Preparedness for when

missrlr

Document storage, I have to get a grip on this one and make the time to scan the photos and so on onto memory sticks, plus all important stuff and make copies. We have an awful lot online now, but by no means is this complete. I do need to get the photos and so on in a safe place.
DS has a stream at the bottom of her garden with a hefty field beyond it and the landowner didn't clear it this year, so there is an awful lot of leaves and other rubbish collecting in it. She is worried about the thing overflowing as it has been raining a tad hard where she is. Her garden is like a swamp. Of course now the field is so boggy they can't get the tractor in to dig the ditch ..... prior planning and preparation and all that!

D&DD

Re the document storage I know a lot of american preppers seal theirs in foodsaver bags so they are waterproof etc I know not everyone has one but some of the old stylers here do so may be of use to some.*wondering if a laminator would help otherwise*? ETA please see note from Grandma re important documents!

I've been working on an evac plan for a while now after reading a really great idea on a site,I think it may have been Survivalmom but not sure..
It suggested having a plan based around times e.g

5 minutes warning
1 hour warning
24 hours

Obviously the longer you have the better but it helps to prioritise and have a list handy to reduce panic.

fuddle

What I'm realising, and more because of the floods, is that we have to take our lot. I don't know whether I believe in fate or bad luck but I have just come to realise that I am a mere mortal. I'm not going to stock any more than my healthily stocked kitchen cupboards. I'm not going to have any more than an item spare of toiletries or cleaning stuff. Seeing the picture of the lady wading chest deep to the RNLI rescue boat the other day has also made me realise that what good would BOB do her. Every thing would be drenched.

I'm having a radical rethink about prepping and what to contain in my family's emergency evac bag. I still think it's important but needs to be very minimal and everything inside needs to be waterproofed. That's my thinking anyway as flood risk will soon be my biggest risk.

mardatha

We all prep for our individual circs pet. If flooding is your main danger then prep with that in mind. But also be ready for other things like power cuts or strikes.

westlothianlass

Hi all
Boy is it frosty today. The chick's water was frozen over today and my brussel sprouts look all festive in the garden:D.
Ive been a bit poorly this week, think i've over done it and my immune system is telling me to pay attention, so attention duly taken and ive had a couple of days off with a hot water bottle and some hot lemon (home made of course:rotfl:).
What has been lovely is not having to stress about what we have in the house as the "stash" of goodies has lasted pretty well. Though a mild panic may now ensue as the last of the chocolate was eaten last night and we are down to the last pack of toilet roll:eek: so may have to venture out later.
I have an admission to make, I have a new found love (OH knows tho:D), I have discovered that the frontier stove i covet has a water heater attachment, oh the joy of imagining lots of cups of tea.
http://www.ronniesunshines.com/bushcraft-camping/cooking/stoves-burners/frontier-stove-water-heater.html (never done link so no idea if it will work)
So the penny jar now has a new focus.
Keep warm and safe all
WLL x

fuddle

I will Mar, I'll always have full cupboards, bursting even and plenty of food, tins for easy heating, heck even scoffing cold if it comes to it, yeast and flour for bread making, dried milk powder, candles, winter car box, plenty of blankets etc but I'm just relaxing with it now. I see myself as just being sensible now and not letting myself getting carried away with food hoarding. I've come to realise that my food hoarding behaviour was feeding my psychological need to be in control but that was eating me up also.

I'm fed up of being wound up so tightly about what might happen, sat on the PC day after day talking about what might happen that I'm not at all enjoying my here and now. I need to relax and remove myself away from misery and doubt. Just something I have to do for me. It's a good thing You've all taught me so much and now I can just be aware and do things sensibly. Thanks Mar

pineapple

mardatha wrote: »

We all prep for our individual circs pet. If flooding is your main danger then prep with that in mind. But also be ready for other things like power cuts or strikes.

Prioritising is what I struggle with. Because you can't prepare for everything and you could go on forever. What use your preps if your house collapses on them? There again you might just get run over by a bus anyway... :rotfl:
So my priorities are 'emergency' plus longer term in respect of price rises and temporary shortages.
So far I've just looked at longer term. When I saw that coffee and cotton harvests were poor, I stocked up on ground coffee and even on cotton wool face cleansing pads and 'saved' a fortune! Plus I have replaced standard cleaning lotions with bulk purchase of bicarb and white vinegar etc etc. And I have enough basic food for a few months.
But I need to get going on the short term because being evacuated or losing stuff on account of things like gas explosion, flooding etc is probably the most likely scenario. So I need back ups of documents and a grab and go bag.

But please everyone check out episode 273 of the Keiser Report
http://rt.com/programs/keiser-report/
He is forecasting a devaluation of 25% after the new Governor of the Bank of England starts next year.
I've been putting off buying stuff - like a pressure cooker - on account of the expense but if this is going to happen - I'm thinking I might as well just spend spend spend - particularly if it will ultimately save me money.

grandma247

Just a word of warning about laminating. Do not laminate birth or marriage certificates or any other similar documents or they will not be accepted as proof of identity. I know an American who lives here that did that and now he has to get a new birth certificate.

meme30

Misser:- Your poor DS, very much at the mercy of someone else's poor planning! :mad:

WLL:_ Loving the 'festive sprouts' :rotfl: I've seen that stove before, I just realised someone on our caravan site has it.:)

Pineapple:- Yes I think this new Governor of the Bank of England is going to be a worry. A 'new broom' seeing to be doing something and all that! I'm really concerned about interest rates, because if you think prices are high now they are going to be shocking when interest rates start to move again.

Fuddle:- Just do what works for you and your family. You must be up to your eyes with your packing at the moment. Get moved, have a lovely Christmas in your new house and in the New Year take a big breath and a step back. You have so much going on just now, it will all look so much simpler in a few weeks.

D&DD

Yikes thanks Grandma have edited my post to note this

I've just emptied my £1/£2 coin jar to add to the emergency fund as the pots now full and I have £158 in there :j
I started it after xmas last year and just threw the odd coin in when I remembered it but chuffed to bits with that.