Russia and Ukraine, US preppers in high doh, potential impacts here?

[BiddyPop]

A number of US and Canadian based preppers seem to be getting even more anxious about the potential for DOOOOOOMMMMMM than usual - partly transport and logistics issues, but also theories about "government interference" and impending potential conflict situations.

Here, I am seeing

• Bird flu outbreaks happening (no longer just warnings and odd tiny spots)

-Potential that Russia will invade Ukraine thus shutting off gas supplies to Europe causing even more energy price increases/potentially shortage of supply

• Continuing logistics issues caused by the combination of Covid and Brexit
• Relatively high inflation on food and many other items

But, on the less pessimistic side:

• the weather is not as bad as many years,
• there is food on the shelves in shops, (gaps yes, but plenty of food)
• lots of countries are trying to talk Russia down,
• Covid is less of an issue as Omicron is making people so much less sick in general, even if it is making more people mildly sick
• and China is being very quiet at the moment.

So I'm trying to decide if I should be optimistic or pessimistic (currently at a point of starting to use up some of my back up supplies and run down stores again, but wondering if I should just be turning them over and replacing what I use rather than depleting them).

And if I should be looking at things like water purification systems or other areas of prepping (am ok for alternative cooking, reasonable alternative heating, some backup power and some water storage etc).

Petrol stations are starting to get busy. Just come back from a local supermarket and notice that a lot of pumps we're 'out of use'. Hoping they're just waiting for a delivery but people will start to fill up ready for price increases.

@Fizbosshoes what I mean is that in a desperate situation I would exchange the Hope Diamond for medicine for my dc.

If someone was demanding £50 for a bottle of calpol, they might be willing to settle for a £20 note. But in a situation where they hold the upper hand they won’t be offering change.

I’ve negotiated with market traders on that principal “take it or leave it, it’s all I have”. You have more negotiating power when you have several small amounts than one large amount.

Obviously this is breakdown of society stuff. I think I mentioned the word “overthinking” in my other post

Reassuring to see calm here,as pp said. I've lurked here on and off since new year 2020,and found it helpful (at the small snarl up-style of issue, just in time break down etc). Feeling bit uncomfortable as changing car this weekend (better for family, bigger,and should last a good few years🤞)so can't fill up. And having post of house done up this year, including new kitchen,so can't stock up,and have tiny freezer any way at moment. Will be great when done,as can restock and protect the family,but must admit I feel quite exposed not having the slack in our system from last two years. Will get some emergency cash out tomorrow though. 👍🤞

uptheclarets where are you, roughly? DH is driving back from London to Somerset today and we’re visiting Cardiff at the weekend. I really hope there’s not a fuel shortage.

@AdoraBell

uptheclarets where are you, roughly? DH is driving back from London to Somerset today and we’re visiting Cardiff at the weekend. I really hope there’s not a fuel shortage.

I'm in the Midlands. Just been back out and it's even busier. People will start to panic buy because the media are announcing fuel and oil/gas increases. It might just mean your husband might have to try a few petrol stations or if he's willing to wait, he shouldn't be queuing for too long. 🤞

Place marking.

Unfortunately I did join the crowd and fill my car up to the top as I'm on standby for a family issue at the moment which is over 300 miles away

@elephantmarchingin

Place marking.

Unfortunately I did join the crowd and fill my car up to the top as I'm on standby for a family issue at the moment which is over 300 miles away

Not unreasonable. I get cross with panic buying accusations being thrown about when we all have valid reasons for not wanting to be caught short. Who wants to be holier than thou then be unable to meet family needs/ get to work? Too late after the fact. I will continue to top up at the point when I can put £25 in my tank. My work is in domiciliary car, and I cannot be in a position where I can't get to my clients

*Care, obviously!

DP topped up whilst out this afternoon (it was on one bar) and said there was a queue at the petrol station. We’re in London so always busy anyway. Also have a poorly relative several hours drive away so wouldn’t want a petrol shortage to be the reason I couldn’t get there ASAP if anything happens, I’ll plan to keep it topped up.

Preppers are calm generally

My mantra is this

Stay prepared. Stay informed. Stay ready.

So at the moment I am ready for supply chain distribution. I am ready for fuel increase or supply issues by having filled my car as I normally would. I stay informed by Reading various news outlets rsther than getting all my information from one source.

There is no panic here

I’ve been getting some practice in today. My Iceland shop didn’t come as the van has broken down. They are delivering it tomorrow instead. I served tinned haggis and frozen veg! It was very well received.

Thanks uptheclarets. I haven’t been out since Monday, live in a village and had workmen coming to sort things. Going to a town tomorrow.

Not unreasonable. I get cross with panic buying accusations being thrown about when we all have valid reasons for not wanting to be caught short

Surely prepping is the opposite of panic buying? If you have planned, you don't need to dash out and join the locusts who dash to do a big shop as a problem hits.

I don't know how useful cash will be if tills don't work in big supermarkets - corner shops might come in to their own!

I meant to go to the cashpoint this afternoon to make an extra withdrawal to be a household float. I think that's the only additional thing I think I need to do for this one

I am not driving to a cash point as I am conserving petrol. I will get more cash out on Monday when I am back on the school run. I filled up last week and got cash Tuesday.

It was clear on Wednesday that putin was going to invade when he said the separated regions had asked for help, setting up the excuse to go so not surprised at all, though thought maybe an extra day or two to give him chance to set up a false flag incident or two more.

I have done all I can reasonably. we shall see what happens.

I was reading in the media today about how this invasion will impact us. Apart for fuel, gas and oil, they have also said the following:
Corn - a lot of corn is produced by Ukraine which is used to to feed our animals. This will therefore have an impact on the rising costs of meat.
Sunflower oil - mass producer
Wheat - cost of flour and wheat will go up.
A lot of Russia's and Ukraine's ports are closed so food etc will never make it over here.
Lloyds Bank are already on high alert for cyber attacks. Russia is more likely to attack via cyber attacks, effecting TV subscriptions, broadband, phone networks, on line banking and possibly causing blackouts. Like I said, this is stuff I've read in the media, but worth keeping it in mind.

I have given into my prepping ways and I put some shelving in my spare room
It's bliss and makes me feel contented (not sure why as no shortages in my life before)
Mine is just because I refuse to pay full price for stuff so I always buy on offer. If I need hand wash or bleach or anything, it's all there and I won't run out. Currently have 10 bottles of hand wash as it was reduced to 20p and well, you always need hand wash!

DH said petrol in motorway service was £1.75 per litre. Not sure about local and motorway services is always more expensive.

PawPaw I’ve switched to bars of soap, need less space, but well done getting the hand wash at 20p 👍

good find on the hand wash. It washes the skin off my hands and they end up split and bloody. :( so much prefer soap.

Can I just say damn it all! We've literally only just brought our extras down to more easily stored levels and now I have to make sure I get extras of the stuff I can't run out of. Like the 1 brand of cat food that doesn't make my cat sick. Or the 1 type of cat litter she accepts. And the very limited foods my autistic kid will actually eat.

I work in a shop. If the tills are down, we can't do any transactions. Main reason is security if money can't go into somewhere immediately secure, we wouldn't be able to give change and on top of that the time it'd take to go around the shop and work out how much each customer owes.

Our nearest petrol station has been £151.9 since the weekend. DH has to go out of his way to get to a cheaper petrol station so half the time not worth it.

Need to remember as well that if the power is out, getting into the shop in the first place might well be an issue.

Corner shops really will come into their own if it comes to it

I hope you don’t mind me joining. The Swedish government pamphlet on how to prep for invasion includes some of the following:

Large bags of Rice and oats, honey, dried milk, bread flour, tinned foods. Batteries, battery or hand crank radio, candles, lanterns. Water filter. Filtered water. Disinfectant, bandages, sanitary items such as tampons or sanitary napkins, diapers, paracetamol, candles. Torch (led if possible). Blankets.

There is more but Just a short list. I have a wood burning fireplace in my home and this can be used for heat and cooking rhe home. Many homes in Sweden do have some fireplace or stove to heat. Which is useful.

The suggestion is that if electricity is down then to use blankets to cover windows and everyone to go into one room. For those who do not have such a fireplace.

I used to be on here a few years' ago - just wondering if anyone know if the UK has published an emergency prep guide similar to Sweden and Germany? Can't seem to find any.

My preps are fine but I have no clue about the different siren sounds, emergengy radio frequency,... it would be good to have that info all in one place somewhere.

Not that there is anywhere to hide for us, we are right in the middle of a large city and would be bang in the centre of a nuclear attack. I'm regretting that we moved away from the house with an old WWII bomb shelter just now.

Oh well.

Not panic buying but am checking I have plenty batteries, torches working, candles, a few extra tinned stuff etc. anyone one else have any advise or ideas. I am just an ordinary nan who wants to be self reliant.

@MarshmallowSwede

I hope you don’t mind me joining. The Swedish government pamphlet on how to prep for invasion includes some of the following:

Large bags of Rice and oats, honey, dried milk, bread flour, tinned foods. Batteries, battery or hand crank radio, candles, lanterns. Water filter. Filtered water. Disinfectant, bandages, sanitary items such as tampons or sanitary napkins, diapers, paracetamol, candles. Torch (led if possible). Blankets.

There is more but Just a short list. I have a wood burning fireplace in my home and this can be used for heat and cooking rhe home. Many homes in Sweden do have some fireplace or stove to heat. Which is useful.

The suggestion is that if electricity is down then to use blankets to cover windows and everyone to go into one room. For those who do not have such a fireplace.

You can download and read it in English here. It’s very useful.

www.msb.se/siteassets/dokument/amnesomraden/krisberedskap-och-civilt-forsvar/stod-till-kommuner/krisberedskapsveckan/broschyren-pa-olika-sprak/if-crisis-or-war-comes.pdf