Reasons to be Preppy 1-2-3

[ElyElyOy]

I just wondered what other people’s top reasons for prepping were?

So many people come on here to mock the whole idea of prepping, and seem to refer to nuclear war etc, when that’s not one of my motivating factors at all (well, not top 3 anyway )

Mine are (in order of concern)

1. Health: we have health problems so I prep for times when we are ill and unable to get out the house.
   
2. Weather: we have experienced snow blocked roads, flooding, extreme wind and rain preventing us going out and causing power cuts.
   
3. Essential Sevices being cut/stopped: strike action, companies not paying staff due to budget crisis, Brexit maybe resulting in temporary breaks in services (all affecting basic stuff like bin collections, power shortage, deliveries not being made).
   

Anyone else want to share? It might help me consider more things I need to get preppy for

[bellinisurge]

All of yours in that order. With non preppers in the family, I think it's best to focus on the likely stuff. I have MS. We have been snowed in - almost yearly despite being in the suburbs. We've had power outs.
Being able to ride out a problem that others might see as catastrophic, particularly with small children, is very appealing.
And yes, if alien clown zombies with bird flu take over (plagiarised from Praxis Prepper joke), I could give it a go .

[bellinisurge]

As for the people who pop on here assuming we all wear tin foil hats, carry sawn off shotguns and await nuclear war? I'm at the "fuck 'em" stage. You can only explain patiently and politely so many times.

[GoneWishing]

I have the same reasons, in the same order, too.

With periods of bad health in mind, I'm specifically trying to have things at hand that wouldn't require lots of work and cooking, as that's been an issue before - we've had ingredients in the house but no one has felt upto cooking, and have wasted way too much on take aways just to eat something. Now there are tuna salads, rice/grain pouches, ready sauces, healthier longlife snacks etc in the house, which could tide us over a bit.

I don't really get how for a lot of people there doesn't seem to be any middle ground in between "not preparing for anything at all" and some ridiculous zombie apocalypse scenario.

[ElyElyOy]

I agree: I drive in winter and have been stuck for 4 hours in an unexpected snow storm. Fortunately I had a book, a well charged phone, plenty of warm clothes, some snacks and water. It wasn’t exactly pleasant but the amount of people in those conditions who don’t even have coats and decent shoes in the car is incredible.

Being prepared isn’t crazy, it’s actually the epitome of sensible.

[JustLikeBefore]

My list is pretty much the same as yours.

But the food side is to do with lack of money too, I've had times my in life were money was scarce and having food to feed a family a struggle. Now I squirrel away food and grow some, so if a time comes were I'm struggling again, I have buffer and stuff to ration.

[ElyElyOy]

That’s similar to us really: I lost my job a few years ago and living off pasta and tinned tomatoes for a few months was enough to persuade me to stock up when I have the money! We have a bit more in savings now so shouldn’t be a major issue again but it’s always in the back of my mind x

[susurration]

My reasons are:

1. I used to live in a village that regularly had power cuts that could last for 24hrs. Useful to have candles, solar lights and radios for example, as well as food easy to cook over a flame (either a gas hob, or even a bbq).
2. The heavy snowfalls (and other weather extremes) we've had over the last decade, when it's hard work getting to the shops and you need to be able to cook something sensible. The same goes for the recent heatwave; we luckily didn't have our water cut, but the next town over did and it was comforting to know I have water stocked up. As well as a water butt in the garden as of this afternoon!
3. In the event of brexit going tits up and prices sky rocketing, or worse the gas supply is cut or the country comes to a stand still for whatever reason; worst case, some major terrorist event or catastrophic illness (Spanish flu?)

All of that means we in theory don't have to leave the house and/or take up precious resources better used on others.

[MaryPoppinsUmberellaHandle]

Could you very wise people, please help a newbie.

I'm not understanding (genuinely not understanding) how gas/electric/other utilities could be affected by Brexit. Apart from price rises, obviously.

Help me to see clearly.

[bellinisurge]

Well @MaryPoppinsUmberellaHandle , Brexit may not affect those things at all. And you don't need to prep for them if you don't want to.
There are likely food supply issues which may or may not have a knock on effect in terms of staffing levels.
If you live in Northern Ireland, the power supply is dependent on Ireland and there might be legal contract problems which cause power shortages.
If you want to prep generally, rather than just for Brexit, it's an idea to have the ability to heat and light and cook and wash (and poo) without relying on The Grid.

[MaryPoppinsUmberellaHandle]

Thank @bellinisurge, I would like to be more prepared for lots of things so will spend some time reading the threads here.

Brexit, I guess, is just what has brought this to the forefront of my mind.

[RedneckStumpy]

Similar reasons to everyone else

1: Weather, we get bad winter storms where we live. At least once a year there is a 10 day power cut.

2: Economic/civil disturbance.

3: EMP.

[InsomniaLaDiDa]

At the moment disruption in food supply due to Brexit, heavy snow again this winter and being unable to leave the house due to illness so mainly keeping a decent stock of food and medicine in.

[user187656748]

For us its weather and Brexit at the moment, but also generally guarding against price inflation since neither of us is an employee and so our income isn't secure.

But in general terms I think if we are talking likely SHTF scenarios the most likely problem in this country is some sort of illness meaning its sensible to be house bound for a period of time.

[PositivelyPERF]

I live in NI, waves to bellinisurge and am so thankful that I kept gas bottles for my cooker rings, when changing to gas heating. If the electric goes, the heating won’t work. I’ve had that happen due to weather and I live on the outskirts of Belfast. I have three gas barbecues and have made sure I have all the cylinders filled. I thought we were luckier than the uk, as we could nip across the boarder, but the way May is talking, we might be screwed.

I’ve only started prepping and one if the reasons is to make sure I’m prepared for the the inevitable price rises. It will give me breathing space. If it’s all for nothing, I’d rather have egg on my face than none in the cupboard. Last winter was crap and this winter looks like it’s going to be rough. I don’t want to be arseing about in the snow and ice, then lining up amongst impatient shoppers, when I could be sitting at home enjoying a nice warm dinner.

[bellinisurge]

Hello @PositivelyPERF ! Waving back atcha!
Sounds like some sensible plans.