If you're planning on filling your bunker with food and ammunition and all of your worldly savings to usher in the New Year, you're over-reacting.
At least that's the word from the Y2K planners in the state, who have been working for up to three or four years to make certain that the Y2K computer bug won't bug people as the century ticks over.During a final preparedness meeting before Y2K, representatives from local utility companies, government offices and other industries that might be affected by any computer glitch agreed that there likely won't be any major problems associated with Y2K. And state Y2K coordinator David Fletcher said the state has strong plans for both contingencies and to keep the media and the state's residents informed in the hours approaching and immediately following midnight Dec. 31.
But they acknowledge that "news from the other side of the dateline" is not all good. And there have been an increased number of system-check failures in the past two weeks, although most of them are "annoyance things," rather than serious problems.
One way to lower anxiety level is to recognize all the things that aren't subject to Y2K concerns, like the VCR, the alarm clock, the television and telephone and microwave. They'll work, assuming the utilities that power them work. And experts say the power will stay on.
A good motto might be, "Be prepared but don't be scared."
Y2K or not, it's always a good idea for people to be prepared for an emergency any time, according to both Ann Allen, emergency preparedness coordinator for four Salt Lake area IHC hospitals, and Don Cobb, emergency analyst for the Division of Comprehensive Emergency Management. Y2K is attached to a very specific time, but the possibility of earthquakes, floods, tornadoes and other disasters exist all the time.
So, the Deseret News has checked with experts, from state disaster planners to financial institutions to the American Red Cross to computer gurus to assemble a sensible last-minute guide to getting ready for the new year -- and any disaster that time or Y2K bugs might bring.
Food:
If you forget everything else, keep emergency water on hand at all times. The rule of thumb is a three-day supply. Plan on having between one and three gallons a person each day, for both drinking and cleaning up. Milk jugs leach, so don't use them; the two-liter soda bottles are a better choice. Don't store it in a huge container because water is heavy, and you might have to take it with you. And don't put it directly on concrete. Use shelves or a plywood platform to rest it on. Seal containers tight, change it at least once a year and remember that tiny amounts of common household bleach are a good way to purify the water.
Keep a three-day supply, as well, of nonperishable foods handy. They should need little or no preparation. If someone has special dietary needs (especially those who are elderly or infants), meet those needs within the emergency food supply, too. High-protein items like canned meats and peanut butter are particularly good. And don't forget the comfort foods. Being in an emergency is stressful; cookies can make life more enjoyable.
Financial records:
Y2K is computer-related, and no area of life is more computer-operated than finances. Steve Call, vice president of Zions Bank in charge of Internet services, recommends people withdraw no more than they would need for a long weekend. "The financial industry is as prepared as any for Y2K."
It makes sense to have a little money on hand anyway because about 1.5 percent of automatic cash machines aren't working or aren't stocked at any given time, which can be inconvenient. But consumers are being warned that stockpiling cash just makes robbery more appealing. And no one wants to start a run on the bank.
It is a very good idea, however, to print backup copies of any bank or financial records kept on a computer. And hang onto copies of bank statements, deposits, stock account reports, etc. Check statements carefully for at least the first six months of the year.
The American Red Cross also recommends that, for general disaster preparedness, you should keep your will, insurance policies, contract deeds, stocks and bonds, immunizations records, Social Security cards, passports, bank account and credit account numbers, an inventory, family records, important phone numbers, etc., in a portable, waterproof and fireproof container.
Tools:
A disaster expert from the Federal Emergency Management Agency said survival sometimes depends on something as simple as having a flashlight and a pair of shoes nearby. That's particularly true in a disaster that changes your surroundings, like an earthquake. But there are other basics, too. Don't forget the hand-held, nonelectric can opener. It doesn't do any good to have food that you can't get into.
Battery-operated radios are handy. (Don't forget batteries. Have extras.) And you need to have pliers, tape, waterproof matches, aluminum foil, plastic bags that seal (the "zipper" kind is great, Allen said), flares, paper and pencil, and a needle and thread.
Keep a wrench handy; you may need to turn off the gas -- if you don't know how to do it, learn. And don't forget a heat source, like a small can of Sterno. But don't go overboard with fuel. Things like a propane tank should be reachable, but any more than 10 gallons must be stored somewhere not attached to the house.
Do not -- repeat DO NOT -- use gas-fueled appliances as a heating source. And don't use open flames or charcoal grills indoors. They create carbon monoxide, which can kill you.
Keep a fire extinguisher on hand, and a whistle in case you need to summon help.
Don't forget soap, personal hygiene items, disinfectants, etc., the American Red Cross says.
Clothes, blankets and sleeping bags are needed for a natural disaster, so it's a good idea to have them on hand, Y2K or not.
First aid kit:
Sterile adhesive bandages, gauze pads, tapes, triangle bandages, scissors, tweezers, safety pins, soap, gloves and sunscreen should be included. So should Tylenol or aspirin, antacids and something like Neosporin.
Medicines:
"The whole system's not going to go away just because the calendar changes," said Richard Rasmussen, proprietor of University Pharmacy. "The supply chain for the pharmacies has been checked and rechecked. Computer companies have been writing programs forever to make sure everything's good. But if a family member has a medication that is absolutely essential, you should have an extra month's supply on hand."
Miscellaneous:
Don't forget contact lens supplies, entertainment items for little people and miscellaneous other common-sense objects, Allen said.
The American Red Cross suggests that "as you would in preparation for a winter storm," keep your gas tank above half full.