Storm Austen - 10 minute guide to getting ready

[elainewilx]

Hey mums
After working in emergency preparedness in a fire department for years in California, I am now back in the UK and a little shocked as to the messaging the government sends out. I hope some of my tips help....

If you are going to be potentially impacted by the storm this is what I would do :

1. Have all your torches to hand with extra batteries - don't use candles (such a fire hazard )
2. Charge up all your phones, laptops etc and power banks if you have them.
3. Sign up for alerts to stay informed - the Met Office has a great app you can download for free.
4. Secure any loose items you may have outside if safe to do so.
5. If you are in a flood prone area consider moving your vehicle to higher ground where possible.
6. Get your shopping done today - buy a few extra bits, if you lose power then items will stay safe in an unopened fridge for up to 4 hours, a full freezer for up to 48 hours, and a half-full freezer for 24 hours. ( FSA )
7. Consider alternative cooking methods if power goes out - fill up flasks with hot water before the storm arrives so you can at least have a cuppa
8. If you are worried about your home flooding then move important items to a higher floor if possible.
9. Talk to your family about where everyone is going to be during the storm and how they may be impacted if transport / communication fails - always easier to figure these things out ahead of time. Also think about any vulnerable friends / neighbours and maybe check in with them today.
10. Turn around, don't drown.... do not walk / drive through flooded water, you can be knocked off your feet and have no idea how deep it could be - also flooded water is disgusting and full of bacteria - not a time to play muddy puddles.

What has the gov done wrong?

I would have a radio with batteries in orange mind up or solar power version. All the tech is great with Apps galore but eventually the power banks will run out. My radio has been in regular use for months and I have not needed to change the batteries once.

Those are good tips.
I'm not in a yellow or amber area so not surprised to have not heard from the government on this - has there been no messaging in the affected areas?

Great list. A few small additions: know where your fuse box and water stopcock are, and keep a head torch by the bed so your hands are free. Save 105 in your phone for power cuts (Floodline is 0345 988 1188 for flood warnings). And if anyone at home relies on powered medical equipment, the Priority Services Register is free and means you're prioritised for help.

Any preppers thread on the main boards usually has two types of posts:
"I don't need to prep" in various iterations
"This country gives prepping advice" (Sweden, Germany, Switzerland all seen recently)

British attitudes to prepping seems different to a lot of places.

I've found a couple of power banks that need recharging.

Tomorrow (God willing) I'll sort out ex's garden. (My pots)
Top up the flask and coffees mugs.
Get some washing done.

I need to recharge some of my lanterns.

We're pagans so we have around 10 million candle lanterns in our house all wind proof and enclosed so very little risk of setting our house on fire and chaice well and the white springs up the road which is always drinkable straight from the public taps outside in the street. Here in the west country we are used to being flooded every year which is why I bought a house on a big hill well away from low lying areas.

I've sorted out the garden and will do another round of charging various devices. Good tip about the thermos, I'll get that sorted as well.

Good reminders. Thank you @elainewilx

@elainewilx has there been a red weather warning I can’t find? Or are you in the amber area of the south west? I mean it’s important to be informed and have a plan but a yellow weather warning really is fairly low risk and a general ‘be aware’ category.

And I am generally a super prepared semi-prepper type. What exactly do you think the government should be saying then? Sending lists like yours for every yellow warning?

Prepared to eat my words here but have you maybe overestimated the impact of this storm for most people.

The amber warning is unusual. So is worth paying attention to if you are in it or nearby.

Yellow warnings are 10 a penny round here and I wouldn’t do anything much beyond checking nothing has been left outside that might fly off. (With the caveat that this is a preppers board so I’m not likely to starve)