Government announcement today that we should stock up on food etc

I hope this announcement isn't going to make people panic buy like in COVID.

I don't think I will be stocking up loads unless further guidance is given. I'd probably be waiting a bit before I was really stocking up.

I will make sure I have plenty of squash in because that's the only thing I drink. I may fill an empty one of those up with water and keep it in the fridge as that costs nothing.

I'll make sure I've got some of my safe foods in the freezer just in case.

I do hope the electricity doesn't go for any significant amount of time as I don't have gas so would have no anything. I think on this basis I will make sure I've got a torch/electric lamp. I think this would sensible anyway.

I am not to be honest, I live in a tiny studio

Thank you Profdanger, I think I know this logically, but do appreciate your wisdom. 

Any food that doesn’t need cooking, sandwiches, cereal whatever is your thing. Try to collect rain water in a plastic bin or very large tub outside in case the power goes off for a while and you need to flush toilet. From experience you need about a washing up bowls worth for a good flush. A Torch. Stash of bottled water for drinking. I think the bbc article was aiming at people in high risk areas so try not to stress too much about it. It’s always good to be prepared though. I personally give the US preppers and bunker people a very very wide birth. Slightly unhinged and are in a perpetual state of “what ifs” and potential crisis creating fear. Not great for anxiety or keeping things in perspective.

profdanger said:

For reference of what I alluded to: Trump blaming Minnesota Governor

Thanks for sharing. 

Oh dear ...

For reference of what I alluded to: Trump blaming Minnesota Governor

Very wise words 

Try not to panic, especially if you feel sufficiently prepared already. When you feel anxiety over the possibility of a societal crisis, think of these things:

1. Humankind is immensely resilient. If society as we know it collapses in the near future, it will not have been the first time nor the last time. Humans have survived incredible odds on this wild planet so far.
2. Yes there are bad people out there, but community is a natural instinct for humanity. We have developed community since prehistory for survival and that is not a learned skill, but an innate one.
3. Don’t let news outlets or cinema convince you that nuclear war is imminent. Mutually assured destruction makes it practically impossible for nuclear war to ever break out.

It’s going to be okay. Preparedness is good, but panic helps no one.

Breakfast cereal.

Long life oat milk.

Homebird said:

There was one winter with planned power cuts, usually before or after 6 pm, so people could prepare

I remember that well, and also the 'winter of discontent' as my dad's company, Ford Motor Company, was on strike so we had even less money than usual.

An open fire was a very useful thing then but I don't have one and I think most people rely on gas or electric heating.

Homebird said:

Gas hob also useful to warm water in a kettle

 Could we not lose the gas supply?

Tinned stuff and pasta, so if no electric can cook something on gas hob.

Gas hob also useful to warm water in a kettle to fill hot water bottle to keep under blanket keeping warm. When I was young we had no gas, but did have a coal fire to put kettle on. There was one winter with planned power cuts, usually before or after 6 pm, so people could prepare. We had candles then, but today we have stand up lamps. 

Keep backup power pack charged for phone. 

Stamps to send letter if no internet connection.

Shovel and broom for snow. 

We do tend to have some things in supplies, as we tend to get extra when the supermarket has offers.

Orangegnome said:

I stoked up the burner and we all kept warm, then boiled the camping kettle on the top so we had hot chocolate.

I have a wood burning stove. When my children were small we had a power cut on a very cold day. I stoked up the burner and we all kept warm, then boiled the camping kettle on the top so we had hot chocolate. The guys came out and fixed the problem as quickly as possible. 

B said:

Also, if it were mid winter, how do you heat your home

The means to boil water would be important if the heating was off.

I have a warm duvet and plenty of blankets and throws. My plan includes a hot water bottle for the bed, and one for my lap under a throw. Just need to think about the camping stove. 

One thought that has come out of this is if power is cut, how do you heat/cook food that needs to be heated or cooked.

Also, if it were mid winter, how do you heat your home?

I'd love to have a wood burning stove.

Others have talked about buying camping stoves which I think take gas bottles.

Other types of wood burning cooking thingies that you can use in the garden might be an idea.

This post and the news article gives me terrible anxiety. I keep a well stocked home and feel we could survive a few days without an open shop, but it’s a horrible thought.

“A bath and all clean on” was the mantra. Make sure you have clean pants on in case you get run over.

Thank you all for your input.

This is such a helpful thread, and hopefully, not just for me alone.

ArchaeC said:

Does your week’s worth of food all need cooked? If so, will you have cooking facilities in the event of a power cut or lack of gas supply? 

Heating but not cooking as it's a lot of tinned + dried stuff but of course things like pasta and rice need boiling.

I suppose that lacking power is another/different issue that you might need to prepare for separately (and that provision might not be needed).