Deep Thinker wrote:Agree that not a massive amount and were able to get two ,Trust me when it was flooding up here we were lucky to get a bucket. The plan is to get one of the ones which are industrial and the fire brigade use and need a converter as well.Will keep them all as although we have a deep sub basement with a wide access hatch not all folk have that so the smaller ones maybe handy . People were screaming out for them as they had water coming up under them and pumps are not something people tend to have so maybe able to help my neighbours out if it ever happened again. Thankyou for the screwfix contact as had not looked there yet.
Have you thought or sorted alternate power eg a generator for if the electric goes off?
If you go for a petrol pump go for a Honda engined unit and look into fuel stabiliser to protect the carb from corrosion due to bio ethanol that attracts moisture
Never thought of the generator right enough and makes absolute sense. The Honda pump looks great and shifts high volume,take it that they are durable and reliable for long term.?
heads up,just visited asda and found smartprice tinned new spuds 500g at 15 pence ! also all heinz soups/beans and sausages are on offer at 50 pence.missus not happy,filled cupboards to busting point !
Deep Thinker wrote:Well I have been on the site now for a few months and having just gone through the floods in the northeast of Scotland.Just saved my house from flooding (and I mean just) I would like to share a few reflections that may help folk as it has helped me.
1) The one statement that a number of preppers use is " Fail to prepare then prepare to fail".In our case we got through a lot of it by good luck and last minute prep ,not the way to do it . We have already been buying equipment including two water pumps ( 7000 litres an hour )and three hoses 30 meters long to reach the stream.
2) Community support, I have changed a bit on this as I was always Mr Independent ,We would not have managed up here without all of the community helping out .From folk helping sand bagging to digging trenches ,dropping in supplies to the worst affected ,people really stepped up to the plate. So however folk choose to Prep I would seriously review ones strategy if one chooses to go it alone.
3) Relying on the authorities , They did an amazing job however they were stretched beyond belief and do wonder how close we were to a civil emergency ,it was pretty clear to me that apart from life threat communities had to rally .So I will prep even more now.
4) Communication , Well again I have changed a bit on this as having not been an IT person I now see facebook for what it can be. It was used up here to coordinate and inform people and without it many people would have been in trouble . So never rule anything out I have discovered.
I hope this helps some folk and know that many will be far ahead of myself in terms of prepping ,however it has to be said that the learning from our forum is invaluable.
Deepthinker, thanks for this, the voice of experience is always useful. It sounds like your area got by by the skin of the teeth.
Hi Arzosah
Absolutely by the skin of our teeth and some folk will take many months to recover and we were lucky.In terms of additional Preps in place -
- As I said I have already bought pumps and flat hoses as well as more jubilee clips.
- I have had some really useful advice from others on the site and looking at a bigger pump and or a generator.The generator might be of use given a number of area's had their electric switched off due to safety concerns.
- Practical things really ,we all have rucksacks which were packed and ready to move out to relatives so ok with that.
- We will be landscaping to prevent water coming near the house and buying flood gates , this maybe overkill given this has never happened before but not getting caught out again.
- I also spent much of my time outside in the rain and cold so looking at some better water proof work jackets and trousers for better protection.
- In the longer term I have already contacted the council to see how they intend to respond to this and also wish to be involved so I have knowledge and influence hopefully to proactively prepare.
- Sure there will be more and will share as things go as well as seek info and knowledge from others on our site.
Regards
DP
Deep Thinker wrote:
- I also spent much of my time outside in the rain and cold so looking at some better water proof work jackets and trousers for better protection.
Look onto army surplus goretex jackets and trousers
Army cammo
RAF light blur (but no hood)
Navy dark blue almost black
New jackets start about £45 mark trousers £25 ish
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
Really like the Gortex ex forces stuff and keep looking ,I am a bit limited due to size as need xxl or xxxl and long length but prices are about right.
Cheers
DP
Deep Thinker wrote:Really like the Gortex ex forces stuff and keep looking ,I am a bit limited due to size as need xxl or xxxl and long length but prices are about right.
Cheers
DP
Scour any local car boot workware stalls there's a load of ARCO high is yellow goretex jackets in 2xl floating about ( I got 2)
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
