Despite vast amounts of evidence pointing to a very real change in our climate, and the increase of extreme weather events, it seems that people generally like not to think of any of it as being part of some sort of pattern, and instead to put these events down to being ‘one in a hundred year’ type occurences. Have you asked yourself the question “What if they aren’t one in a hundred year events? What if they are one in five events? What if they happen every other year?”

Ask yourself this. What would happen if you had no electricity for a day? Not so bad. Two days? A week, or more? It is only when the power supply stops flowing that the majority of people give any consideration to just how reliant they have become on it.  Mains electricity has become a ‘right’, and we rely on someone to keep it flowing. Someone else. So how would you do?

Now ask what would happen if the power didn’t just stop flowing to you, but to the utilities that supply you. That mains water doesn’t just fall down the pipe – it needs pumps. Need petrol, or chilled food? Guess what.

For almost all of our existence as a species, we have been more self reliant and able to cope with disaster. Even a generation ago, a week long power cut might not have been the hardship that it would be for most people now.

Stockpiling is for doom mongers and end of the world conspiracy theorists, right? Wrong. We’re not talking about a vast underground bunker full of tins, but consider keeping at least a basic stock of tinned and dry foods that will last a month. Turn the supply over every so often so that it doesn’t become too old. Keep some bottles of water tucked away.

A wind up radio and torch will be very handy in the event of a power cut, and safer than candles, although there is a lot to be said for reaquainting ourselves with controlled fire in the home.

If you want to go further, consider some renewable energy generation that has a battery storage component, giving you from several hours, to unlimited useage depending on how you choose to live.

Your flushing loo is dependent on a working power grid for water supply, and uses huge amounts of fresh water, so a composting loo is a possibility.

Condensing boiler? Very efficient, and cheap to run but reliant on electricity to work, even if the gas is there.  Consider a woodburning stove with room on top to fit a pot or kettle, at least you’ll be warm and can cook. A back boiler will give you hot water at the same time. Primitive but reliable. More sophisicated but often reliant on a mains powered circulation pump are solar thermal panels so don’t fall into the trap of assuming that their presence guarantees you warm or hot water in all circumstances.

If you live in a rural area, wells are very common – until comparatively recently every home had access to a well or spring for their water supply.  Often marked on older maps but now invisible on the ground, a clean water supply can be a godsend. Alternatively consider rainwater capture and storage.

Of course not all these measures are suitable for everyone, but it is becoming increasingly important to think about how we would cope in the event of a grid failure – whether caused by weather event or lack of supply, and plan accordingly.