Germans told to stockpile

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Germans are being told to stockpile enough food and water for 10 days, in case of a national emergency.

Sensible or scaremongering.

Any thoughts?

Cat litter? I was toying with an eco toilet installed in the garden but surprisingly nobody else was keen.

And even if you had a garden, you might have to go out there at 2 in the morning during rain. Oh Yes - it will likely be grim. But then the whole thing will be. That's just one part, albeit a significant one.

I'm suggesting only that you actually think about it Maybe agree some provisional plans for re-assessment when needs be.

I'd much prefer to go out in the garden at 2am than figure out a way to go in the flat. Take all the immodium and hope for the best I guess...!

There are likely many people reading who will have no garden. And even those who do may not find it .....practicable to use for one reason or another. I'd always have a few plastic buckets to hand in the house. They don't bulk that much if you use them for loose storage and have a multiplicity of uses.

oh I have a couple of those, sure. but...but....well you know what i mean. I guess cat litter might be worth buying!

There you go then - that's that sorted for you.

(And as to cat litter - where are you going to store or dispose of the soiled stuff ? ) A discreet bucket or two of waste is likely to be the least of your problems. (And easily cleaned and disposed of post-crisis.)

cozie "A discreet bucket or two of waste is likely to be the least of your problems"

I beg to differ. I would say in a block of tiny flats, that is a major problem.

I realise we all worry about different things in a crisis like this though.

I can't help thinking of the Aibu threads after about toileting. It would pee all over cat shit in garden threads.

Have some lidded buckets next time you come to buy them. (The lids, being flat pieces of plastic, can be stored in a cupboard or somewhere unobtrusive if they detach - and if they don't they can still be used for cleaning materials.) Then you just put them in the corner of a room.

It's better than trying to tip out cat litter onto something - and then use it - with no light to see by. (And what do you put the cat litter in?)

Fortunately we have a multitude of potties in the house. If necessary we could empty the wee down drains and bag the poo with our rubbish.

Never thought about how to cook carbs though! I think I'll be buying a hell of a lot of canned spuds in the next online shop: they're ready to eat! And beans, sweet corn, carrots are all cheap and last years.

I am concerned about ready to eat protein though. Corned beef is very expensive these days, as is tuna. What else is there that would keep well?

Don't forget to have a bottle or two of or good whisky on hand. Leaving aside their trade potential, I think people might need them!

you know what...I'm talking about a 10 day scenario, I think some of you are thinking long term...

so the cat litter etc, I'd still be in stock of candles to see what I was doing.

I guess it depends where you live and with whom, Lorelei. The family, social and community structure etc.

Some communities would manage just fine with a 10 day blip. Some, I fear, might not.

I read in a Ray Mears book that you can use Milton sterilising tablets to purify water.

cozie - I live alone in a flat and my close friends and family do not live near physically. What do you mean about managing in a 10 day blip? In London I imagine people who hadn't prepped will just be out looting. Of course some will be out looting for fun too...

regardless, the lack of working loos would absolutely be my major concern over 10 days, especially in a block of flats. In reality I suppose everyone would be burying waste in the local park!

Terrifying thought.

This has always been a concern of mine.

We live in central London, so there would be a huge number of people without food as many just buy what they need each day due to small flats and work schedules.

I think we would have enough food and water for a week at least. We have loads of stuff like nuts and seeds in home generally so could eat them a fair bit if we couldn't cook.

Don't be terrified. Just do what you can and deal with anything else as it comes.

Cozie, I probably used the wrong word. My major concern in these sorts of scenarios is really just my comfort.

I keep forgetting I'm on preppers and some of you are probably planning for things like 2 years, 5 years etc.

Art - yes and I keep quiet about how well prepped I am because I live in a big block of flats and wouldn't want the whole lot coming round because they knew I had food! Now it sounds like Ballard's High Rise...

I am so prepped I even have a full survival kit in my car so we can all take off at a moment's notice. There's even lifeboat food in there. I am not making this up

Anyway, it's easy for the Germans as they all have chuffing cellars. Why do we not have cellars? They buy loads of stuff in bulk anyway because they have so much storage.

Lorelei, it was the thought of 1982 that probably made Germany edgy.

Some plastic buckets, plenty of black bin liners (bin collection would likely be severely disrupted for some time), duct or masking tape, food, water, meds - and for me, a rechargeable radio and lantern, some booze and a few good books. Those should keep you comfortable.

Boffin - so releasing the advice 34 years later doesn't make a huge amount of sense timing wise unless I missed something!

To name the elephant on the thread, this is about terrorism, surely?

I am reading the leaflet in German. That is a lot of stuff. I am wondering what the British equivalent is. Probably a can of Monster, two tins of baked beans and a packet of paracetamol. People won't have space to store much more than that.

cozie, yes, those things are all sorted, but the bathroom problem...! not sure I can emphasise enough how small these flats are....