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?

One of many studies for anybody who's fallen for the myth: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9465733/

For Fuck Sake! Are you on a wind-up??!

You’ve been told numerous times that the government most likely will provide these things but it makes it a hell of a lot easier for the government if people who are able can provide them for themselves.

I’m not actually sure you’re being genuine OP. Nobody is this thick surely!

You sound very anxious so I think the first step would be to get some help with that because it´s no way to live.

I live in Spain and we had the big, nationwide blackout (last year?) and I think everyone should be prepared from something like that. With the cimate going insane there are more storms and extremes of weather, I think you are having storms in the UK at the moment? So it´s a good idea to be prepared for possible power outtages and so on.

Since the Spanish blackout we have had a thought about things we should sort out but haven´t made much progress into actually sorting these things. Some things were sold out in he immediate aftermath and then I forgot about it. But here´s my list of things I think would be good to have:

a torch or two
batteries for torch
a solar powered phone charger
a power bank for phones
Some cash (we have got too used to paying for everything electronically)
A camping gas stove (all our cooking facilities are electric)
Some candles, matches etc so we don´t have to shower by torchlight
a battery powered radio
Some water
Some non perishable food

Howling at this 🤣🤣

Look, this happened in France earlier in the month: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/17/who-hacked-frances-supermarket-fridges

And frankly we have all got a bit complacent about food/ water / whatever being on tap 24/7. So there's no harm in planning for disruption.

This is my approach too, but I have grave concerns I may not have enough storage if things really go to shit.

Genuinely the maddest thread I've read in a long time.
I've poured a wine to enjoy it with(saves water)

My friend was a county concillor whose ward lost its water supply for 4 days affecting 40000 people. There is a 'reciprocal aid agreement (i think that was the term she used) where all water tankers from around the UK, plus engineers get sent to the affected area.

All good, but there were already 2 significant water leaks/outages already ongoing in the UK at the time, so they just got told, tough luck you're on your own! All the supermarkets for miles around were emptied of bottled water.

There is only so much the government can do, but equally you have to be pragmatic, as if something really big happens on a small densly populated island 3 days of supplies at home aren't going to save you, so just live and let live!

UK governments have been putting out guidance to prepare for general emergencies without specifics for decades. They've also put out guidance for specific emergencies both real and imagined. Many governments have done one on zombies, for example, they're not actually expecting zombies, it's just a way to discuss emergency preparation.

They have released updated general guidance as they do regularly, but none of it is actually new. Most of it are things that have been recommended for most of our lifetimes in case of any issue that impacts supply lines or power.

You can look at your local council website or search [county] preparation strategy or [county] resilience strategy for information on concerns in your local area. The council will likely have a map that shows how likely or frequently flooding happens in your area.

Really wish Mumsnet would add a special board the way they did for Covid. That way all the crazy panicking posters could go there and panic together instead of clogging up the main boards with this.

So go for it then.

How come decide to come on Mumsnet to argue and come across as obtuse and argumentative. The people you share a life with are on board. Start the big spend up!!

Agreed. Do you remember the 'build your own nuclear bunker' type info in the 1980s😂🙄

That the leads back to whether the government is asking utility companies to put their profits into preparedness, or if the shareholders still get their riches while the ordinary working person suffers

As someone who really struggled during the pandemic

I am going to take a punt you started a lot of threads during those years

I’ve no idea to be honest!
We've not had a power cut for quite some time so I’m happy to accept that sometimes things go wrong, and take personal responsibility to get some supplies in.

THIS

The op doesn't want to understand that it just a general thing going into the winter to be prepared for potential disruption, they want to panic and try and get everyone to panic with them. And they want an emergency parcel to cover all their potential needs in the event of a flood or power cut, rather than just stock up their fridge. Whatever happened to common sense? As said before similar advice is given every winter.

Yep, they crazies are out in force thats for sure.

Well there is a dedicated "Mental Health" forum.

Ask on site stuff and you will gets lots of us backing you up. It will take the trollimg panic whippers away from main boards too

I haven't done anything. I don't watch the news or anything like that.

exactly and i hope this rubs off on the people that go overseas on holiday with one credit card and no cash. they end up in complete panic and distress cos they don't have any back up plans.

I think you need to think about scenarios where power went out, for instance here in Spain where we had the country-wide blackout. That could be cyber attacks or problems with the network (seems it was a problem with the network here). If it´s like here in Spain all the systems go down so you have no power in your house no internet and phone access but also no access to cash points, no way to pay except in cash, no means to cook if everything in your house is electric. We couldn´t make lunch because what I had in needed cooking and we couldn´t even have made a sandwich if I hadn´t had enough smal change to buy a bit of bread in cash.

It would have been easier if we had had a campig gas stove and some cash stashed away and we did eventually find a radio, which made the 12+ hours less boring, especially when it got dark. Power didn´t come o until about 3am the next day.

You probably need to relax a little, this is in case power goes out following a storm or theres a flood or you can’t leave your house for 2-3 days its to reduce the pressure on emergency services. Also of you can’t leave your house its going to be extremely hard to get essential food delivery.

Is it really trolling to be concerned?