72 hours survival kit vs modern times

[Bijela]

Sorry, couldn't think of a better subject title.

So, maybe back when there was more fireplaces and people had a veggie patch at the end of the garden. 72 hours backup was possible. But, today ? I think it was Sky news said about having survival kit if Russia cutting the gas and the power fails. I'm thinking that if that was the case then nothing works in the house. Heating, fridge and possibly the water supply. On top of that working in a store. I know that it would close as tills and the card payment system would go down as it does when we get a powercut. The emergency lighting only lasts up to around 2 hours. I see people pretty much every day shopping for that days food. I just not convinced that the numbers of reserve stored in houses could compensate those who don't. Plus, from feedback from others, our store is not the only one running low on backstock. (The stuff not on the shopfloor). I'm counting the products and the system isn't sending more in.

So, what's your thoughts ??

[jennyjj01]

Sorry, couldn't think of a better subject title.

So, maybe back when there was more fireplaces and people had a veggie patch at the end of the garden. 72 hours backup was possible. But, today ? I think it was Sky news said about having survival kit if Russia cutting the gas and the power fails. I'm thinking that if that was the case then nothing works in the house. Heating, fridge and possibly the water supply. On top of that working in a store. I know that it would close as tills and the card payment system would go down as it does when we get a powercut. The emergency lighting only lasts up to around 2 hours. I see people pretty much every day shopping for that days food. I just not convinced that the numbers of reserve stored in houses could compensate those who don't. Plus, from feedback from others, our store is not the only one running low on backstock. (The stuff not on the shopfloor). I'm counting the products and the system isn't sending more in.

So, what's your thoughts ??

Thanks for your viewpoint from within retail.
It's hard to imagine the level of panic buying that would actually empty a store, whether a corner shop or a massive supermarket. But as you noted, loss of power could be enough to see them hastily locking the doors in
a cascade.
But a small nuke on the UK, or similar, could see masses of folk descending violently on all stores. That's where our 72 hours domestic reserve might buy some time. Keep us out of the queues. But I'm of the opinion that 72 hours is an absurdly low buffer for my home. More like 72 days or weeks.

I bet there are very few of us here that shop daily and store no food, but we know they are indeed out there. Some can't even boil an egg. Some have no spare time, or money and some have no storage space. I guess the government falls into those categories.

There will be homes with some food and homes with s0d all. Don't expect too much by way of communities sharing their stuff.

[Bijela]

Th anks for your viewpoint from within retail.
It's hard to imagine the level of panic buying that would actually empty a store, whether a corner shop or a massive supermarket.

Just remember toilet roll and pasta during covid. There was no disruption other than hoarding.

I wish I could show you how empty it was like at 4am this morning. You have to remember that shops use "just in time" delivery's. So, the idea is that expecially with fresh/chilled items you don't have much more that that days expected sales.

It can cascade fast. When for example milk fails to be delivered,.Then once the first product is out of stock. For example someone wanted 4 pint whole milk and is out of stock. Then you gwt what is a victim line. This is when people buy 2x 2 pint and make it run out faster.

Other classic joke at work is when there is a little snow all the bread, milk, eggs etc disappears.

[GillyBee]

I think 72 hours/3 days is considered a bare minimum. In other words."No help at all will reach you in the 1st 3 days". I suspect most governments would rather ask for 2 weeks or even 28 days supply but know that too many people will struggle to get 3 days supplies together to push to ask them for anything more unless things get much more frightening.

[jennyjj01]

I think 72 hours/3 days is considered a bare minimum. In other words."No help at all will reach you in the 1st 3 days". I suspect most governments would rather ask for 2 weeks or even 28 days supply but know that too many people will struggle to get 3 days supplies together to push to ask them for anything more unless things get much more frightening.

I recall maybe incorrectly. that at the start of the invasion of Ukraine, their government suggested two weeks worth of food and water. There were YT videos and vlogs where apartment dwellers panned over and showed their two week rations pile.
72 Hours is not going to dodge much of a crisis.

[pseudonym]

It's to keep you inside, where they hope the radiation will kill you. Makes it easier to clean up.

[Yorkshire Andy]

There is this bouncing about the internet..

https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/04/06/h ... rgy-risks/

Interesting how close we came to power cuts in January.....

[Frnc]

I think most preppers try to keep enough food and water for a month or two. It depends on how much space you have. Personally I don't see the point in keeping much more. If the government and businesses can't provide the basics for longer than that, we're probably all doomed.

[timmyt79]

72 hours might’ve made sense decades ago, but now? Feels optimistic. Especially with how reliant we are on tech and daily convenience.

I’d say having even a basic emergency setup, some bottled water, canned goods, battery-powered lights, is just common sense these days. It’s not fear-mongering, it’s just being realistic

[Bijela]

If the government and businesses can't provide the basics for longer than that, we're probably all doomed.

Depends on if you think all countries are the same as ours. I think as some EU countries have/had conscription. They may well be more able to mobilze the people and get basics up and functional. Plus, for example most of my wifes family in Croatia have a water pump in the garden even in the new builds. Fruit trees in the garden. Maybe it's because of the war in the 90's has kept more of a self reliance in mind.