Are you all prepping for power cuts?

[User112]

BBC reported the other day about possible power cuts this winter due to gas shortage. Other than having a few torch light and candles, are you all prepping with anything else?

Yes honestly if people want to scoff let them get on with it. I was in a totally strped bear Asda when the lockdown was announced with my full cupboards, full freezer and plenty of loo rolls at home that I had been stocking up on in December and January when we knew what was going down around the world.

I was ready, I had Bern responsible for my kids and I will keep on like that as it helps my mental health.

If the lights go off I will be ready and no need to rush out. If they don't go out I have torches ready for walking back from the firework display in the dark. It's never involved wasting money on things I will never use

Especially the idea that the milk-carton-torch won't work because the handle might fall off if you fill the milk carton with water because it's too thin - I mean... huh?!

@lannistunut - I do appreciate what you're saying about fear etc. But joining a thread to do nothing but laugh at people isn't fear, it's bullying. It's nasty. No I'm not the 'MN police', I know folk can post what they want on whatever thread they want, I just think it's sad that in amongst folk asking for advice on how to keep life-saving medicines at the right temp, or how to keep medical equipment online, we have posters laughing at the 'tinfoil hat' and 'scaremongering' preppers.

I'm also simply too cool & successful to be laughed at 😂

@caringcarer what are magic lights ? I’ve just googled it and it’s come up with colour changing lights and stuff for kids lol. I have a couple of torches that stay plugged in all the time and only come on when the power goes out, is that what you mean ? Could you post a link please ? Sorry I’m always asking questions on here but this is why I’m here to learn stuff from people who are more experienced.
@RosettaTheGardenFairy thars bloody awful if people are just being nasty. I’ve not even looked to be honest, as you say it’s not very nice when there are posting who are genuinely worried about issues that affect their health.

www.amazon.co.uk/Rechargeable-Operated-Emergency-Blackout-Equivalent/dp/B09B3HJJ9G/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=12LW0TZ4EKXA&keywords=rechargeable+lightbulb&qid=1666269090&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI0LjQ2IiwicXNhIjoiMy44MiIsInFzcCI6IjIuNTIifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=rechargeable+lightbulb%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-3

rechargeable lightbulbs. They go into low and light fittings as normal but have a little battery in them which charges from the mains. When the power goes out the battery kicks in and the light stays on

That should say they go into lamp and light fittings as normal

If you mean 3 hours this is nothing for me so of course yes

@667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast, what Era said.

Sorry! Just been ordering a few for PIL!

Thank you very much for that 😊

Thanks for these light bulbs. What a great idea! Even if you just had one on the landing and one in the living room it would be really useful. I have light fittings that take multiple bulbs so I might just swop one bulb out in each room for one of these, but a lamp would be better as I see you need to press a button to get them to come on

I've got these. Had them for about 5 years. I have one hanging up permanently in the walk in hallway cupboard, one in the pantry, one inside my wardrobe and a few others dotted around. Easily hung from a light fitting (got a couple in the power cut / lights out box too)

Not sure if there will be any power cuts if MN is a reflection of the UK. Most people will be using as little as humanly possible!

Thank you for the light bulb idea. I am 65 and live on my own in a rural area, I feel a lot safer knowing I have 'prepped'. When the roof blew off my newly moved into bungalow last November I was able to find my torches and candles quite quickly - although I had to light a horrible mixture of smells. Stupidly I'd rehomed all my unscented ones.

This was me. We were already prepping for brexit etc and I saw exactly how it was going to pan out with schools closing, food shortages etc. I pulled my daughter out of school a week before they closed as I'm CEV and I'll never forget the head teacher telling me I was being dramatic and fearmongering as the schools would NEVER close. At that point I'd already ordered a printer and a ton of home schooling workbooks. And my cupboards and freezer were absolutely heaving which meant I didn't need to leave the house for food for almost 5 weeks. I'd been amassing these supplies over the previous 10-12 weeks and ramped it up when China went into lockdown. I will ALWAYS do what's best for my family by having a decent stock of food, medicines etc.

I ask prepping by having plenty of ambient stored foods that are easy to cook/consume. I've got milk in the freezer, a camping stove, tons of candles and a few powerbanks. My husband is a very good guitar player and he always keeps us entertained in power outages. We have board games etc. I'm not worried for us at all.

@glasshole I started prepping for Brexit tinned food etc toilet rolls, in fact my daughter used to call tinned fruit “Brexit fruit” 😃
I also pulled my daughter out of college due to being clinically vulnerable to be fair they were ok about it and they closed not long after.

I had a brexit cupboard as well. Lots of tinned fruit and veg. In fact we’ve only just finished eating the tinned artichokes. God alone knows why I bought them. A sort of middle class madness! Though it was useful to have during the first lockdown and it’s still known as the brexit cupboard now. I won’t be doing that again now!

I'm just starting to look at a little more detail specific to me on this now.

So for example, I'm in Block B. If we are at planned power outage level 1, there will be two outages on a Monday. One from 6.30am to 9.30am anf another from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. The latter one is easily dealt with - I'll prepare food and boil kettle / fill flasks at 6pm. The first means we are getting up and ready for school in pitch black darkness. At that time of year here it can easily be minus 4 degrees. So the plan will be to put the heating on timer for an hour before the power outage. I have column radiators that really retain the heat. DDs uniform is always hung on the hallway radiator ready for school, so hopefully it will stay warm.ready for when she gets up at 7.30am.

I'll also lay out croissants or similar the night before on the bench in a lidded tub. Obviously we will be fumbling around the kitchen and bathroom in the dark, so I'm putting torches / battery tealights in those rooms and the hallway.

I'm pleased I've had a think through about this as I'm disabled, and if I fall I can't get back up again so im really coming at it from a safety pov as well as considering the practicalities in advance.

Oh! Just remembered, I bought this from B&Q for £5. Battery operated magnetic light switch. It's really bright, too. I've bunged this one on the side of the microwave at the entrance to the kitchen. Could come in really handy if needed.

@RainbowZebraWarrior thanks for posting, I had presumed that it would only be three hours per day I’ve had a look and some days people are going to have two lots of three hours but other days none at all which seems stupid. That’s a lot more disruptive isn’t it six hours in total?

Your letter will either put you in the first part of the week or the second part. There are two slots on some days but them no slots on others

At level 1, I get two on a Monday, and one on a Wednesday.

If we go to level 2, my area get three outages on a Monday. One on Tues, two Weds and one Sunday.

Think I'll have to bring my Mum to my house on a Monday as she is 78 and has cancer and severe raynauds. At least I can have the wood burner on here and keep her warm.

Note to self - may need more logs than I thought. (I'm thinking aloud here really, sorry, but it's helping me plan ahead. I have Autism and hate being caught out by difficult situations)

I'm not sure this is the subject to be bragging about. Many people will die from fuel poverty be it electric or gas. Bragging about how fortunate you are, is very bad taste

Where did you get this from please?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11329425/Government-documents-reveals-blackouts-managed-starting-three-power-cuts-week.html