Having camped all over Europe and sailed etc., am used to sorting myself out. I dont do it all the time, but when the weather is extremely poor , or there is likelihood of power going off or a strike or whatever, I have a very good thermos flask, which really does keep water very hot for many hours. So I would fill that before going to bed, then if there is no electricity in the morning, you can still have a precious coffee in my case,and have enough to either have a wash carefully, or enough to wash up or use to cook something. If not needed then I use it for the washing up, or fill a hot water bottle to keep myself warm if sitting down, and put fresh in last thing at night. I keep several small torches, I by the front door, another on my bedside table and have one in a jacket, so am covered for a light, and also have thinsulate light but warm gloves in all jackets and coats. As I live alone I know where things are, as no one else will have moved them, but if you are a group, then I think it is a good idea to get into the habit of seeing that there is a clear pathway to kitchen, door etc so that no one trips. Once you have organised what you can and made sure you have some warm clothes, (make sure you have some good thermal long johns and tops to keep you going) available dont worry, just carry on! We all lived well enough before central heating or any of the various things that seem so important to us now. I have a mobile phone , like many people and use it, but as a child we first walked to the phone box , then had a phone at home but not mobile. Amazingly we all survived quite well and I am here to tell the tale. There is a line between sensible planning and organising for things and letting them take over your life. The press make much of it just to give them something to go on about. Unless we have serious medical problems we can manage well enough for a day or two and it will boost our confidence in our ability to do so if we have to try out our ideas.
