You want to know what all of the fuss over Y2K is about, and so does everyone else. This document will explain what you need to know about Y2K, and reveal to you the information that has been unavailable, that you were not able to find. Your interest in Y2K expresses a need for that unavailable information, and not discussion, dissection, analysis, or examination. The lack of that information creates an urgency for an authoritative voice that can speak on behalf of all of the facts, and lack thereof.
This document represents the accumulation of research by everyone who has contributed to its text. You will not be bored with "Y2K for Dummies." Addressed below are the questions of preparedness, timing, and effects of Y2K.
Y2K may affect your well-being. Fairfield's utility provider, Alliant Corp., is susceptible to Y2K computer failure. If Alliant's power system experiences a long-term failure directly from computer error, or indirectly by demand from other states, then Fairfield's water supply will be disabled.
Alliant is not Y2K compliant. Alliant has a plan to be "Year 2000-ready by mid-1999," but will not be compliant because of the uncertainty of "the preparedness of the companies we depend on." (i.e. "electric and gas companies across the country...linked through the shared 'electric grid' and gas pipelines.") Spokesman David Giroux said, "Alliant buys about one-fourth of its electricity from other utilities."
"Pamela Wegner, an executive vice president of Alliant Corp... said [Wisconsin] needs to work with local governments to develop a network of 'safe havens' where people can go if essential services such as power, gas and water are disrupted by year 2000 computer problems."
Water is the most basic necessity of life. Without it, all of the other predicted disruptions of society will not matter. If a power failure leaves us without a city water supply during an Iowa winter, water will become a commodity, and one that is very hard to come by.
You should prepare for a winter utility failure because:
Other reasons to prepare:
Alliant's FYI Year2000 pamphlet says on page 9, "If you choose to purchase a back-up generation system, be sure to verify that the unit is Year 2000-compliant and that the fuel source will be readily available."
The Federal Emergency Management Agency says on its Y2K front page, "The efforts of FEMA and all emergency management and fire service organizations cannot be viewed as a substitute for personal responsibility and personal preparedness. Every organization and every individual, in public and private life, has an obligation to learn more about this problem and their vulnerability, so that they may take appropriate action to prevent a problem before it occurs."
Now. Not tomorrow, and not "by the end of the year," or "mid-1999," but now.
The hype around January 1st, 2000 is necessary, but misplaced. Y2K is NOT a bug of zeros. Y2K is a large collection of bugs that are a result of those misplaced zeros. Here are some of those bugs:
The Y2K doomsday is a little far-fetched. These problems won't hit us all at once. They can't because they have already started and have been around ever since the first computer.
The first widespread problems related to Y2K will begin on or before December 31 of this year. These early problems will go unnoticed by the media until it is realized that, "ohmygosh, Y2K hit a year early!" A media frenzy will open the eyes of people currently unaware or ignorant of Y2K. The already back-ordered supply companies may be unable to fill orders after this year.
As each bug shuts down more and more computers, the problem becomes compounded and worsens toward January 1, 2000. When the last year of this millennium arrives, every non-compliant clock in the world will hiccup. By the time that happens, our 'preparedness', contingencies, and worst-case-scenarios will already have been put to the test.
Many people ask, "How long is this going to last?" It is more appropriate to ask, "How long do I need to prepare for?" It is still a difficult question.
Water is the most important emergency supply that you will need. If you are going to store extra water because water is hard to get in the winter, then you should store enough water to last through a winter.
Next important is heat. You must be able to keep your water from freezing during the winter. If you need to heat a house, solutions range from wood burning stoves to propane heaters. You will need fuel for a winter or two.
Food is the next important after a reliable water source. For those of us accustomed to buying food at a store, it would be nearly impossible to maintain a healthy diet if stores could not get products from their suppliers. You need to have at least enough food to get through a winter. Buy that much. You will then have a feel for what it takes physically and financially to store such a large amount of food. (This varies for every situation) If you are confident that your food has a long shelf life, and that you are willing to eat it, then consider storing enough food for a year.
As for all other supplies, preparing for more than a year is unrealistic. It is very unlikely that we would be forced to live without any necessity for a long time. If seeds have to be swam to the US to be planted, and the crop hauled around on peoples' shoulders, then that is probably what will happen.
The average adult consumes two quarts of water per day. You should store a gallon of water per day to allow for cooking and washing. These companies sell water containers of every shape and size at reasonable prices:
Gas Masks, Inc.
http://www.watertanks.com/
(877) h2o-tnks
USA Marketing Associates, Inc.
http://www.y2ksupplies.com/
(877) 580-7844
Emergency Preparedness Service
http://www.emprep.com/
(888) 626-0889
About 120 gallons of water per person are needed for a four month supply. That would get any person through the winter. Buy a water filter with lots of extra cartridges. If it becomes necessary to refill your water supply for a second winter, you will have to filter water from a pond, stream, or rain.
Water can be treated by adding to every 10 gallons one to two teaspoons of unscented chlorine bleach containing 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite.
These are foods suitable for long-term storage:
Wheat, corn, dried beans, rice, powdered milk, dry pasta, cereal, barley, lentils, split peas, cous cous, sugar, flour, salt, pepper, spices, baking powder, baking soda, yeast, alfalfa and moong seeds, canned soups, canned fruit, raisins, canned vegetables, canned juices, tuna, peanut butter, jelly, honey, coffee, tea, nuts, crackers, cookies.
Don't forget pet food or canned pureed foods for infants.
If you are worried about bugs in your food, you need to control the heat, moisture, and oxygen in stored containers. For foods that can't be frozen, you can buy oxygen absorbers to toss into the containers.
In addition to food and water, you may want to have plenty of the following:
Soaps, trash bags, napkins, moist towelettes (for washing hands and face), can opener, waterproofed matches, fire extinguisher, battery powered smoke and CO detectors (both very important in alternative heating situations), batteries, candles, glow sticks, mending kit, razor, toilet paper, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, glasses, contacts, makeup, deodorant, prescription medications, first-aid kit (a big one), copies of all important documents, birth control, feminine hygiene, diapers, flashlights, paper, pens, basic tools, First Aid Manual, clocks, calendars, compass, survival knife,.
Light is a psychological necessity. Buy plenty of long burning candles. Hand-cranked radios and flashlights are made by a company called BayGen. They can be purchased from:
C. Crane Company
http://www.ccrane.com/
(800) 522-8863
Unique Products
http://www.brightok.net/~unique/baygen/
(888) 253-6005
B&A Products
http://www.baproducts.com/
(918) 696-5998
Universal Radio, Inc.
http://www.universal-radio.com/
(800) 431-3939
There is also a model that receives short wave frequencies, but is more expensive and requires more frequent cranking.
Seriously consider storing supplies at another location. You will want to be in a house that has a basement and a wood burning stove. Trailers are very hard to heat safely without electricity. Also, trailers have electric heaters which keep the pipes under the floor from freezing. Alternative heating may not prevent pipes from bursting. You will not want to be in an area that experiences flash-flooding.
The night before a critical date, there are many things that you should do in case your power fails overnight. Especially on New Year's Eve: Take a long, hot shower or bath...it may be your last. Find any spare clean containers in your house and fill them with tap water. This will buffer your need to dig in to emergency supplies. Don't forget that your water heater acts as a tank when the electricity is off. Fill up your car. If you need emergency transportation, it is nice to have a full tank of gas. If your 'safe haven' is not your own home, make plans to get to your supplies, taking into account current weather, pandemonium, etc. Remember that you will need to bring your clothes and personal belongings.
If your power goes out for a long time: Turn off and unplug everything in your house. Turn off the electricity to your house in case a pipe bursts. If your gas utility fails, remember to turn off the stove and the gas to your house. If the water utility fails you will need to turn off the main water valve to your house. This will prevent water from being siphoned-off of your water heater, keep sewer gases from entering through your faucets, and stop water from flooding your house if a pipe bursts. If your entire home will not be heated, you should drain all of the water from the pipes and water heater. (Find out how to do this). Opening the lowest faucet in the house (sometimes the water heater valve) will let out most of the water. You may need to disconnect some pipes or traps to drain them.
Test the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home before using alternative heat. Then isolate the room(s) in the house that you will not be using. Blankets, clothing, and furniture can be used to insulate a drafty room, or if you are trying to conserve heat.
Keep a list of everything that is in the freezer so that you don't have to open it very often. If it is cold enough outside, put frozen foods into a cooler and leave it outside.
In case the 911 system fails (it is not compliant), you should have a telephone with auto-dial buttons on it. Be sure to keep track of changed emergency numbers. Other emergency services may not be reliable. Plan what to do in case of fire, tornado, or medical emergencies.
Don't go out and buy a gun. Some people think that if the world comes to an end, everyone will spend the last of their strength rioting and raiding stores. If you have never owned a gun, don't run out and get one just for Y2K. It won't do you any good. You are more likely to power trip and do something stupid. You are less likely to take rational measures of protecting your house, like locking the doors. Please, do the sensible things first. If you are so self-conscious about your supplies, then don't tell anyone that you have them.
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