Preparing for disaster - 'it's a way of life'

A self-confessed "prepper" who stockpiles food and supplies in case of disaster, says people who mocked him just two years ago are now appreciating what he does, after government advice to stock around three days worth of food and water.

Dad-of-two Mike Chappell, from Burnley, Lancashire, has food, water and non-mains energy sources to last him and his family for 90 days in case of a disaster.

He said the government's advice was "a good starting point" but he would recommend no less than 30 days' supply.

The government issued advice on 22 October in a bid to encourage people in the UK to stock up in case of a national emergency.

Chappell said while he had previously been labelled "a nutter" by some, "now it's completely different" after "headline after headline about [issues such as] oil, food, drought".

He said it was now "much more approachable" to talk to people about the subject of prepping.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said that people should stockpile goods to prepare for an emergency such as a cyber attack or an extreme weather event.

On 22 October, he said that people should ensure they have three litres of water per person per day; tinned goods in the cupboard; baby food; battery powered torches and mobile phone charging packs.

Chappell's said on his YouTube channel: "In a world of uncertainty, being prepared for various scenarios is not just a hobby; it's a responsible way of life."

He said he actually had 90 days worth of food and water but admitted this was "excessive" and was only due to him running a YouTube prepping channel.

Chappell, who now lives in Greater Manchester, has a pantry beneath the stairs of his home and stocks up on food that he and his family already eat, including canned foods such as mac and cheese, which his children like, sausages and beans, as well as rice and pasta.

"It's stuff that we cycle through all the time," he said.

Chappell said his family has bottled water as well as water filters and, in addition to a radio, he has an emergency radio which can be used to communicate with other people who also have the device.

He also has solar panels and power banks for charging devices. He also ensured his two children's electronic tablets could be pre-loaded with games and kept charged.

"Kids get bored very quickly and throwing them a copy of Harry Potter doesn't cut it these days," he said.

This was all "sensible prepping" when there were people in some parts of the UK who were without power for periods of time, he added.

Chappell said some people felt the government's advice to stock up was "somebody else's problem" but he urged them to follow this guidance, adding "I won't take that gamble with my kids".

"The motto for us is no one's coming to save you, which sounds a bit bleak but if more people took heed of this advice then there would be less strain on our power [supplies] and the NHS," he added.

"The ambulance service is already overwhelmed."

Dr Sarita Robinson from the University of Central Lancashire, whose research includes cognitive neuropsychology and psychobiology in relation to people in survival situations, has previously praised Chappell for doing a great job with his prepping and for "keeping it real".

She said he made prepping "manageable, affordable and very practical".

"One of the key findings is if you do some prep - and you are a prepper - the outcomes are so much better when an emergency hits and that is both practically and also psychologically," she added.

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