Time To Dust It Out?

@Kandae11 (57096)
March 11, 2026 11:00am CST
I am talking about an old coal pot or coal stove l have stored away somewhere. Many Caribbean homes still have one or more of these around - very convenient during natural disasters or other. I have no idea when this war will end or how high oil prices will climb in the future, so l am thinking of getting out that old coal stove and stocking up on large amounts of coal - just in case. Imagine suddenly finding oneself without electricity or gas..... Are you worried about products you use daily suddenly becoming unavailable? How do you plan to handle the situation - if it arises? Picture shows a coal pot or stove.
12 people like this
9 responses
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (374033)
• Rockingham, Australia
11h
Our shops seem to be starting to have supply issues. A lot of our stuff comes from the eastern states. I'm going to stock up some of the staples, not a lot but just have a bit extra on hand till we see what's going to happen. Fuel is going through the roof here.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (374033)
• Rockingham, Australia
10h
@Kandae11 It's hard to know what to do for the best but having a bit extra in the way of staples that will keep can't hurt.
1 person likes this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (57096)
•
11h
Stocking up on some must have items is a very good move.
1 person likes this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (57096)
•
1h
@JudyEv Exactly.
DE
@DaddyEvil (169787)
• United States
18h
I haven't really thought about it. The war would have to knock out a lot of infrastructure before our electric or gas stopped. We don't have an alternative heat/cooking source if the electricity gets knocked out.
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (169787)
• United States
18h
@Kandae11 At least we have a small forest at the back of our property if we did go back to burning wood. Not enough to last a winter, but still you can't pass up free wood.
1 person likes this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (57096)
•
18h
I hope it doesen't happen.. It isn't easy going back in time.
1 person likes this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (57096)
•
17h
@DaddyEvil That's right
1 person likes this
Amber
@AmbiePam (114689)
• United States
14h
I’m not really worried. It’s too stressful to carry that much worry around.
1 person likes this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (57096)
•
11h
I try to be prepared for eventualities , while hoping things remain stable.
1 person likes this
snowy
@snowy22315 (204223)
• United States
18h
Sometimes you just have to make do.
1 person likes this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (57096)
•
17h
As the saying goes: when life throws you lemons, you make lemonade.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (251003)
• United States
1h
I haven’t given it much thought, but I do have a fire pit with a grill outdoors and lots of wood
1 person likes this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (57096)
•
1h
Great.
1 person likes this
B
@pitsipeahie (5532)
•
3h
Having a backup like that sounds pretty practical, especially during emergencies. These days you never know what might happen with supplies or prices. We have an electric stove and a charcoal stove. The charcoal stove though is really useful for power outages or when we ran out of lpg.
1 person likes this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (57096)
•
1h
Some folk also use the charcoal stove for foods that need lengthy cooking. That way they are able to conserve the gas or electricity depending on which of those stoves they normally use.
1 person likes this
Toni
@toniganzon (74439)
• Philippines
12h
When I watched the news last night, I felt sad that some of the people lost their work because some gasoline stations had to close down as they didn't have enough supply to sell anymore. Fortunately, not happening in my city yet and I hope it won't. I really haven't thought of things not being amiable. This war sucks.
Toni
@toniganzon (74439)
• Philippines
9h
@Kandae11 Prices of basic necessities won't roll back.
1 person likes this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (57096)
•
9h
@toniganzon Some merchants grab opportunities like these to raise prices.
1 person likes this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (57096)
•
11h
Even if it ends soon there will still be a dent in the economies of most countries.
1 person likes this
Sanjeev
@sjvg1976 (42696)
• Delhi, India
19h
We have this one at our home, but the problem is finding wood here in the city. We used to cook food on it in the village, as wood and cow dung were easily available there.
Kandase
@Kandae11 (57096)
•
19h
It would be more difficult in the City - especially if one lives in an apartment. I moved to a rural area 10 years ago and there is so much yard space, fruit trees and other trees. What about coal ? Is it available where you live?
1 person likes this
Sanjeev
@sjvg1976 (42696)
• Delhi, India
19h
@Kandae11 No, it is expensive to buy here, also not easily available in the village these days.
1 person likes this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (57096)
•
19h
@sjvg1976 the other alternative l have is to use a kerosene stove, though l suppose the cost of kerosene oil will go up as well.
Anna
@LadyDuck (495164)
• Italy
19h
We had one in Switzerland, to grill meat under the patio during summer. Yes, we are very worried, particularly now with the Iran situation.
1 person likes this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (57096)
•
19h
I hate to be caught off-guard - not knowing how a situation will end and not being prepared. It is like reading a suspense novel and deciding to peek to see what the ending is.