Power cuts - are you prepped?

Norah

I'm very confused about all the phone issues.

I believe ours to be digital, thus won't work? There are too many bits of information (here) on phones for me to understand the solution.

I've just had a digital router installed from BT and they gave me two new landline phones free of charge and told me they will not work if there is no electricity! As I said, progress seems to be backwards.

To be sure, why not switch your electricity off and then try the phone.

I'm very confused about all the phone issues.

I believe ours to be digital, thus won't work? There are too many bits of information (here) on phones for me to understand the solution.

The big unknowns today concerns the stealth sabotage by russians, underwater mines etc. That is why the RN will be guarding the essential pipelines and the huge amount of undersea cabling, also cyber defence in operation. It is not just power but the complete infrastucture that is at risk. Reality is that prepping is being able to survive fairly comfortably on old fashioned basics, without the froth

I just remembered that I kept a very cheap basic plug in phone. Just a precaution in case emergency services is needed

If you have a cooker with a gas hob, you will not need camping stoves. Yes, the electric ignition will not work in a power cut but burners can just as easily be lit with a match or gas lighter, cigarette lighter or similar. The same applies if you have an all gas cooker. Light the oven the sme way you light a burner on the hob.

My memories of the power cuts in the '70s is that they were quite fun, all curled up in the living room with a couple of candles. If you were on the gas network than we almost all had gas cookers - and they were unaffected by the power cuts, those with gas fires - and many people relied on gas fires rather than gas CH and their sources of heat were unaffected by power cuts.

Many people offgrid relied on solid fuel or oil ranges, which had mechanical rather than electrical controls, so warmth and food were never a problem.

If we have any power cuts this winter, and it is highly unlikely, and this present scare is only because the National Grid have been their usual annual winter resilience planning, which means looking at everything, including supply failure.

I am on the liaison committee at a local power station and these sort of plans were discussed quite often at our autumn quarterly meeting. How tight supply was for the approaching winter, what would happen if catastrophe struck and there was not enough power. it was just sensible 'what if' planning.

The only difference is that, at the moment, there are more global risks that we are all aware of than in the past. In the past the risks were there, but most people didn't know that, so didn't worry about them.

Sparklefizz

I agree with you Norah Surely learning is an intended consequence to the thread

.... but there were some posts further back suggesting that people were panicking and I was pointing out that we weren't "panicking" just being prepared, and that there's a difference.

Sorry, I must have misunderstood.

We are always prepared for most anything, but somehow missed the phone bits. We'll do without, however it's still good information - I'd hate to be counting on a phone that won't be working!

Does it matter if people are panicking? The last few years have been enough to cause anxiety in even the calmest of people

I agree with you Norah Surely learning is an intended consequence to the thread

.... but there were some posts further back suggesting that people were panicking and I was pointing out that we weren't "panicking" just being prepared, and that there's a difference.

Sparklefizz

To those who are accusing, I don't see anybody on here "panicking" . I see people who are being sensible and prepared.

It's the fable of The Grasshopper and the Ant. I, personally, am an Ant and a good "housekeeper", and having contingency supplies is important. I am certainly not panicking but I also won't be caught short. I live in an area where we often have powercuts so I know what to expect.

I haven't read panic, just people deciding what to do best for themselves. I've learned, had new thoughts.

Surely learning is an intended consequence to the thread.

Hodkinson2

If you buy cheap corded phone, you don’t need the charging base, as with cordless. Had mine for years.

The phone bit is the most confusing to me. Digital, cords, etc.

I suppose we'll do without with no problems.

I think we'll manage if power cuts are only going to be a few hours or overnight. We have battery lanterns and several torches and I'll stock up on batteries. But I may invest in a power pack for our phones/tablets etc. Our solid fuel boiler will provide heat even though the radiators will cool down, and we can cook jacket potatoes, cheese on toast etc on the hot coals. and even heat water if we need to. If all else fails there's the barbecue. We'll get by. It's interesting how we suddenly realise how much we rely on electricity when it may not be there for a while.

If you buy cheap corded phone, you don’t need the charging base, as with cordless. Had mine for years.

This thread would be much better if people shared tips; as was the intention of the thread.
We get it that some people think that we are silly chicken licken types.
You never know, at some point, you might want to return to the thread.
I would have thought that today’s news re the US and Russia would have made people all the more keen to organise and safeguard their homes to the best of their ability.

DeeDe there’s a lot worse off than us all the year round in some countries, in general we’re quite fortunate.

Indeed. We're always ready for most anything, we'll carry on.

From this thread I've learned the phone won't work as it's digital, hadn't considered that. Wouldn't matter in 3 hours.

We can cook, heat water, heat leftovers. French press coffee.

I've always stocked various flours, oats, sugars, rices, pulses, pastas, quinoa, polenta, tinned tomatoes, condiments, spices - we'll be fine.

Duvet, warm bedding, warm pyjamas. The dogs sleep together, their bed is always hot if only by number of dogs.

Three hours is easily manageable. Or we could drive to a daughter.

To those who are accusing, I don't see anybody on here "panicking" . I see people who are being sensible and prepared.

It's the fable of The Grasshopper and the Ant. I, personally, am an Ant and a good "housekeeper", and having contingency supplies is important. I am certainly not panicking but I also won't be caught short. I live in an area where we often have powercuts so I know what to expect.

Elegran

EkwaNimitee

Having seen camping stoves mentioned, I checked them out online. The one I found, using butane gas cylinders, said not to use indoors. Carbon monoxide or other fumes? Be careful! I think I will get a wide-necked thermos for a stew or soup instead. I have candles from the 1970’s! Plus phone and power bank and all the gear from Arctic holidays. The latter kept me toasty at -20C so I should be ok…
I’m only worried about Mr Putin.

I have a little camping burner that uses butane, and has that warning. My intention, if a power cut means I need to heat a drink or a meal on it, is to use it in the conservatory with windows open for ventilation and plenty of freezing draughts fresh air coming in. I'll close the door into the house while cooking so that heat isn't lost from indoors. I can open a window up high and one lower down, so that there is air coming in and going out. I have checked online, and inhaling butane in small amounts isn't lethal, so with common sense it'll be OK.

Yes, be careful!

A house blew up not far from here because the tenant was using butane and he was badly injured.
Although he wasn't cooking dinner.

Doodledog, who cares what others think about what is simply good housekeeping. All of it will keep, nicely tucked away while we go about our daily business

Bijou

Seems a lot of people are panicking about something that may never happening.
For years I have unused windup torch and radio, LED light which kept charged, candles etc.
In Spain in the fifties and sixties there were frequent power cuts because people were beginning to buy washing machines etc and the power couldn’t cope. The cuts also affected the water supply. We managed.

What's the difference between your having supplies and others doing it now? Why are are they panicking and (I assume) you don't think you were?

There is a lot of judgement on this thread, considering it's about being prepared.

I already have little motion sensor LED lamps in some places around the house, mostly on the path from my bedroom to the front door, via the bathroom. Visitors who don't know the house or the positions of light switches find them very useful for lighting loo trips in the middle of the night. Mr Beams on Amazon has some nice little square ones, which either hang up or are freestanding. Not a terribly bright light, but enough to move safely round the house, and the four AA batteries last for ages.

EkwaNimitee

Having seen camping stoves mentioned, I checked them out online. The one I found, using butane gas cylinders, said not to use indoors. Carbon monoxide or other fumes? Be careful! I think I will get a wide-necked thermos for a stew or soup instead. I have candles from the 1970’s! Plus phone and power bank and all the gear from Arctic holidays. The latter kept me toasty at -20C so I should be ok…
I’m only worried about Mr Putin.

I have a little camping burner that uses butane, and has that warning. My intention, if a power cut means I need to heat a drink or a meal on it, is to use it in the conservatory with windows open for ventilation and plenty of freezing draughts fresh air coming in. I'll close the door into the house while cooking so that heat isn't lost from indoors. I can open a window up high and one lower down, so that there is air coming in and going out. I have checked online, and inhaling butane in small amounts isn't lethal, so with common sense it'll be OK.

Seems a lot of people are panicking about something that may never happening.
For years I have unused windup torch and radio, LED light which kept charged, candles etc.
In Spain in the fifties and sixties there were frequent power cuts because people were beginning to buy washing machines etc and the power couldn’t cope. The cuts also affected the water supply. We managed.

I heard Nadhim Zahawi say on tv this morning that it’s “extremely unlikely” there will be power cuts. So based on his trustworthy words of wisdom I will be stocking up on candles etc

same as doodledog, I am a agood housekeeper and always have been. It has been very useful in the past eg 2010, living in a village in a valley. Snowed in for a full six weeks, no warning. We survived because of my housekeeping

I need to lay the fuel in my stove today, will not be using it until it becomes very cold here. Yesterday I bought a very large handblown heavy glass vase from a local charity shop, 33cm tall and have repurposed that to hold a pillar candle, bit of white sand on the bottom to hold the candle steady

Jaxjacky, a lot of people here quietly support various charities, they don`t tell all and sundry how kind and thoughtful they are. Telling negates the good, it becomes self-congratulatory

Just hope it’s not overnight, I have a 17 year old dog to keep warm ish he won’t keep covered up overnight and can’t get up the stairs, think I will get him a doggie dressing gown
I usually keep the heating on low 24 hours when it’s cold
Guess those with young babies, and the very old will find it difficult too, definitely need notice of times, awkward for those working getting ready and coming home to a cold home and no hot meals too., stairs and the like need to be careful on, again the old and youngsters especially..be a good idea if we know of much older people around to keep an eye out for them too
Have Slankets for us, ( the long blankets with arms) be no tv or internet either, least I will get some reading done and keep my kindle charged ..
and always have torches and tea lights other than that will have to manage I guess, and there’s a lot worse off than us all the year round in some countries, in general we’re quite fortunate.
Roll on spring..

Jaxjacky

All this prepping, buying ‘stuff’, many are struggling anyway and just can’t afford to buy all of these items. I’ll be donating a bit more to food banks and others in need.

It’s not either / or.
I am giving extra to food banks too.
I’m not going to not buy things in order to look after my ill husband just because others can’t afford to do the same.