To be really scared by this messaging from the government?

[sookiestjames77]

As someone who really struggled during the pandemic this has really scared me. I have done a big order of hygiene basics to arrive tomorrow (12 x packs of wet wipes etc) and will be heading out for a stock up shop tomorrow to fill up on tins etc.

I’m considering ordering 12 of those water refills for water coolers and a pump that fits in the top, but I don’t know if that’s overkill. I alone drink 4-5 litres of water a day, plus cooking water!

I am really scared. How is everyone else dealing with this?

Can't you light the gas with a match instead? Sure my parents used to do that.

Hope the power stays on for you! Wind is getting up here, no lights flickering yet but that’s probably going to happen at some point at least. Due to be at its worst for us tomorrow morning so will just have to wait and see!

I can recall people panic buying bread and other staples when snow was forecast in the 1960s. Goodness knows what people did with it, as domestic freezers were very much a luxury thing then, and all most people had was the freezer compartment in their fridges.

We lived on a council estate a few miles outside Croydon, and the only routes between the two involved steep hills. It would actually get cut off in snowy weather, so buses and lorries wouldn't come out and deliver for fear that they wouldn't get back again.

Now that I can agree with.

Our little ignition clicker thing broke years ago and rather than getting a new hob (which was apparently the solution) we've just been lighting it manually ever since.

For us the issue is heat - gas hob will give us cooking ability but we've got no source of heat that doesn't rely on electricity, so it would be all about the thermal layers and sleeping bags and blankets. We had a boiler failure on New Year's Eve a few years back which gave us a bit of a taste of what to prepare for, but at least we had alternative heating options for individual rooms then.

not round here it wasn't

It happens in somerset too. The other year we were unable to get out of our town as the railway was flooded as were most of the major roads. We were cut off

In the time you have spent arguing on this thread @sookiestjames77 , you could have actually begun to buy all the stuff you intend to.

No you can't. It's a safety feature! It stops people turning the fire / oven on and having the gas flow unlit. No electricity = the gas flow stops, certainly for the fires and the oven (I'm not sure about the hob)

I also remember the days before there was automatic ignition when you could only light a gas fire / hob / oven with a match or a lighter.

I lieved in Wells in the 70's. Same thing.

Don't the drama queeens just get things out of proportion. How we're all still alive is a minor miracle.

I think that people who react like this (no offence, OP) always had some form of general anxiety. This behaviour doesn’t just come out of nowhere.
It’s not normal to start hoarding shit, for me or the people I know.

The messaging isn't new. It is the same messaging basically as every other winter and storm season. Keep a box of stuff that can keep you going for a few days.

If you Google you'll see the same is said every single year. We went two weeks with no water, electricity and road cut off after the 87 'hurricane'. I'm sure my Mum was stressed but I found it such an adventure!

Having done this for real for 7 days once, the next most important thing after food/water/heat was something to keep the dcs happy. Depending on age, colouring books, crayons, books, board games, craft stuff.

If this isn't something your dcs usually have, trust me, having a few things tucked away in reserve will make life much easier.

Well not many people on here are panicking because we all know it's just bloody common sense. And I don't understand why people were using disposable barbeques at all when it was obvious everything was tinder dry. To most people all these things are common sense, who are these people who don't seem to understand that you don't light fires in tinder dry grass and that you should have a small stock of basic supplies in case of a power cut, flood or heavy snow etc? Do they live in some bubble.

Covid was the same people doing ridiculous things rather than follow common sense advice, about how to avoid catching it if at all possible, many people died, it wasn't a game.

Well, as we near the end of this thread possibly, that’s an afternoon wasted ! As I look out of my window at the wind - Scotland, amber warning, and remind myself to get my solar torch !

3 days of stuff to get you through a power cut etc is normal for many people. I grew up in a very rural area where power cuts were not uncommon and being snowed in for a week not unheard of so my parents were prepared for both. As an adult I have always had a box with candles, matches, spare batteries, battery radio, camping stove and gas. There’s always tins of food anyway. If there’s a forecasted storm I make sure the power bank is charged and fill a couple of flasks of hot water. My family roll their eyes but have never complained when they can see with one of my candles or can charge their phone for TikTok! My parents live in the same very rural place and still never have less than 4-6 loaves of bread in the freezer over winter!

I think the govt advice is just for people who have never ever had to think about this stuff (lots of people).

How come you found yourself in an apocalyptic situation for 7 days?

4.5 litres a day???

Doh! You are so right. Boxes. Why did I forget these. Also less judgement from neighbours with the clink clink when recycling services restart.

I despair, OP. We are not being given this information now because they think something is going to happen tomorrow. It’s designed to cover all eventualities ALL YEAR ROUND.

Do you think they should give weekly, changing advice depending upon the time of year? 🤦🏻‍♀️

this absolutely

OP thinks they should give advice tailored to her personal situation, and also make sure she is fully catered for in an emergency.

I don't live in the UK, but we've had similar advice here. So, I've been buying extra cat food. I just couldn't stand their hollering 😼🙀if I ran out of their grub😂

They are saying 3 days.

So hardly all out war.

Look, OP, it's fairly normal to have some contingency for if the power goes down, if the water goes off, if the supermarket supply sites are hacked and you can't get a delivery.

They are not saying what sort of emergency - because having basics like a few litres of drinking water and a few days worth of food, some torches with batteries that work cover will help us through a range of situations where the water / power / food supply is interrupted.

Common sense is probably our most valuable contingency factor - calm down and engage.