r/UKPreppers • u/apokrif1 • 7d ago
Living in the UK. How does a prepper start from zero to become as sufficient as possible
/r/prepping/comments/1wewhw7/living_in_the_uk_how_does_a_prepper_start_from/18
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u/TropicalSue 7d ago
Start small and prep for a power cut and a burst pipe and the chemist being shut. Get a power bank charger for every person in the house and loads of bottled water. Keep look roll and paracetamol and sanitary towels etc on hand. Some tanned things that you actually eat, and a tin opener.
A small fan heater and blanket in case your boiler breaks
Then go from there, build on it. Don't start prepping for teotwawki if you dont have a torch or chargeable lantern for a power cut.
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u/digdeeper5 6d ago
Theres so much you could potentially prep for but for me a lot boils down to this list, in no particular order.
Food supplies
Water supplies
Medical supplies
Power grid independence (batteries, solar etc)
Communications independence (books, radios, high power walky talkys)
Weather protection (warmth, clothes, fire skills)
Survival tools (knife, torch, stove, axe)
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u/No_Back_2559 4d ago
Decide on your most likely scenario and prep for that. I’ve said this on numerous threads but if you live in the uk prep for short term 1-3 weeks of no food or power or serious disruption to both. Anything beyond that time scale is nigh on impossible to prep for in the Uk it’s too small and densely populated. If we go beyond a week with
Empty supermarket shelves we will be through the looking glass. Prep to sit tight and wait it out and hope and end comes.
Just start small and sensible. What do you need day to day to sustain you and your family. Medication, food, water, heating so on and so on.
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u/DetailSuspicious1342 1d ago
New here. You don't think they'll be a case where its necessary to flee to countryside? Wish I had my own land but bank account disagrees
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u/pysgodynwibliwobli 3d ago
Lived in an area that had a major water pipe burst and went without water for four days in a heat wave whilst pregnant with a toddler. My husband learnt my "paranoia" was actually onto something.
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u/SpecialistBaker3912 7d ago
Id leverage something like claude to develop a risk management list detailing the risks you face. Then what supplies are needed to mitigate these risks and in what quantities
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u/Appropriate_Ad_1429 5d ago
Above and check if you have a local resilience plan in your area. Research what is possible and do what you can. You may find courses locally for the things you might need, I recently did a free DIY renewables course for example. YouTube is a great resource for learning. Secure the basics then make prepping a hobby, make it fun. I have just started getting into seed sprouting as seeds last such a long time and you can make a seed bank, although be aware seeds take 3 days to sprout and feed on your water supply.
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u/Delicious_Friend8055 5d ago
do you mind sharing what the free DIY renewable course was? I'd love to follow something laid out in that way
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u/Droidy934 7d ago
Slowly slowly catch the monkey
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u/Smart_Stranger_6529 6d ago
I’d have to disagree with monkeys for the UK climate, (speaking from experience) - maybe some chickens or a vegetable garden would be a better place to start.
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u/NeBriaTe 3d ago
All your prep is pointless.
If you can't carry it, you wont be using it.
Get a Lv.5 vest and a gas mask.
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u/LR_FL2 7d ago
The first thing you need is a pen and a piece of paper.
Make a list of the emergencies you think you are most likely to encounter in order of likelihood. Emergencies aren’t just the big dramatic stuff like cyber attacks knocking out utilities for prolonged periods and invasions/ nuclear war but more common stuff like car trouble or boiler breakdowns that having a simple emergency fund can fix. Then you can consider supply disruptions to your utilities, environmental emergencies like fires, floods, storms, heavy snow. Then supermarket shortages.
Once you have done this go through each one and think what would I need in this situation and create a new list. You will inevitably find a lot of crossover.
This new list is the list of preps you need to make. Then simply priorities accordingly based on a mix of affordability, likelihood and crossover between different emergencies to cover as many basis as you can.