I started reading these threads just after you took over the Ebola topic.
I was a bit sceptical at first but thought it couldn't do any harm to be a little prepared. I began stocking up on candles, tins and bottled water and also bought a wind up radio and wind up torch.
I live in Lancaster and yesterday the river flooded. We have no electricity and no running water. Our house isn't flooded because we're on a hill but we can't get anywhere because all the streets around us are flooded.
Prepping has meant we don't need to panic. We can sit back and relax knowing we have the essentials to keep us giing until the water subsidies.