Scots are being urged to stockpile five essential items this week amid wild weather and closed shops. Scotland has been at the mercy of the elements since the weekend.
The Met Office has issued yellow and amber weather warnings for large swathes of the country across the Hogmanay period as a result.
Severe weather is spelling trouble for rail lines – with some already shut down – and with snow moving in and more than 30 flood warnings issued, many of us should prepare a white, windy, or wet New Year ahead.
Households are being urged to stockpile essential items at home to help cope with possible travel disruption, power cuts and damage to their homes, reports the Express.
Energy firm British Gas, in its advice on dealing with power cuts, says customers should stockpile these five items. First up, torches. A battery-powered or even kinetic (ie wind-up) torch is extremely useful in any possible power cut situation.
Spare batteries, both AA and AAA and whatever your torch takes, will also come in handy. British Gas also recommends having a back-up phone charger, like a battery pack with cable, on hand.
They added: “You might even consider a battery-powered radio, to keep on top of local updates if you can’t use your mobile.”
And it’s wise to have a store of essential foods that don’t require electricity to prepare. If you’ve got a gas hob, you’re in luck – you can whip up soups, tinned meats, and tinned potatoes, or even porridge. But for those without power, stock up on no-prep-needed items such as tinned rice pudding, breakfast cereals, bars, nuts and seeds, and chocolate.
And in the event of a power cut, dial 105 to report the issue.
New Year is a bank holiday so retailers might be closing earlier on Hogmanay. Folks who need to plan their shopping journey can make use of the Record’s handy guide on when all the major supermarkets and retailers will be open over the New Year period.
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