So if the power went off (indefinitely) how long would you last on the basis of what you have in the house?

[atticusclaw]

So the power's gone off. Everything is suddenly dead, shops can't sell you anything since the electronic tills don't work, petrol pumps don't work, lifts don't work, traffic lights don't work, tap water won't last for long since the pumps won't work, mobile phones won't work, gas/electric heating won't work (and most oil and solar systems also need mains electricity to make them work unless they're off grid systems) - MN won't work!!

How long could you last with what you have?

There are no zombies, this isn'"t necessarily a "top yourself now - who would want to live?" scenario since the power could be restored at any time….or it could last months…

Has anyone got a basic list of what they would need?
I've looked online but most lists have things I wouldn't have a clue how to use anyway.

survivalcache.com/top-100-items-to-dissappear-first/

I don't think I can store a big dog! And it has missed out medical supplies.

The beauty of rain water is that you shouldn't have to boil it if the containers where it was collected were clean.

Besides, you could also gather condensation in the early hours. There are devices for that.

If you live anywhere near a river, or by the coast, you could also boil the water, and if salty, collect the condensed vapour.

We would probably dig a poo trench in the back garden.

And you could then collect methane for cooking.

Or use it as soil fertilizer.

I should also get a fishing rod and a net, I think...

I have three bottles of calpol - not sure that will get us far.

The difficulty with being prepared is that different scenarios would need you to be prepared in different ways. If the country was hit by a contagious disease we would probably all be housebound and not venturing out at all so you've basically got what you've got and thats it. If it was a Day After Tomorrow style weather incident we might be able to keep generators going a bit longer (if we had enough petrol or could syphon enough fuel out of car tanks) because nobody would be out trying to steal supplies and identifying you by the generator noise. If the power is out but people are generally healthy and able to walk about then the minute they hear a generator going and saw lights on you'd be done for. The unprepared people are the main problem, not the problem itself. Once you remove that issue then I'm sure we could all live without electricity if we had to. We'd just have to require the skills. Our ancestors managed it perfectly well.

So we need everyone to be more prepared and less complacent. I however can't even manage to persuade my own family (DPs etc) to make sure they have candles and torches in the house!

Little ham thanks for the list, at the amount of stuff ,I ll never be able to carry all that

The unprepared people are the main problem, not the problem itself. Once you remove that issue

how do we remove that issue? Shoot them?

Eat em!

....We'd just have to require the skills. Our ancestors managed it perfectly well.....

And there's the big problem. The skills are lost in this country. Gone.
(Maybe they'd manage in other parts of the world.)

This country is now so specialized that most people wouldn't have a flipping clue what to do once the last tin had gone and there were no immediate looting possibilities. Forget even electricity and central infrastructure - most of the youngsters in our family couldn't be trusted to make a fire. If something goes wrong, they either google a solution, 'get someone in' or demand that a newer and better version is bought immediately.

I meant re acquire of course - stupid autocorrect.

But yes, it is a problem. We simply don't have most of the skills anymore (although I'm slightly better equipped once my copy of "the knowledge" arrives ).

DS2 is an expert fire starter. He'd be worth keeping.

DS1 is good at archery so might be useful for shooting squirrels or something.

So from Littleham's list I'm not doing very well - I have less than half!

1. Generators
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps, Lanterns
6. Camp Stove Fuel – Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar

10. Rice – Beans – Wheat 11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled) 12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid 13. Water Containers 14. Mini Heater head (Without this item, propane won’t heat a room.) 15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric) 16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur. 17. Survival Guide Book. 18. Lantern Mantles 19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc. 20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry) 21. Propane Cookstoves 22. Vitamins 23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder 24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products. 25. Thermal underwear / Polypropylene 26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil) 27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty 28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal) 29. Garbage Bags 30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels 31. Milk – Powdered & Condensed 32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) 33. Clothes pins/line/hangers 34. Coleman’s Pump Repair Kit 35. Tuna Fish (in oil) 36. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room) 37. First aid kits 38. Batteries 39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies 40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food) 41. Flour, yeast & salt 42. Matches 43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators 44. Insulated ice chests 45. Workboots, belts, jeans & durable shirts 46. Flashlights, Lightsticks, torches, Lanterns 47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks 48. Garbage cans Plastic 49. Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash, floss 50. Cast iron cookware 51. Fishing supplies/tools 52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams 53. Duct Tape 54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes 55. Candles 56. Laundry Detergent (liquid) 57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags 58. Garden tools & supplies 59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies 60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc. 61. Bleach 62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax) 63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel 64. Bicycles…Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc 65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats 66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered) 67. Board Games, Cards, Dice 68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer 69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets 70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks) 71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap 72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc. 73. Shaving supplies 74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels) 75. Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase 76. Boy Scout Handbook 77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers) 78. “Survival-in-a-Can” 79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens 80. Reading glasses 81. Window Insulation Kit 82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky 83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts 84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras) 85. Lumber (all types) 86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from) 87. Cots & Inflatable mattress’s 88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc. 89. Lantern Hangers 90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts 91. Teas 92. Coffee 93. Cigarettes 94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,) 95. Paraffin wax 96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc. 97. Chewing gum/candies 98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing) 99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs 100. Goats/chickens

91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes

Really? Survival kit?

Although I have my own peppermint, so would be ok in that respect.
Maybe start growing weed too so at least it would take the edge out of no TV, no electricity, no running water, no petrol and no gas.

Having said that, I have watched all three Mad Max films. I'm ready, I am.

That's more of a 'hunkering down'/preppers list though, Stratter5. What would you decide to take if you had to move out fast with just a rucksack?

Sorry - I meant atticus.

Cigarettes are probably good for bartering.

Fuck me. I have EVERYTHING on tht 100'list (and waay more) except a goat. I am feeling soooooo smug now.

I would prefer hunkering down. I really hate camping!

Opopanax

Yes - some trade goods are a useful inclusion in a list.

Good point about cigarettes, but if food was awfully scarce, anyone would be a fool to part with any of it for cigarettes.

That list works short term, not long term, really.

I want to come and live at yours, nameless! Can you be the MN secret hideout when it all goes tits up?

I think people would want cigarettes. Anyone who smokes them is basically thinking short term anyway, as a habit, so why not after the apocalypse?

The list was actually the useful things that would be hardest to get hold of in a crisis situation I think. Still a good starting point.

I have one BIG problem. I have no fireplaces, or chimneys, because the fools who owned my house previously ripped them out.

It's going to be a long, cold winter if anything happens. The best I can do, if we stay put, is hole up in the basement, which at least has the advantage of new double glazing, and is very well insulated. :(

Am I allow to BBQ the neighbours cats?