Prepping for food shortages

[Profpointy]

One of the places I worked had a fitted kitchen complete with microwaves & dishwasher and there were at least three showers. Milk, fruit and biscuits were delivered a couple of times a week. We all had key fob access at anytime of day or night. I wouldn't have been at all surprised if someone had decided to stay there overnight - or even for a few days

There was a lovely Dilbert cartoon where he returns to a meeting room to find someone dressed in post it notes who lived in the office and survived on left over sandwiches from meetings

 

[Pblakeney]

Did you read about the couple who live in Bonnybank who sued the local distillery claiming the Angel share fumes were causing a fungus in their house.

They lost.

 

[Pblakeney]

I remember the blackouts of the 70s so always maintain a supply of candles, matches, torches, batteries, and tinned products. Also have plenty of flasks and water bottles which can be used should the water supply be threatened. Better to have and not need than need and not have.

 

[Tenkaykev]

We'll be fine, I have an Anker Solix power station which we can use to keep the fridge going if the power cut lasts some time, and loads of camping cookers (and a plentiful supply of gas).

We are actually actively reducing what's in the freezer, why, so we can meal plan easier for the week. We've started meal planning for the week, so the family know what is being eaten/what's got to come out of the freezer.

I was sorely tempted when I signed up to the early access deals. They were doing a deal with the Anker unit, add on 5kWh battery and 8 solar panels. It wouldn't make sense financially as we already have enough generation/ storage that we export more than we import ( it's nice to have a negative " bill " ). On the other hand you're buying a bit of self sufficiency and peace of mind ( plus for every kWh self generated that's another kWh the country doesn't need to import from despots )!

 

[Alex321]

Given the ‘Terms and Conditions’ customers have to read and agree to, I’m bloody sure every last line of code should be guaranteed.

That will never happen. It would make anything with software involved insanely expensive (you would be paying MANY thousands of pounds for each copy of Windows for instance), and you still wouldn't actually get that.

 

[Alex321]

We've got solar and battery. The battery automatically cuts in if the grid drops out, and back in when it comes back. Hopefully the battery will see us ok overnight. The panels generate even in cloudy conditions so should be able to bimble along🤞

I wish now we had done that, although power cuts ahve been few and short in the last few years, so it really hasn't mattered. But I would still rather have our system able to cutover if the grid fails.

 

[Alex321]

Your hospital might have a big generator, but if you have a power outage then presumably you have to disconnect from the grid to switch in the power generator. Otherwise your power generator would try to power the whole district and maybe zap anyone trying to fix the outage.

Yes, but that disconnect takes a fraction of a second, and happens quicker than the generator can power up.

 

[SteveH80]

A good chunk of the South West is without power today due to the storm, and the North is going to get hammered tomorrow.
I've got absolute confidence in Northern PowerGrid (although not in the direction they would like) so this morning I serviced the generator and did a 30 minute run test.
All was fine till the wife decided to use the microwave and the toaster at the same time, 1.6Kw only goes so far 😆

 

[fossyant]

Well BBC has mentioned about stockpiling and Andy B has been interviewed. Expect empty shelves of loo role tomorrow.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

A good chunk of the South West is without power today due to the storm, and the North is going to get hammered tomorrow.

I don't know about the causes in SW but in the here in my locality in the East a major cause of power cuts is that the trees are no longer cut back from the power lines.

In my village one hopuse planted a line of Eucalyptus that crossed under the 11 kV supply to the village. They grew and the power lines didn't move. In winter we get sparks and burning bits of tree falling clearly visible after dark. Company contracted with cutting back book a date then don't turn-up, book another date then cry-off, book another date then decide they haven't warned the school about cutting power, etc., etc. Basically lack of infrastructure maintenance (... now where have I heard that before?).

 

[Binky]

Well BBC has mentioned about stockpiling and Andy B has been interviewed. Expect empty shelves of loo role tomorrow.

That's exactly what I thought when I saw the news, it'll spark panic buying among some.

 

[Kingfisher101]

load of rubbish as per usual.

 

[Yellow Fang]

I am considering getting a water butt. Partly this is because I have a drainpipe that just directs rainwater to the front garden. Might as well save it in case I ever develop an interest in gardening. I don't know about drinking from water butts, but I could use the water in toilets.

I have considered growing barley and hops in the garden so that I am self sufficient in beer.

 

[Jameshow]

We've got solar and battery. The battery automatically cuts in if the grid drops out, and back in when it comes back. Hopefully the battery will see us ok overnight. The panels generate even in cloudy conditions so should be able to bimble along🤞

I've got a generator with dodgy carb! Not sure where the fly lead is!🤔

 

[Punkawallah]

Sure you can have that, or close to it ... providing you are willing to pay aerospace / nuclear industry prices - maybe 10x or even 100x the cost

“You don’t really think they pay $100 for a hammer, do you?”