AIBU to wonder whether the three day emergency advice is serious?

[Mich1986]

I know I might sound crazy, but is anyone else worrying about all the posts about stockpiling and prepping for 3 days that the government is telling us to do? Is anyone actually taking their advice and buying torches, extra water and wind up radios? I just don’t know whether to take it seriously?

What water are you purifying? Presumably rainwater?

@noblegiraffe but I am asking a poster who is fleeing with them….

Possibly, some people have water butts. Or a stream.

Well with the foiled attack in Gloucestershire today it is a worry. In USA there have been cyberattacks on water treatment plants too.

I dont really assume an apocalype scenario but most people dont realise supermarkets really do run on a just in time basis & we transport/import a lot.

Its quite easy for localised shortages to become apparent, if there are fuel blockades especially, or power cuts.

Purification tablets alone don’t make water butt water safe enough to drink, they said it on the radio today.

So we have 6 2L bottles so that’s 12L

I was planning to cook pasta in the tin sauce.

If it really all goes to shit and I can’t fill the bath as PP says then we are straight out the door. There’s only so much water we can carry so will either survive or die.

I had thought of getting water purification tablets.

won't it be the same as for stream water? strain it and boil it before treating it?

@Error404FucksNotFound 🤷🏻‍♀️ I just heard that bit & thought I won’t bother getting any

My approach is to be prepared for three days without power. That means food that doesn't need to be cooked, water, torches, wind up radio, power banks.

Nothing more than that really.

What else did they say you would have to do?

Straight out the door? Where do you think you’ll be going and do you think that the 70 million other people in the UK might have the same idea?! 😆 Honestly.

No, it’s something I’ve watched in government messaging for years. Just like when they try out ideas in the media to see how the population will react to them, unlinked to any official announcement or minister.

Watch long enough and you’ll eventually see it too.

Have you never had a power cut? We don't get them often, and they've thankfully never lasted more than a few hours, but they're not so unlikely that I wouldnt own a torch.

Ditto being snowed in. Or having your boiler break down. Most people do prepare for some level of emergency.

I have 25 litres, we would just ration it. Loads of people don’t drink 2.5 litres a day anyway & i have tinned food that doesn’t need water to cook.

The meals won’t be great mind but that isn’t important.

I’ve had a power cut but torch was in the loft so just used mobile phone torchs & Im a Londoner so it’s not pitch black anyway.

Had my water tanks leak which needed a new boiler & a gas leak, called out the emergency plumber & went to my mums.

We're so spoiled in this country that people just can't fathom anything happening.

Loads of people don’t drink 2.5 litres of water a day, but they ‘eat’ their water requirement in their food. If you’re in a situation where you are eating food like crackers or nuts instead of cereal with milk then you will need to drink more water to make up for it.

No. Most people don’t have enough water to last their family three days if supply was cut or contaminated.

Living in Scotland and having been snowed in a few times I always have emergency supplies in the garage and the car.

I think it's important to take this seriously. Sticking your head in the sand will not make it go away.
We think the only thing that will happen is Russia drops a nuke.
Its way way more likely they will hack into our electricity or gas supplies, without putting a boot on the ground, our society will break down in days.
No cash, no fuel, no deliveries, no alarms, no phones, no protection.
My bet is that three days would see rioting, looting and street warfare.
Russia need just sit back. We would destroy ourselves.
Not only do you need to stock up, but care for neighbours and vulnerable. The police don't even do it now and so would be even less likely to help.
Its not a pretty picture but I grew up in a country at war for 21 years. Blackouts were common, water was cut off. The only difference was that we were able to use neighbourhood defences, and not rely on the police or army.

Its a sad fact of our times. And if you have kids, stocking up on evaporated milk. Cereals canned fruit and torches. They're safer than candles.
Don't forget the pets and hope we never need to use the supplies.

3 days supplies is nothing, just common sense to have that if not more in the house at any one time. You shouldn’t need government advice to tell you that. The fact they ARE telling that tells you something about the lackadaisical mindset of Britain today.

@noblegiraffe do they? What are you basing this on?

You can survive on less than 2.5 litres of water a day even if you eat crackers

My grandmother had to leave home due to bombing as a child, then move out of her bombed our shelter when the Russian army moved in. My grandfather had to live in the woods for three months to avoid being put in a prisoner of war camp aged seven.
so I guess I’m envisioning a modern version of my grandparent’s shared trauma. (Which goes without saying wasn’t as bad as the horrors committed by the nazis on others)

Probably similar to many second/third generation immigrants now nationals whose grandparents or parents fled war zones.
i think if you grow up with people who have fled and survived you prep for it too just in case.

in regard to where I would run to, I have discussed it at length with my family and we have several options dependent on the scenario.
eg hiding from an invasion force wanting to kill us vs moving out of home because said force just wants our house vs sitting tight at home vs nuclear war

i have an overactive imagination

Maybe we need a return to 'Dig for Britain'.