors.

My two don't. They have electric doors. So that's me and thats you.

Honestly if it's a couple of days you can buy crisps, nuts, and chocolate from your local corner shop with cash. Kids would love it.

I'm glad I don't have to wait for 'they' to suggest something I can already work out for myself is a fairly sensible idea.

You absolutely shouldn’t be using these indoors and there are a long list of safety procedures if you do. Just telling people to rush out and buy them is putting large numbers of people at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

It also might save lives in a crisis. So you need to weigh that up.

The people buying them may also realise you don't use them indoors and read the safety instructions that come with them
You also need to be careful storing gas canisters in the house
.

However most people on here are not stupid lemmings who just do what they are told .