As I was building pyramids of loo roll and tinned beans in response to the government’s Be Ready campaign, launched this week, I got to thinking about what other aspects of modern life might help us to get through an emergency. Specifically, our extensive back catalogue of disaster movies, TV series and the like. We’ve imagined catastrophes hitting the human race in so many ways, with so many different outcomes. Are there any useful tips we can take from our library of entertaining, effects-laden disaster films?

Which particular shows or movies should we watch, in the name of preparedness? Or are they all pure fantasy, and when the planet overheats or the comet strikes, we’ll be wishing we’d spent our evenings watching dry informational programmes about water purification instead? Annabel, Sheffield

Post your answers (and new questions) below or send them to nq@theguardian.com. A selection will be published next Sunday.