Are you 'prepping' at all?

Posted by harrietrosie@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 74 comments

Every year we experience more extreme weather (extreme heat in summer/storms etc), and there's a general lack of maintenance as public services are stretched, pipes electric maintenance etc. So part of me thinks it's not unlikely we may be cut off from the grid or water or something and it would take a few days to get reconnected. I think online prepper communities are a bit extreme for me but I do think that these kind of minor things aren't unlikely and could be difficult when we're all so reliant on them, it's especially on my mind as I have young children who I want to keep warm and comfortable. Is this on your mind, and do you have any survival items on hand? We're getting solar panels installed with a battery so if the grid is down we'll still have some power. Plug in heaters. Bottled water and a waterbutt so we can use that water to flush the loo if water is cut off. Do you have anything like this prepped?

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74 Comments

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Temporary-Zebra97@reddit

I have about 5 years worth of logs in various stages of drying, not for prepping reasons, purely down to having a mate who is a tree surgeon and always having excess timber to offload.

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Underwritingking@reddit

Trays of tinned goods in the shed (Baked beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, kidney beans, chick peas, tuna, sardines), a water butt, some water in bottles in the fridge (also helps keep the fridge cooler for longer if the power goes off) I would look at solar panels, but our roof is old and very steeply pitched, so cost and maintenance is not easy, as it means scaffolding every time, and we are looking to move in the foreseeable future, but panels and battery are definitely on the list for the next house - as is being nowhere near the river

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SpiritedVoice2@reddit

I used to worry about these things until COVID when it became apparent that the only thing of any scarcity was bog roll for a couple of days. In fact I was insanely well prepped for COVID and it was a massive waste of time in retrospect. Most houses not on the absolute breadline will have food for a good few days in them, I probably have several weeks worth if shit really hit the fan. Just have a pack of bottled water, a torch and a radio around. If the power or water goes out for many days to a point where the government cannot assist properly you'd likely need weaponry of some sort more than solar panels.

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idontlikepeas_@reddit

Yep we are prepping light. We are working to have enough to last about three weeks should things happen. Fallacy of Preparation makes me feel less like a lunatic. Things like first aid, lighting, battery operated radio, food, water, battery packs, pet food, meds, essential sweeties ;) The world is changing. I’d rather have it, feel a bit weird about it, and be ok-ish if something happens, than let my pride shut me up and be caught. So yeah, “light prepping”.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

I hadn't thought about pet food how terrible of me! Will pop it on the list. Radio is on my list to get as well

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idontlikepeas_@reddit

What else do you have that I might have forgotten?

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

Not sure, sounds like you're very prepared! Maybe a physical map of the local area, depends how well you know it. Portable phone chargers that are fully charged ready to go. But I think as long as you can keep your family fed, watered, warm, clean and comfortable for a little but you're okay. I also plan on putting together a little car kit, in case something happens and you get stuck in the car. Last winter my sister in law was stuck in standstill traffic for 5 hours because of a huge crash. So foil blankets for warmth, those little hand warmers you click to activate, snacks and water.

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ThierryMercury@reddit

Put in a candle. One lit candle in a car will keep the temperature inside several degrees warmer than outside.

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idontlikepeas_@reddit

Damn I’d never considered that. This is my worry - the rabbit hole is easy to scuttle down. We have a Go Bag set up. It was from Russia invaded and we thought things might go to hell in a hand basket. Gotta admit it felt comforting. We also have a special bottle of whiskey if the nuclear bombs head and there’s nothing we can do.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

Yes it's easy once you start to do more and more

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Timely_Egg_6827@reddit

Worth it. We have a spare month's worth. Covid was hard as usual supplier stopped making it due to furloughs. We have a solar panel power bank and phone chargers. Left on window straw they trickle charge. First aid goes with pets. Life straws and really good sleeping bags worth it too.

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Marvel--Jesus@reddit

No. I'll be dead soon anyway.

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blacksmithMael@reddit

Our farm had regular power cuts, so when batteries became affordable we jumped on them to add to our solar. They’ve done the job very well, even running our heat pump comfortably. We have a private water supply from boreholes and a well stocked larder, so we’re pretty well set. But we’re lucky to have the space for it all!

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

Yes that sounds like the dream to me!

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blacksmithMael@reddit

The solar has been a wonder for our bills, but the heat pump has been best for our comfort. We’re in a very old house, the sort often deemed unsuitable for one, but we had good installers and it works perfectly. We run it to keep the house comfortable, and use wood burners and open fires to make house cosy.

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defonotuk@reddit

All those things except the solar panels, but dual fuel generator and lpg bottles with lpg stove as well.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

Good point, we've got a plug in hot plate thing to warm food up!

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defonotuk@reddit

Oh a cheap UHF radio also, not legal to transmit without license but assume cell services will be down during prolonged outage. I also have access to some places with guaranteed generator supplies/power delivery through work.

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Laylelo@reddit

Get a back up like a gas powered camping stove with some cans. May as well, and they’re good for other uses too.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

Got it, good to have a back up!

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WhyToHide@reddit

Yes. Got some drinking water that I never touch and food with long shelf-life. I’m not extreme “prepper”, but I bought spare power banks, flashlight, and some other things for just in case.

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ShinyHeadedCook@reddit

Not really prepping but I always carry a first aid kit in my car. A few tools like a tyre wrench that could also be used to smash zombies heads in

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Longjumping_Hat2134@reddit

Nah, fuck that. I'd rather die than suffer being inconvenienced.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

A true Brit

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PuzzledFishOfTheSea@reddit

I go camping a few times a year. I have a water filter, sleeping bag, base layers, etc. Beyond camping basics, I keep a mini address book in my uni backpack, a first aid kit, needle and thread, multi tool, torch, extra tea and sugar, and some flapjacks which I eat and replenish regularly. As for conscious, recent "prepping" that's outside my daily carry-on bag, I bought some extra tinned food cuz I was getting low, and I've started learning basic foraging, and I bought an atlas and maps of the UK and highlighted the roads I can take to visit family in a SHTF emergency. So ya, wild camping and survival stuff is a fun hobby, but the only conscious "prepping" I'm doing is the new stuff.

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_Rookwood_@reddit

Nope, but my neighbour preps so I will just threaten him with my baseball bat till he gives up the goods.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

So you have prepped, you have a baseball bat ready to go!

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carboncopy404@reddit

I think I’m going to buy an air conditioner over the depths of winter in preparation if we have more 30C+ days next summer

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Ki1664@reddit

I’m In Scotland. At least we won’t run out of drinking water.

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togtogtog@reddit

I just think about where the nearest water sources are, how to clean water enough for drinking, if it's ok to drink rainwater without cleaning it, and hope it doesn't come to anything. And try to appreciate the good stuff while it is here... It must have been hell being a medieval peasant through the winter.

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adfddadl1@reddit

Water, enough food for at least a couple of weeks, some cash, basic first aid kit. Got plenty of wood to burn so we'd never be cold. Our cooker is on gas bottles too so we could still use that. I wouldn't be too concerned in the event short term disruption. Prepping for longer term is a whole different ball game.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

I hadn't thought of cash!!

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hiddengirl8786@reddit

I became a 'light prepper' shortly after the coronaverse happened. Empty supermarket shelves, coupled with intermittent power outages in my area, made me rethink. I now have about 6 - 8 weeks worth of long life food stores, enough water supply for my family, multiple heating & cooking appliances that don't require electric. Plus plenty of candles, torches, batteries, medication and first aid.

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JocastaH-B@reddit

I could live in my campervan as it has solar panels so I could charge my phone and I could cook on the gas hob, I have a tiny portable toilet which I could top up from the water butt. I have a 5 litre bottle of drinking water under my stairs as we quite often have the water go off here. There's much pasta in the cupboard, I think I probably need more tins though I did put together a go bag this year because my parents are getting older and I'd like to be able to get to them quickly without having to think about what to pack, if needed

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MDFHASDIED@reddit

It was something I started doing but then I realised how expensive it is and I can't afford it... got a nice torch and penknives though.

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steelerowl@reddit

At least you'll be able to see the people you're stabbing at night, before stealing their food.

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sc_BK@reddit

r/UKPreppers We had electricity off for 3.5days a few months ago, water off a ducks back to me, we're well stocked up. Heat the house, cook food, boil water, generator (for the freezer after a day), small 12v solar setup for charging, lots of rainwater storage, etc etc

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

Can I ask what was the number 1 thing you were grateful you had when you had the electricity off? Best things?

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sc_BK@reddit

I think a cup of tea, warm meal, and light in the evenings are fairly essential all year round, so a means to do that. In the winter, clearly you'll want some form of heating. After the power's been off for a day you're then into the territory of having a way to run your freezer, or lose the food.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

Also thanks for the link to the sub I think I will post there about heating!

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twattyprincess@reddit

I live in rural Scotland and have seen an increase in extreme weather events over recent years. We often get power cuts. We always have boxes of candles in the house, and big plastic containers for water, which we start filling when we hear there's a storm on the way. Always have a good stick of batteries etc. Quite often when we do a shop we get a couple extra of the essentials as well. One day I want to build a pantry to keep spares in.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

Good idea about stocking up on food on a budget

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rocki-i@reddit

We're in Tunbridge Wells so affected by the water supply problems here for the past week. We had no water for four days and still currently have no drinking water. They've set up water distribution points for us to collect water from. Which is fine if it's just one localised place like Tunbridge Wells, but if it was a larger area, like the whole south east water region, for whatever reason, I'm not sure if the same logistics would be possible if resources are stretched. I can say, going without running water for a few days is a pain in the arse.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

Sorry to hear that, that's tough! Any tips for going without running water?

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rocki-i@reddit

Not really. Just that it takes about 6 l to flush a loo, washing up is about 8l, and we were using a big storage container filled with water to wash hair with. We used about 75l in the four days, it's better now we can shower and flush toilets with the mains water. Making sure you have some way to heat water, we're using the kettle but if you wanna prep for power outage I'm not sure what options you have. And if it's in a waterbut I'm not sure if you'd need any further purifier. Oh, and stay friends with the in-laws cause they'll do your laundry for you ;)

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AgonisingAunt@reddit

I always have stocked kitchen cupboards after the Covid panic buying madness. Not the 100 year freeze dried ration things, just stuff that we actually use that lasts for a long time, dried pasta, tins, sugar etc. we used to meal plan and do ‘just in time ordering.’ Never again post covid. We also store three days of water per person, have water purification tablets and a couple of life straws.

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Consult-SR88@reddit

Not so much prepping but I regularly go tent camping for a week at a time with no power etc so all the equipment for that doubles as emergency gear. I have a jackery I keep topped up all year, power banks, multiple torches, multiple gas stoves (my hob is gas anyway & I have a gas fireplace), rechargeable radio, thermos flasks. I tend to bulk buy non perishables anyway so I’m always well stocked. The only thing I’d be lacking is water but I do have plenty of reusable bottles to fill.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

Sounds like you're good!

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Consult-SR88@reddit

In the last 12 months the power had gone out 3 times for few hours each time & the water once, with it being undrinkable for a couple of days due to sediment. I live in a Yorkshire city!

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

I feel like 'small' things like this are quietly becoming more common and they can have a big impact!

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ApprehensiveDare2649@reddit

We keep a decent stock of everything in the house anyway but that’s mainly because it annoys me if we run out of something and I have to brave the supermarket. The full on preppers always kind of make me laugh. If things really go to shit it’s not like the resulting mobs/gangs aren’t going to target them and all there supplies.

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Scared-Room-9962@reddit

I've already mentally labelled who my weakest and most vulnerable neighbours are. In an emergency, I'll just take their stuff.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

😂

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Jealous-Shallot-3071@reddit

That's actually a really good idea.

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DameKumquat@reddit

I've bought another air conditioner. We tend to have enough food in the house for a couple weeks if necessary, have a gas camp stove and plenty of tea light candles, but don't worry about water much. I admit to being a bit paranoid about loo roll and wanting at least 24 rolls in the house at all times.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

We've been bulk buying loo roll since before covid as its just easier to always have it around, and cheaper. We keep it in the sofa under the seats! We also plan on getting an air conditioner installed, it got so hot where we are this summer and we have 2 children under 3 and I was so worried about them overheating or dehydrating

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michalakos@reddit

Nah, not at all. In the case of minor events we will be fine and if civilisation crumbles completely we are all gonna die anyway. No point extending the misery.

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Wrong_Adhesiveness87@reddit

I am. I come from an earthquake prone city. We have earthquake kits as we have been told we have to survive on our own for two weeks, although reality checkers and the army reckon it's more like 3-5 weeks. Lots of dry food, shelter, heat, various ways of treating water (mix of boiling, chlorine tablets and those life straws), plans for managing human waste, medical kit etc. We have a camp fire that can be feed by wood, if we run out of propane and it also charges phones. Solar things for charging phones. I also add a solid backpack for speedy exits if the place floods. Has things like documentation, cash, change of clothes, hygiene stuff (deo, shampoo, body wash, toothpaste etc.) good shoes. Useful things if you are sent to a community hall for a few nights. I am based in London so this is less likely to happen but I am near the river. My earthquake training since I was 5 years old has me feeling very nervous if I don't have a "bug out" bag and also a "stay and play/survive" kit.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

This is all great advice! We bulk buy hygiene stuff already so tend to have it on hand.

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Due-Resort-2699@reddit

I always make a point of having extra tinned food, batteries , toilet rolls etc , just in case . Not prepping for some incoming apocalypse, but enough so as not to be caught short of something happens

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WhatsThePlanPhil95@reddit

When do we ever have extreme weather?

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

Summers are getting hotter than ever and we're having more strong storms

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GuybrushFunkwood@reddit

I have a waterproof box containing 4 vanilla scented tea lights, 47 tea bags and box of 5 porridge sachets. I wouldn’t say I’m a ‘prepper’ but I feel pretty secure.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

That tea to porridge ratio feels very English!!

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Warm-Reference-4965@reddit

I've got a tub of cheese footballs, a hexagon of Turkish delight and 12 small bottles of Buxton water. If that makes me a prepper then so be it

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Scowlin_Munkeh@reddit

Yep, I have a small and large set of solar panels with a small and large battery. Currently I charge the large battery at night on Octopus’s 7p per kwh tariff, and use it to power my home office during the day. The small battery I charge from solar and use it to charge my devices. Both will come in very handy during a power cut. I also installed two large rainwater butts in the garden - perfect for our small garden during summer. I have an emergency water treatment kit in the shed, which is good for a couple of weeks for a small family, which I would use on water from the butts if the mains goes off. I also have a few wind up torches, a wind up radio, and a first aid kit we keep topped up. We had a three month rolling stock of tinned and dried foods too, but we need to replenish that soon, as we have neglected it a bit, and eaten most of it.

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cgknight1@reddit

>We're getting solar panels installed with a battery so if the grid is down we'll still have some power. Most solar installs do not actually do this so make sure you are actually paying for this feature.

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Broken_Woman20@reddit

This is what I was going to say. We have solar panels and 19kWs of battery storage but when we had a power cut there was no way to access the battery power as there was no electricity to run the batteries 🤦‍♀️. OP you will love having solar and batteries and you’ll wonder how you lived without them. They are SO GOOD.

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yetanotherdave2@reddit

Many of them don't provide power to the whole house. Many of them do provide an EPS output where you can get power out. My Growatt system has this, though I had to ask the installer about it, it wasn't a feature they were promoting.

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harrietrosie@reddit (OP)

Yes we've specifically got one like this for this reason

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Fit_Permit8679@reddit

Nope I take it a day at a time

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Laylelo@reddit

I’ve got some huge tanks under my house that collect rain water and some water purification tablets in case they’re needed. I’d rather not use them for drinking but if it’s a genuine emergency they’re there. I’ve also got a solar powered portable battery, gas stoves and gas canisters, and quite a lot of food on hand. I’m not really thinking about it as prepping so much as stuff that makes life easier because it all has a double use - camping, watering the garden, etc.

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MomentoVivere88@reddit

I always have about 6 ltrs of bottled water in. My neighbouring town had 4 main burst water mains a few weeks back and 1/4 of the town had no water for days! I also make sure I have some simple food in, cans, noodles, etc. They have come in handy when we have been floored with illness as a house and can't leave. We had a power cut for 2 days last year due to a fallen pole. We were caught out by that and had to potter to my MIL for a couple of nights as we had a toddler that time so heating was impacted too. If it was pre-child then our torches, candles and battery candles would have sufficed.

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