Preparedness for when

boultdj

I'd go home and fill bottle's and pan's with water before it went off and get the blanket's and quilt's in one room and get everyone to cuddle up together and get out my wind up radio to see if there is any transmision's.

luxor4t

I don't have a baby and keep fairly good stocks of tins and packets.
As I have candles and a terracotta flower pot so I can heat a small room effectively, and light it.
I'd put on extra layers of clothing and bring the bedding downstairs.
I've got a wind up torch and radio.
I would draw water while i still could.
The mop bucket outside would become a temporary loo.

DH knows where the camping stove is - and is able to open the garage to get it. I can't but could manage for several days on items that don't need heating up that are in the cupboard.

mardatha

Boultd -what would you do with the bottles and pans full of water? Also if the National Grid went down then there wouldnt be any news at all... ok so I'm a drama queen but there wouldn't be eh?
How would you all feed the baby ? The kids?
What if one of them is getting sleepy and disinterested in things?
What if they need the toilet - can they see to go ?

Rummer

Over the years we have faced many domestic disasters although not all at the one time

Twice we have gone through long winters without central heating and have electric heaters and oodles of thermals and blankets in just incase. Also an electric shower was invaluable when the boiler died. We also have hand warmers and a camping stove.

The kitchen is packed with store cupboard essentials including extra medication and food as well as plenty of animal food and bedding. There is an emergency box in the car that has everything needed to survive a few days stranded in the snow. We also have a snow shovel and wellies/snow boots and before the winter we will stock up on salt.

Hand operated torches are in each room and there are matches and candles in the emergency drawer. To keep us entertained we have plenty of books, games and crafty items that require only candle light and no electricity.

Communication would be a concern however all our family are within walking distance (even in severe weather) and all have a sensible store cupboard and supplies to see them through for a period of time. I guess we would all head to our respective homes and hole up there.

Money wise we do not really keep any in the house but there is a small amount that would cover food and travel emergencies if the banks went down but only for a very short time!

However I always learn new tips from threads like these so I will be reading with interest!

Popperwell

Well, I'd lose the food in the fridge freezer but fall back on my store cupboard of which much can be eaten cold or simple meals like the old standby's like soup and baked beans etc...which can be eaten cold but having a camping stove I could do quick and simple. And I have tinned fruit etc...J

Jam, marmalade, honey and my bread hopefully would not go off for a few days...cereal and long life milk, powdered milk, plenty of tea/coffee, squashes, bottled water, booze. Crisps, biscuits, chocolate...If the electric stayed on I could do more as my house nearly all eectric. To keep warm I could put thermals on and lots of jumpers etc...Fill flasks with soup and/or water...

Would need a solar powered/wind up radio but at a push I could use batteries sparingly in an ordinary radio...

Have tealights and candles, wind up torch must try and get some laterns, there are some that you wind up but others accept tea lights...

I'd keep a low profile too.

zaxdog

Similar situation here last year the power was out for four days and the ferries were cancelled because of the storms so no food delivered to the local shop.

Thankfully we have an open fire in the front room and two huge sofas so OH and I with two cats and a dog got settled in. We keep a "power cut box" which has: candles, torches and batteries and an assortment of add hot water type foods. OH made us most meals on a cast iron frying pan over the fire and I rigged up a sort of Dutch oven with the tempura pan :j

The really bad bit was that our water and loo are reliant on an electric pump :eek: Got water from a neighbour who is on mains and used the holiday home next door's loo!

elona

I have a gas hob and oven but not sure if they work without electric ignition.

I had solar lights but DH nicked them for the garden then accidentally ran over them. I do have tealights, candles, disposable lighters and matches, food in cupboard etc.

DH convinced I had lost the plot when I wanted some big bottles of water for emergencies but changed his mind when neighbour shut off his water supply (and ours as it is shared) . Poured bottled water into kettle and we were able to have cups of tea etc. We had no idea water access was shared and no advance notice that there would be no water.

Something like the rolling blackouts would not be so bad as you would know when supply was out and could look out torches, candles , radio, boil kettle, fill flasks, make hot water bottles, cook and put food in food flasks etc. A laptop that was charged could provide info, entertainment and latest news.

rachbc

I'd grad the bag of candles and tourchs from the understairs, light up the lounge with them then pop to the shed for the camping stove and some coal. I'd light the fire in the lounge then cook up some of our stores from the cellar on the camping stove.

Then I'd pop over to the neighbours and ask if they were ok/ wanted to join us/ needed anything.

Northern_Lassy

Fantastic idea for a thread, really thought provoking stuff. I have started to build up an armageddon cupboard (DH thinks I'm a lunatic)...but had given no thought as to how I would actually cook the food (let alone heat / provide lighting for the house!) Looking forward to gleaning tips from this this thread, thanks in advance x

hunnisbunnis

yes im in a like situation, what have i do just in case

all electric house, im housebound anyway due to several illnesses

already have:

wind up lantern - will give me light

spare duvets - will give me heat

camping cookware/bbq/charcoal/gas camping stove. spare gas canisters,

fill bath beofre water goies out so can flush toilet - use the water rule - if its yellow etc

curtains drawn, doors locked

bring out the baord games by candlelight

powedered milk in store cupbaord - make with bottled water - also keep a few in store cupbaord

can live on pot noodles for a few days

check on elderly neigbour

put batteries in 2 way radio and if neightbour doesnt want to come round, keep her company

after all this i put my head down under a duvet and tru to sleep as much as possible