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Preppers

Basic home emergency box

9 replies

happyandhopefull · 26/01/2024 08:48

I read a recent thread where someone mentioned they have a fire proof box and it reminded me I really need to get organised and put together a basic power cut/no water box, along with protecting our documents.

What do people keep in their boxes and where do you store them?

OP posts:
Helloandgoodmorning2 · 26/01/2024 09:16

We have torches in all the bedroom drawers, neck torches, mini 9hr candle lanterns and matches a box downstairs, larger lanterns in the shed and a huge battery pack to run electrics that is in the utility room.

Helloandgoodmorning2 · 26/01/2024 09:18

We also have water stored in the attic and plenty of tinned, dried food stored all over the house.

happyandhopefull · 26/01/2024 11:44

Helloandgoodmorning2 · 26/01/2024 09:16

We have torches in all the bedroom drawers, neck torches, mini 9hr candle lanterns and matches a box downstairs, larger lanterns in the shed and a huge battery pack to run electrics that is in the utility room.

Interesting, I was thinking one box but something in each bedroom is a good idea. What battery pack do you have, we have lots of small power banks but they are constantly in use for kids electronics so something ready to use would be useful.

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Citrusandginger · 26/01/2024 11:56

Live rurally enough that power cuts are semi-regular occurrences.

We don't have a box, but have torches up and downstairs, including a kitchen cupboard with candles, torches, batteries & matches. Also have rechargeable lamps that get charged on the first of every month. I discovered over Christmas that vases with a string of battery lights in make really good lamps.

Keep bottled water and long life milk and would never give up my gas hob so can always make tea. Have bottled water in both cars (mainly incase of breakdown but a handy back up).

Make sure we always have coal & wood for the fire and bbq coals too. We have had power cuts in the past that have lasted a few days, so am mindful of the need to be warm & fed.

Worst thing is not being able to wash! We have had to go to family members for showers in the past when we have days without hot water!

Citrusandginger · 26/01/2024 11:57

Forgot! Also have a battery back up pack for the internet which lasts around 4 hours.

happyandhopefull · 26/01/2024 12:04

Helloandgoodmorning2 · 26/01/2024 12:00

We have an Ecoflow https://www.ecoflow.com/uk .We are rural so it was a good investment for us.

Thanks, that's given me something to think about.

OP posts:
happyandhopefull · 26/01/2024 14:18

Citrusandginger · 26/01/2024 11:57

Forgot! Also have a battery back up pack for the internet which lasts around 4 hours.

Tell me more...losing the Wi-Fi would be catastrophic on this house.

Monthly charging is a great idea too.

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Nellieinthebarn · 26/01/2024 18:40

My power cut kit lives in a cupboard in the hall, it contains torches, battery lanterns, tea lights, matches, lighters, 2 primus stoves, spare gas canisters (not in the box but near) and a camping kettle. We have a wood burner in the living room, and plenty of logs to last this winter and probably half of next. If needs must we could sleep in there if its really cold.

The generator lives in the garage but I hate using it because it generates smell and noise more than electric, so it would only be used in the event of more than 24 hours with no power to keep the freezers frozen, and to charge phones and torches.

We have solar panels and battery back up, so we have probably 48 hours of electric stored if we don't use the heating. How much the batteries recharge depends on the weather.

Our medical kit contains the usual first aid stuff and over the counter medicines. I also have canned oxygen, blood pressure machine and a blood oxygen monitor. I am thinking of getting a one use defibrillator (we both have heart conditions and DH had experienced full cardiac arrest)

I have 2 months worth of my medication, and DH is building his supply up again following all his meds being changed.

We probably have food for a month, but I am having to use my stores due to lack of bank balance. I will be building this up again, but in a smarter way. No good having shitloads of pasta and rice and no water to cook them in! and very boring without sauces ect.

Trouble is we don't really eat canned things much, I usually cook from scratch using fresh ingredients or frozen, so the emergency supply of tins just sit there and go out of date.

We do have a decent garden space, but I bloody hate gardening, so haven't really got a veg patch except runner beans in a barrel. We do have fruit trees, and I am a reasonable forager.

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