Post-hurricanes - any wake up calls?

[BiddyPop]

Just looking at the fallout from Helene and Milton in the US. I'm seeing a lot of reporting of families depending on what they did, or did not, have and a lack of Government support in the aftermath. And I also heard a lot about the devastating fires in Canada and Greece and Spain this summer.

So has it made you think again about some of your plans and preps?

For me, I need to build, rather than just think through, a bug out bag. As where I am, I could face some big problems and need to get out on my own 2 feet (or my bike).

And I am not allowed naked flames, so cannot use my 1 ring camping gas stove or candles if the power is out (I have some torches but would probably get away with some candles - but definitely not the stove). Long term, I want to get a solar generator and a 1 ring induction stove to plug into it - but I would depend on solar oven type options on my balcony if there was enough sun at the moment. Or using tea lights under a baking tin...

What risk are you actually under?
Infrastructure failure - so supplies of food and water for you for a week are useful.

Flood? You need to evacuate.

In terms of naked flames a camping stove on top of a kitchen worktop would be fine in an emergency surely as it's no different to a gas hob. A Jet Boil would be better than tea lights and a can and who would know anyway if needs must?

It is unlikely that the whole of the UK will be hit be a huge event in one go, we just don't get that sort of weather. Localised issues like flooding are obviously more common so a grab and go bag is useful and enough money to stay in a travel lodge for a week or so if necessary, Breeze blocks in the garden you can bring in to stand furniture on that can't be taken upstairs etc if you are in a high flood area although it sounds like you are in a flat so less of an issue.

I keep a suitcase packed at all times just incase of a hospital visit / prepacked for work trips so has packing cubes with leggings, t-shirts for PJs but could double as day wear, toiletries, torch, chargers, under wear so if necessary and it's highly unlikely in my area to have a serious incident that I could decamp at short notice.

What do you mean you aren’t allowed naked flames? Surely in an emergency anything (with reason) goes. Or do you mean you can’t due to safety reasons?

Im not really a prepper, I just saw this trending. I watched Threads this week and it does make you think. I do love an end of the world type disaster movie so often find myself wondering what I would do.

Widespread power cuts are a possibility due to cyber attacks. It was a throwaway mention on a R4 programme. We've seen cyber attacks and failed upgrades effecting systems recently.

We've (UK) had one big incident in the past few years due to lightning being the final straw in a full capacity grid.

We've had several incidents of power being out due to wind storms.

Flooding is more likely.
Heat causing wild fires is now also a possibility.

Terrorism is still in play for causing disruption.

Home fires

I only consider risks that I think are credible. Where I live flooding and wildfires are very unlikely. I keep a little cash in case there are problems with my bank. Otherwise I just keep lists of things so I don’t need to try and remember stuff in a stressful situation. I have a list for a hospital bag; I don’t keep a fully packed bag to hand at all times. Not least because my partner would borrow the fully charged battery pack without telling me, and the kids would nick my charging cables.

On heating food, you could get a few emergency MRE's and flameless ration heaters (you just add a bit of water and they heat the MRE pouches).

These guys are reliable suppliers:
Meals (£4 each): https://preppersshop.co.uk/prepping-food-400-c.asp
Heaters (99p each!) https://preppersshop.co.uk/british-army-frh-flameless-ration-heater-pouch-2264-p.asp

They also have a pretty good blackout section for those who are new to prepping, they even have a pre made bug out bag. https://preppersshop.co.uk/preparing-for-blackouts-426-c.asp