Burying your head in the sand???

[7 lives]

You are quite right the road infront of our home has always been suseptible to flooding.
However housing developments upstream plus ill thought out development within the village-on flood plains -has put the drainage system under too much strain -raised the water table resulting in our home now flooding following heavy rain.We have had raw sewage floating about!
Since then the farmers have been prodded by the environmental agency to maintain the ditches -we shall see what happens this winter.
In the meantime we shall hopefully have honed our preps and be in a better position.

[Decaff]

That sounds terrible! Fingers crossed for you that it doesn't happen this year, have you plans in place to get everything upstairs quickly if it does happen??

[Deeps]

Hi ,We experienced 2 flood close together ,the last one cut the village off from the outside roads.
I was very surprised at how quickly peoples attitudes changed-in a very short space of time there was resentment and anger within the village re the situation and who was to blame.Very few took responsibility for their own wellbieng-instead there was a sheep mentality of someone has to come and help us.Their was no violence other than some building of barricades ,stone throwing and verbal abuse at anyone with a 4 by 4 driving but it was a real eye opener.Based on this I would keep my mouth shut re any prepping I do.
Even close neighbours turn when their backs are up against the wall.

That must have been quite an experience, having been through it once (?) I guess if it happens again you'll see who's learned a lesson and who will still be tossing their arms in the air and looking for salvation. Once you can excuse I suppose but twice....

Good luck with it, the rapid deterioration to stone throwing envy sounds horrible, for me that would be the thing that would hack me off the most. Although I know that whole 'shitty' side of people is there, I've seen it often enough but it still saddens me when I see it.

[sniper 55]

Personally, I NEVER broach the topic with anyone. In the past I have tried, now I do not bother. Why? Firstly your 'target' will think you are a nutter. Full stop. Secondly, they ALWAYS say that if there is a problem , " we will come to your house".

In my neighbourhood I am the 'Practical Bloke' who has a garden/ animals/ fixes stuff/ chops logs etc. the extent of what I have is known only to my immediate family.

Yep I do exactly the same for the same reasons.

[katilea]

thing is... if theres no electric and you have a gas camping stove or wood burner which you have to use outside then won't neighbours smell food and come out and look if you're out there cooking your eggs and bacon and they have no food cos they didn't prepare or are the type that rather get it free then see if they can make it to the shop themselves for something?

I'd lived here 4 years by the time we had severe snow in 2010 all my neighbours know I have disabilities and would be unable to get my dog out in the snow,, we're usually out twice a day , every day... not one of them came round to see if I needed any help. The one person who did try and help me clear a path up my drive was disabled himself partially paralysed down one side and hardly spoke english but we managed to communicate and him and his grandson helped me clear a path (snow was about 6-8" thick on drive) to see if I could make it onto the road. Whilst other more able neighbours walked past! so no I wouldn't want to tell them I had food, lighting, an alternative cooking source as no-one helped me when I had run out.

However if I have to be outside to use a Kelly Kettle surely someone will see it or smell any food being cooked? Does it have to be outside or just in a well ventilated place? I wasn't sure how hot the base got but have seen some people on video having one stood on a wooden chopping board, so could it be used indoors if I was next to an open window so the steam from kettle was going out of the window? ...or doing it sat on wet room floor with base on a wooden chopping board and bathroom window open?

If you hadn't had food for days cos shops had run out and so had you, couldn't get bread etc then suddenly you can smell bacon frying next door, or a kettle whistling wouldn't you be tempted to go look? .. in the hope they might offer you some?

[jansman]

Please, please, please, DO NOT use a Kelly Kettle indoors under any circumstances. Nor a barbecue. There was a case I read of where a couple were camping. Their bbq had died ( they thought) and they pulled it into the tent to keep the rain off it. Some fumes were still coming off it though. The bloke died in his sleep, and his wife , who was further away, awoke very sick.

Even a window opened is not a proper flue. Also, the kettle is not called a volcano stove for nothing. It could burn your house down.

[Plymtom]

Please, please, please, DO NOT use a Kelly Kettle indoors under any circumstances. Nor a barbecue. There was a case I read of where a couple were camping. Their bbq had died ( they thought) and they pulled it into the tent to keep the rain off it. Some fumes were still coming off it though. The bloke died in his sleep, and his wife , who was further away, awoke very sick.

Even a window opened is not a proper flue. Also, the kettle is not called a volcano stove for nothing. It could burn your house down.

Seconded! Even excessive use of candles in a well insulated, draft proof modern home could be a Carbon Monoxide issue, and as for being rumbled as having by the have nots, by smell, light, sound of machinery/generators, sure could be a big issue, simply not appearing to be needing immediate help would be a sign when you think about it

[katilea]

My point was if they didn't bother even calling to check I was ok last time knowing I couldn't be able to get my wheelchair out of the drive to get to anyone else's doorway to ask for help, but then they all start coming when they smell bacon cooking (or anything really) and coming down the driveway '"oh have you got any spare bacon/bread?' etc I really don't see why I should have to when they never even checked to see if I was still alive last time or had enough food.

Of course I'd share it with my brother but considering he's more mobile and would have to have walked several miles in the snow to go to supermarket and then come here if they had nothing (assuming all roads were cut off and too deep for cars or many stranded) he'd at least be deserving of a hot drink or meal!

[Deeps]

My point was if they didn't bother even calling to check I was ok last time knowing I couldn't be able to get my wheelchair out of the drive to get to anyone else's doorway to ask for help, but then they all start coming when they smell bacon cooking (or anything really) and coming down the driveway '"oh have you got any spare bacon/bread?' etc I really don't see why I should have to when they never even checked to see if I was still alive last time or had enough food.

Of course I'd share it with my brother but considering he's more mobile and would have to have walked several miles in the snow to go to supermarket and then come here if they had nothing (assuming all roads were cut off and too deep for cars or many stranded) he'd at least be deserving of a hot drink or meal!

Bearing in mind we're very much dealing with hypothetical situations, you're absolutely right that they wouldn't 'deserve' anything from you, even if they were the best neighbours in the world and cleared your drive, walked your dogs for you every day, gave you stuff from their garden or whatever, if you decided you didn't want to share with them that's up to you. It would make you a bit of a crappy human being but you wouldn't be obligated to share. Now lets remove fairness from the equation, you're sat in your house eating your bacon butties, I'm next door with a couple of hungry kids (and a wife moaning that its all my fault), where do you think I'm going to get some food ? It wouldn't be right or fair for me to steal your stuff but you have to accept that the potential will be there. Hunger will drive people to extreme behaviour, to do things they wouldn't normally do, its something we would all have to consider.

[katilea]

My point was if they didn't bother even calling to check I was ok last time knowing I couldn't be able to get my wheelchair out of the drive to get to anyone else's doorway to ask for help, but then they all start coming when they smell bacon cooking (or anything really) and coming down the driveway '"oh have you got any spare bacon/bread?' etc I really don't see why I should have to when they never even checked to see if I was still alive last time or had enough food.

Of course I'd share it with my brother but considering he's more mobile and would have to have walked several miles in the snow to go to supermarket and then come here if they had nothing (assuming all roads were cut off and too deep for cars or many stranded) he'd at least be deserving of a hot drink or meal!

Bearing in mind we're very much dealing with hypothetical situations, you're absolutely right that they wouldn't 'deserve' anything from you, even if they were the best neighbours in the world and cleared your drive, walked your dogs for you every day, gave you stuff from their garden or whatever, if you decided you didn't want to share with them that's up to you. It would make you a bit of a crappy human being but you wouldn't be obligated to share. Now lets remove fairness from the equation, you're sat in your house eating your bacon butties, I'm next door with a couple of hungry kids (and a wife moaning that its all my fault), where do you think I'm going to get some food ? It wouldn't be right or fair for me to steal your stuff but you have to accept that the potential will be there. Hunger will drive people to extreme behaviour, to do things they wouldn't normally do, its something we would all have to consider.

For me it wasn't just an 'Hypothetical situation'.. I really was completely snowed in for 2 weeks solid, my food delivery cancelled and I hadn't stocked up on much spare as I took it for granted I could always get to the shop. (We'd never had such severe snow here for years and I was fully mobile the last time) There's an Asda down the road fully accessible but between me and main road was 8" of thick snow, a road covered with ice and no chance of a gritter coming my way! ..and it seems no neighbours thinking to come my way either just to knock on the door and say 'do you need me to fetch you any milk' or something.

When I was growing up in a small yorkshire village back in the 70's when we did get several inches of snow in time for xmas, we looked after the elderly or disabled neighbours. My mum would make casseroles and send us round to the their door with it so they had something hot to eat. Seems they don't share that motto here! (where I live now).

I'm in social housing and one of two specially built wheelchair bungalows. when previous neighbour moved out, my HA has moved a family with kids in, none of who are disabled. A family who could have lived in any property leaving that specialised bungalow for someone who could only manage in an adapted one. It seems already priority is going to those who can pay the rent without needing HB, cos then HA doesn't have to worry about the Bedroom Tax rules! As they've never even said hello even when they were in garden at same time as me, I wouldn't be expecting them to come round if they smelt food considering they can all walk to the shops! ..even in snow!

Now my older neighbour on the other side I really don't mind sharing with, our main problem would be me getting food from my door to hers as she can barely walk either and certainly wouldn't make it down my drive with her walking stick if it was snowing and icy. so Unless we could find an honest able neighbour willing to carry food from my door to hers without running off with it for themselves, we're stuck! It's not about being mean. It's knowing that for certain people round here they didn't help me when they were able to and I was stuck. Some things you never forget!

And if I'd had a neighbour THAT good (as you mentioned) I'd definitely share with them!


Also with that in mind and fact I'd struggle to sit outside in freezing temps long and be unable to get warmed up again inside if no gas/electric ... would I be better with one of these little camping gaz bistro stoves?

https://www.campingaz.com/uk/p-26404-bistro-300.aspx

can these be used indoors on kitchen worktop? or next to an open window (as I'm assuming the extractor fan in kitchen or bathroom wouldn't work either if no electric) There'd be no fire as such only the little flame under the pan which if you had a gas hob/cooker you have inside your house anyway?

Many years ago as a child, when I went camping with my parents the gas cooker was behind the front seat of the camper van so technically 'inside' and before that it was a huge family tent we had..sure the camping gas stove was inside with a little freezer that also ran off camping gaz.

My main worry is as I'd only be using mine in an emergency situation any gas cylinders I got for it may not necessarily all get used at all or only part used. after all I can't predict whether whether electric may only go off 4 hours, 4 days, not at all this winter?? For me to be able to access the gas cartridges they'd have to be somewhere I could physically could to them incase they were needed . eg they'd be no use in shed if I awoke to find deep snow and no electric as I wouldn't physically be able to get out to the shed to get them to bring them in to use it....if you see my dilemma?

Thats why I thought the Kelly Kettle maybe safer no gas to store? but didn't think of the smoke aspect and only being able to use it outdoors when temps were minus degrees and me having to be outside to use it, waiting until its heated my water/cooked my soup or whatever, then having no heating back inside to help me warm up again. (I have arthritis in hands they go blue and swell up in freezing temps especially if I'm having to sit out in it for prolonged periods.. I can't actually just jump up and down doing a a few star jumps while I'm waiting for it to boil..lol!