2013/2014 Winter - Should we be getting ready for 'snowmageddon'?

[johnworf]

According to this article, based on past winters and other factors, this winter could be a very chilly one.

I don't understand half of the things used to predict why this may be but I'm wondering if I should start making sure we're ready for it, should it come?

this may be of interest, im all for doing things on the cheap

www.woodfuelscotland.org.uk/images/how%20to%20build%20a%20pallet%20store%20a4.pdf

That looks very nifty!

OYBBK take a look at the craft hoarders thread - those woolly folk are creative when it comes to hiding their stash

I am a bit to admit that I am genuinely excited that my new kitchen will have lots of storage for my snowmaggedon supplies. My friends laugh at me being prepared for a bad winter as I live within reasonable walking distance if a large supermarket and a convenience store - but just because I can go out daily for supplies doesn't mean I want to - right?

"I dream of a woodburning stove alas we live in a smokeless zone."

There are some stoves which are so efficient that you can use them for wood-burning even in smokeless zones. Also, worth checking out smokeless coal.

Will have a look Woolly :)

It only takes an extended power cut to cause issues forcing supermarkets to close and we've seen this week how a storm can knock out power for 3 days for people even in the south of England.

Perhaps we need an mn section for preppers

YES, yes to a preppers section!

If we can get a few more interests I'll propose the idea to mn :)

Also, there's talk about gas reserves in the UK being on the low side and power being rationed perhaps this winter when demand exceeds supply.

Re food supplies, one of the government ministers said earlier this year that instead of Digging for Victory as in WW2, he thought we now needed to learn to grow our own fruit and veg and actually called it Digging for Survival. I think our food supply is very fragile for all sorts of reasons and it would be a good idea to to be more self sufficient.

< channels Barbara Good >

digging for survival

@mooncupgoddess, yeah ive been looking at cleanburn stoves and fuels but with no chimney cost is a bit of an issue at the moment but thanks for the info.
@annaconda your absolutely right about gas reserves being low and if the gas goes so does the electricity. There are more coal powered stations due to go offline throughout 2014 so next winter is likely to be interesting if we have a prolonged cold snap.

Oh god if theres a preppers topic I'll never get any work done. I'm already spending too much time "planning" in case we get snowed in or there's some other reason we can't follow our normal routines.

I have just seen lots of snow and the first gritter out gritting round Forfar.
It looked like the Braemar hills were covered in snow.

I am wearing two scarves and have chocolate.

Littleredsquirrel, I know what you mean! And then the worst case scenario never appears!

But one day, things might go seriously belly-up and then we'll be so pleased we can eat, drink clean water, keep ourselves warm etc...

God i think i love you lot

Can i move in? I plan to have armageddon levels of preparedness this winter

@achristmassyjerseyspud I would aim for the house thats stored the most chocolate unfortunately Ive failed miserably on that front.

Lisaloolibell, I didn't realise it might impact electricity supplies too. Dh bought a 15 lumen torch yesterday and floodlit the garden from the living room (boys toy). I've got to sort out candle holders etc. I remember the three day week that rationed energy in the 1970's. Was v. young, obvs. We had a house fire because a candle wasn't properly secured. Frightening but everyone okay. But it goes to show ya gotta be prepared!

I would never be able to maintain a significant choc stash

AnnaConda 38% of our electricity supply comes from gas fired power stations and we only have 2 weeks worth in storage. In March when we had the cold snap we came within 6 hours of losing our gas supply which could lead to power rationing. Hence all the talk of the lights going out.

Not much of a buffer, is it? And you could potentially have a perfect storm of multiple events which would delay getting back to normal.

I watched the gas balancing reports during that time Lisa. We were pretty close to gas rationing.

Artisan, gritters out already? Is that usual?

Aggh don't, I'm already trying to push the "we really should have a generator" voice to the back of my mind. DH can cope with the cupboards full of food in the garage, can just about ignore the fact that I've managed to sneak 100 litres of bottled water into the tool store but will draw the line at spending £400ish on a generator we might never use

And now of course I'm off to google generators. OYBBK you definitely need one since we all flounder in the bad weather when you go off line!

It would have been really helpful this week Littleredsquirrel - especially as I lost mobile internet too.

There's a pretty sprinkling of snow showing on the CairnGorm webcams here.
Also for snow later in the year, there's a list of Scotland's travel webcams here.

8 degrees here today at the warmest part of the day so nothing too cold.

In terms of emergency kit what do you all have? Should we start a separate thread in weather for ideas?