The Government advice re emergency packs

There’s a government list online, under the heading “Be Ready Checklist”.

I always have plenty of food in the house, so could manage for some time, even if we had to eat strange combinations.

I have bottled water and lots of soft drinks, so we'd be ok there too - I think we'd last a week, or even two if we were very disciplined about it.

I have a camping stove and gas, but it would have to be used outside, so not ideal in a serious storm. I have an emergency box, which is just a means of keeping things together- on the whole I could just go and get blankets out of the linen cupboard etc, but I don't want to be running around looking for things in an emergency (or in the dark).

The box contains, from memory: several battery operated lanterns, 100 AA batteries and 100 AAA ones, thermal hat, gloves and neck warmer sets (one each for husband and me), hand warmer heated things, power packs, a first aid kit and OTC drugs such as paracetamol and Imodium, playing cards, a wind-up radio/torch, a whistle and loo rolls.

I may have forgotten something, and I will be adding to the supplies with each weekly shop. Obviously if we need anything in there outside of an emergency we will use it, but keeping things like that in a box in a spare bedroom means that I know what we have and where it is. Things like batteries in the kitchen drawer get used, so in an emergency there could be none left. Same with loo rolls. My husband is more or less oblivious to it all, as he thinks the advice is scaremongering, but I am always more comfortable being prepared for things.

I’m with your husband Doodledog I think they’re softening up the electorate for taxes going up to support more defence spending.
Which I’m totally on board with so no need for the apocalypse talk.

I have bottled water and lots of soft drinks

Am I being dense here? Won’t there be water coming out of the taps?

Doodledog

What a great idea, putting it in a box! I shall steal this idea.

I had to smile at the food comment,
“I always have plenty of food in the house, so could manage for some time, even if we had to eat strange combinations.”, that’s us to a tee!

Also your DH and mine could be brothers haha! X

Water supply is likely to be disrupted if there is a cyber attack, because technology runs water as it does other basic services, the internet affects so much we take for granted. I think cyber attacks are what the government is more worried about than anything else.

We have wine, beer and snacks…

Much the same as Doodledog.

Some cash - power strikes may take out ATMs but some stores will take cash if they can open.

Car is kept charged.

We have 4 rechargeable lights in the house that give really good light that we can read by or play Scrabble or cards or move about the house. They last for quite a long time before needing to be recharged.

I don't expect there to be an emergency of apocalyptic proportions but even if the power is off for a few days I see no sense in being uncomfortable if it's not necessary.

Doodledog

I always have plenty of food in the house, so could manage for some time, even if we had to eat strange combinations.

I have bottled water and lots of soft drinks, so we'd be ok there too - I think we'd last a week, or even two if we were very disciplined about it.

I have a camping stove and gas, but it would have to be used outside, so not ideal in a serious storm. I have an emergency box, which is just a means of keeping things together- on the whole I could just go and get blankets out of the linen cupboard etc, but I don't want to be running around looking for things in an emergency (or in the dark).

The box contains, from memory: several battery operated lanterns, 100 AA batteries and 100 AAA ones, thermal hat, gloves and neck warmer sets (one each for husband and me), hand warmer heated things, power packs, a first aid kit and OTC drugs such as paracetamol and Imodium, playing cards, a wind-up radio/torch, a whistle and loo rolls.

I may have forgotten something, and I will be adding to the supplies with each weekly shop. Obviously if we need anything in there outside of an emergency we will use it, but keeping things like that in a box in a spare bedroom means that I know what we have and where it is. Things like batteries in the kitchen drawer get used, so in an emergency there could be none left. Same with loo rolls. My husband is more or less oblivious to it all, as he thinks the advice is scaremongering, but I am always more comfortable being prepared for things.

A whistle? What’s that for?