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Preppers

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Are you all prepping for power cuts?

561 replies

User112 · 05/10/2022 20:58

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?

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fatgirlslimmer · 06/10/2022 13:40

During the 70’s we had candles, blankets, a flask and sandwiches. It was fine.

Today we rely on electricity so much, for both work and social, but for light, warmth and eating we don’t need much prep.

bellinisurge · 06/10/2022 13:52

@fatgirlslimmer , not sure how old you are but if you are like me you were a kid in the 70s. And, yes, it was all a bit of a lark. When you're a kid.

MintyCedricHereWeGoAgain · 06/10/2022 14:06

I'm thinking about it atm...

We've got a single ring camping stove and a stove top kettle, a few camping lights, plenty of candles, tealights and holders, blankets, duvets.

Bought a job lot of fingerless gloves when hosting an outdoor gathering during Covid so will look them out.

Could probably do with some extra gas cannisters, charcoal for the BBQ, hot water bottles and a second power bank.

fatgirlslimmer · 06/10/2022 14:10

@bellinisurge not a kid no, it wasn't a lark but it was fine, but our expectations were lower.

EllaB22 · 06/10/2022 14:25

Journalists on twitter are warning of three hour powercuts. Is this likely to be evening time 7pm-10pm or earlier? Is it likely to be everyday in all parts of the UK?

I know no-one actually knows these answers but I wonder what is likely - I am a lone parent living quite remote and taking on board ideas to prep! Until I saw that on twitter I never thought this would actually happen in the UK!!!

Pootles34 · 06/10/2022 14:29

National grid are saying they imagine it will be 4-7 pm, and rotated so that not all areas are on blackout at the same time.

It's important to note this is their worst-case scenario at the moment, they are saying they don't think it will happen.

bellinisurge · 06/10/2022 14:33

I would also imagine 4-7.

JesusSufferingFuck22 · 06/10/2022 14:45

We are fairly prepped for power outages already as our business relies on freezers and I have a disability that requires powered items…..but I will be double checking everything is in good working order after all this a
scaremongering!

FourChimneys · 06/10/2022 14:45

I'm another one with nostalgic memories of the 70s. There was a timetable printed in the local newspaper with low, medium and high risk of power cuts, done on a rota I think. We ate and did our homework by candlelight. Had baths by candlelight if the water was hot enough and went to bed early or played board games.

We are all so much more reliant on electricity now, it won't be so much fun.

We have candles and torches. We would keep phones topped up, dress warmly and eat sandwiches. DH has a kelly kettle so we can always have hot drinks - and would invite the neighbours round too. A bring-a-mug gathering would be fun.

I hope there are plans to protect the vulnerable though, especially those who rely on medical machinery.

ifonly4 · 06/10/2022 15:12

MermaidEyes · 06/10/2022 09:32

It's more likely to be overnight when there's less gas and electricity being used in general, not to mention whole businesses will be affected if its daytime.

I read the evening one is more likely to be during the peak times of 4-7pm. Hopefully the system can cope just after 7pm when a lot of people turn heating and ovens on, run bath for the kids, charge their phones etc.

We regularly used to have 2-3 power cuts here a year and go camping, so we're in the habit of always having back up candles, tealights and matches. We've wrapped the fish tank up before and the fish have survived. We do have a camping stove with plenty of gas cannisters, which if brought indoors I'd move the carbon monoxide monitor closeby. Also, a supply of batteries and power pack is handy.

isthismylifenow · 06/10/2022 15:21

We are living through this right now, we are off around 2 to 3 hours at a time, twice or sometimes 3 times a day.

My tips that I can offer so far :

If your freezer isn't full keep some 2l bottles filled with water in there. Will help to not drop the temperature so much when it's off. Don't be tempted to open the freezer (or fridge unnecessarily while the power is off). Take what you need out the freezer earlier while power is on if you can.

Rechargeable or solar powered light. I have both, for different uses. The solar lights are outside so they come on in the dark and I don't have to remember to recharge as the solar panel is outside all day. Rechargeable for indoors as I forget to place them in a sunny spot a lot of the time. Rechargeable seem to hold power longer. Each person in the house has one, so we take it room to room, rather then having one in every room iyswim. We don't use candles as they are dangerous and make a mess. And they don't give sufficient light for if the DC are needing to study, wanting to read etc.

If you only have an electric hob, buy a camping gas stove and a gas kettle. If our power is out in the morning when I get up, I can make some coffee, as there is trouble ahead if I go without. You can cool one pot meals if you really need to with that too. (I have a gas hob so meal making is still possible). Outdoor gas bbqs also come in handy.

I wfh so I have a Ups which powers my wifi and laptop (also check your laptop battery is working OK) you can run a TV with the ups as well. Nothing too extreme like a printer though, you may need to look at inverters or a generator for a big office set up.

We know when we will go out as it's on a schedule, so I precook if possible, turn the geyzer on for an hour before if I need hot water during off time, charge the phone, iPad or whatever you need.

Charging banks are incredibly handy as a back up back up, incase one forgot to charge the phone / light (yes it's happens). Use your car to charge your phone while you are out and driving.

I have an electric garage door, so I'll take my car out the night before if need be, it's does have an override button, but it's a bit of a faff.

Make sure you have an extra set of keys if you (like me) enter the house via the electric garage door as the main door is them going to be more in use (and other members of the household don't always put the keys back where they should be).

Traffic will be a nightmare as traffic lights will be out. Drive carefully and try hard not to get impatient.

Turn off the plugs to appliances (tvs, pcs etc) when the power goes off. When it comes back on there may be surges which could blow the appliances. Also buy surge protectors and plug appliances into them.

Dust off your packs of cards and board games as they will no doubt get used. I have to say that the coming together family time with teens is really nice, doesn't happen that much these days.

Try not to let your hair get past out of control if you need to dry and straighten. This is my biggest complaint to which I haven't yet got a work around. If it's planned to be off early morning, then I wash and dry and style hair the night before, and just hope for the best with the bed head look the next day.

Plan ahead and try to be as prepared as possible.

That's all I can think of for now. I'll add more as they come to me.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 06/10/2022 15:22

www.nationalgrideso.com/document/268346/download this is the actual report from the national grid.

lightand · 06/10/2022 15:23

Prepped 6 months ago.
That is what preppers do.

LazyDaisy22 · 06/10/2022 15:57

Thank you @isthismylifenow - some really helpful advice. If you don’t mind me asking, where are you if you’re having these power cuts now?

isthismylifenow · 06/10/2022 16:21

LazyDaisy22 · 06/10/2022 15:57

Thank you @isthismylifenow - some really helpful advice. If you don’t mind me asking, where are you if you’re having these power cuts now?

@LazyDaisy22 I am in South Africa. At the moment the grid is very constrained due to various factors. It even has a name.... Loadshedding.

It's been the case off on on for a few years now, but recently we have had the motherload of issues so everyone just has to make do as they can really.

User84 · 06/10/2022 16:27

I’ve just read the emergency outage plan.

Each DNO divides up its area into smaller areas of equal load. Then the whole country gets split up into the areas that will lose power at any particular time. There is then a series of 18 different levels with level 18 being full power outage 24 hours a day.

The hours of outage are then rotated around the areas so that everyone shares in the pain at different times of the day according to the rota.

it starts off fairly ok until you get to about level 3..

isthismylifenow · 06/10/2022 16:41

User84 · 06/10/2022 16:27

I’ve just read the emergency outage plan.

Each DNO divides up its area into smaller areas of equal load. Then the whole country gets split up into the areas that will lose power at any particular time. There is then a series of 18 different levels with level 18 being full power outage 24 hours a day.

The hours of outage are then rotated around the areas so that everyone shares in the pain at different times of the day according to the rota.

it starts off fairly ok until you get to about level 3..

That sounds like how it is here.

We have 8 stages (levels) and this changes according to how much the load needs to be shed. We were in stage 6 last week which meant we only had power for 4 hours on some days. We then went to stage 4, and this morning they moved us back down to stage 3. At stage 6 and up we can be out for 4 or more hours.

We have an app and it gets updated as the annoncement of change is made, and this is how we know what time slots we will be off. We are grouped into grids so the next grid won't be out at the same time as we are.

I will have been without power for 4 hours today after my off slot tonight.

If we get 'forgotten' to be switched off no one dares say a thing in case we jinx ourselves...

667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast · 06/10/2022 16:51

Just thought I would post on here for all those who rely on electricity for medical equipment, saw CPAP machine mentioned, you can register with your electricity supplier on their priority register as vulnerable and they will help you with a generator if necessary. You can also do this if you are disabled/chronically ill and /or elderly so they know you need extra help in a power cut.

DoubleDuvetDay · 06/10/2022 16:51

No

Just hope unlike the 1970s they dont happen during doctor Who

Tomnooktoldmeto · 06/10/2022 16:53

Prepped a few months ago when first warning emerged. If gas goes we have 2 back up electric heaters, hooded blankets and heated throw

If electricity goes off we have 3 heavy duty power banks, torches and 3 recharging lamps. Light is vitally important for me as I’m losing my sight and low light levels reduce my vision massively

The slow cooker will be useful to keep food warm during blackout and I have a selection of food flasks if we have advance warning to prolong food warmth

Lorrymum · 06/10/2022 16:58

I bought a couple of wind up hurricane lamps, small kettle for gas hob (if still have gas but no electrics), lots of candles, torches and throws.

YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp · 06/10/2022 17:00

NicLondon1 · 06/10/2022 00:25

No not prepping. If it happens, will deal with it then. Tend not to worry in advance, no point.

Exactly. I always have a supply of candles, batteries, torches etc because we get regular power cuts here, so nothing new. At least these (if they happen) will be planned in advance. There are camping lights, cooker, full gas cylinders in the loft so we can get those down.
We have a wood burner so won’t be cold.
I will make sure my neighbours are ok too, we can share stuff if necessary.

RB68 · 06/10/2022 17:02

You see I am in two minds about this - the reduced usage as people cut back on use due to cost and the massive number of people putting solar in and buying ninjas - I half wonder if one of the reasons the high cost is being perpetuated isn't because they want to drive people to use less power in general so they can avoid this predicted black out situation (predicted for years btw as well)

RB68 · 06/10/2022 17:04

is not isnt sorry

TimBoothseyes · 06/10/2022 17:05

Where I live, we have power cuts quite often in the winter or if its stormy in the summer. IIRC it's being said that any cuts will last just a few hours so I'm not bothered by the news at all.