I have no idea of what to do, just found out...I live in santa fe, am single, ... I don't know how to begin to prepare. Please help!

-- avjennings (avjennings@msn.com), October 12, 1998

Answers

av,

A good place to start personal preparation is The Cassandra Project at: http://millennia-bcs.com/CASFRAME.HTM

If you check the current thread list here at Yourdon's you will find some folks' lists of what they are storing and buying.

Keep breathing,...read when you can,....remember that you will do some roller coastering emotionally as you prepare. Congratulations! You are ahead of the current learning curve in the world.

Welcome among us.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), October 12, 1998.

Stop, take a deep breathe, and calm down.

Unlike any other disaster you will ever face, this one is going to arrive on schedule. Now, admittedly, none of us can predict what will happen, but we do at least know when the biggest problems will start.

So calm down. Read through the past threads in this forum, think about who you, where you want to be, what level of preparedness you will feel comfortable getting ready to attain.

You've got llearn a liitle bit about swimming and water before jump in a pool, and certainly you have to figure out which end is 3 feet, and which is 12 feet. Read through several threads, then start thinking about your "comfort level": some people want to prepare for 3 days, some 7 days, some for several weeks or months.

Important to remember is to study first, in the middle, and throughout. then make decisions, and don't be afraid to change those decisions as circumstances change. Ask questions as things and doubts come up, ask questions (and give us your feedback!!!!) as you find out things about your hometown. In the thread "what about you" you'll read soem other backgrounds, stick yours there if you wish.

Anybody else want to recommend 5-8 "starter" threads a nervous new guy should review? Remember too, you are the "expert" for your house in your city, you got to act for yourself.

And asking for help is the best way to start.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 12, 1998.

By the way, we are also irreverent and punny -

Gayla, are you going to deduck -5 for spelling on that last posting?

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 12, 1998.

"Teacher, teacher! Robert spelled deduct (deduck) wrong! LOL

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), October 12, 1998.

Donna, I was counting degeese in deyard by deblueberry bushes.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 12, 1998.

av:

Don't mind the brawling in some of the other threads, just look at the facts, and think for yourself. You'll get plenty of opinions, but you are in charge of your preparation. These folks have helped me so much, it's really amazing. (They'll get big heads if I say much more.)

One thing I'd advise, is to do some research. Opinions vary widely as to what the actual effects of Y2K will be. Decide for yourself, and feel free to change your views at any time. Flexibility and a knack for thinking on your feet will be important. When you have an idea what to prepare for, the preparations will be much easier.

It seems most of us have gone through the 'panic stage,' it's natural. You can start buying extra food, and saving soda and milk jugs for water storage. These are positive, "no-risk" steps. You will be preparing as you learn more. You may have tougher decisions to make in the future, but by then you will have a clearer head, and a better basis for making choices.

-- Mike (gartner@execpc.com), October 12, 1998.

Here's another excellent site to help you begin preparing, av: http://www.millennium-ark.net/News_Files/Hollys.html

To find others in your area who are preparing, check here: http://www.webpal.org/list.htm

For an attitude adjustment and a heap of hopefulness, try: http://www.co-intelligence.org/Y2K.html

And when it all gets to be too much, and you need to scream, sob, or get a hug from a bunch of very empathic folks, be sure to visit: http://townchat.com/y2k/bbs/coping/

You have already found some of the best, and most varied, thinking around, right here. Come back often! Let us know how it's going for you.

-- Faith Weaver (faith-weaver@usa.net), October 12, 1998.

Av:

Welcome to the "other side of the mirror". No. We aren't really nutcases and you better believe that we are serious (not everyone is and not every time) and by way of intro to the new world :

Please be advised that as we speak (type) y2k has already commenced and it will only grow worse. You can look for a rather large pop knot in January of 1999 as the "Forecast Effect"(see, I didn't forget) starts it's dirty work. A very appropriate date will be April 1, 1999 as some places start their new fiscal year.

Anyway, welcome to reality. You can start with the good info at

http://www.garynorth.com Lots of good links on hundreds of subjects. Feel free to ignore or not read his comments (it's scary at times) but there is a wealth of knowledge in the links. Use it well.

Also visit http://survival-center.com/foodfaq/ff1-toc.htm

Learn fast. You will learn how "to pick the fly poop out of the pepper" as is were. There is a lot you need to know and damn little time left to learn it in. You will make it.

Oh! Learn also that you will feel a wide range of emotions from your ride. The people here, and at other sites like this one, know how you feel - and trust me - you aren't alone.

Above all else - remain as calm as you can. You need to work - not panic.

S.O.B.

-- sweetolebob(La) (buffgun@hotmail.com), October 12, 1998.

Av:

Another very good site for you

http://www.coolpages.net/2000

It has lots of good info available and links to even more.

Hang Tight.

S.O.B.

-- sweetolebob(La) (buffgun@hotmail.com), October 12, 1998.

Welcome to our nightmare.

-- Bill (bill@microsoft.com), October 13, 1998.

Av:

Here's another good one for you

http://www.cbn.org/y2k

Lots of good info. S.O.B.

-- sweetolebob(La) (buffgun@hotmail.com), October 13, 1998.

Welcome to our "family" avjennings. It's hard to tell by your name if you are male or female. The following site is where I sent my sister when she first found out because it deals with the emotional aspects of Y2K as well as preparing:

www.y2kwomen.com

Those of us who have been here for a little while like to tease and play around with each other. It helps us to break up the stress from dealing with all of the depressing news. Someone else mentioned the "thread" called "What about you (revisited)." You can find older threads (postings) down below all of the current questions. They are archived according to topic. If you want to read about us, look under the Misc. category at "What about you (revisited)." You will also find lots of helpful information under Food, etc.

I really AM a teacher, and if you will excuse me a moment......

Alright children. No computers means no spell check. Robert you are in big trouble! :-) But don't try to play with Pete C. on the new Perma pak thread. He doesn't believe in games. I wouldn't want to upset him but his spelling isn't great, either. He said, "If you see a post you don't like I would suggest that you ignore it rather then waist so called precious "bandwidth" in the future." Don't tell anybody, but waist is what is around your middle. Waste is what he is accusing you all of.

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), October 13, 1998.

Since you are in a big city, the first thing you want to do is make a plan for "bugging out" in the event that of civil disruptions. Bugging out just means going to a secluded place and laying low for awhile. So the first thing you want to do is buy all sorts of camping equipment. Keep in mind that you will use this whether or not you bug out. A warm sleeping bag, a coleman cook stove, a gas syphon, a gas jug, etc. The next thing you want to do is start stocking up on food. Canned foods are popular. Keep in mind that you will use these irregardless. As the time gets really close, stock up on bread and potatoes.

-- Amy Leone (aleone@amp.com), October 13, 1998.

Here are some things NOT to do:

1. Don't assume the worst case scenario is the only possibility - a range of outcomes are possible. In fact, well thought out actions both on the personal and on the community level can go a long way towards mitigating troubles when they do occur. For example, I like my job and my employer and I will be prepared, should the need arise, to work for 'a short period' of time without a paycheck if I believe (at the time such action might be necessary) that by doing so, I can help both my employer and my job survive minor/moderate disruptions. Such action might never be needed or may become irrelevant, but either way, it's not going to cost me much to be prepared for that possibility and it might go a long way towards helping reduce both the number and severity of disruptions.

2. Don't assume it's a hoax (it's not) or that it won't directly affect you (it will).

3. Don't rush out and spend all your money. There are entire businesses based on fear (for example, insurance) and these people will be more than happy to take all the money you'd care to give them. Let the buyer beware (caveat emptor). Most of us have very limited resources and they must be used carefully and wisely. In fact, most of the things you can do involve personal attitude and taking stock of the resources you already have.

4. Don't make any major decisions until the first waves of panic subside and you have a chance to think things through. Make small decisions at first and larger ones later on.

5. Don't run up your debt using credit cards, loans, etc. Be fiscally conservative and practical. This is especially important as the Christmas 'buying season' approaches. Our own gifts this year will be much smaller than in the past and of a much more personal nature. (Sorry, retailers - I've supported you for many years in the past, I fully expect you to support me on this one now.)

6. Don't take everything you read on the Internet as fact. Get your 'news' from as many different sources as possible. Keep your eyes open to all possibilities, not just the darkest or brightest ones. At the current time, the best sources of information are Internet based but no 'single' Internet source should dominate. As to the general media, there are two issues to keep in mind. First, as a business, they are not truly news media but simply an extension of the advertising industry. It is their job to create an atmosphere condusive to the sales of their clients widgits. This is neither good nor bad - it's how they stay in business. Second, don't expect to see a great deal of quality investigative journalism here - this is an extremely complex issue, so complex in fact that no one can tell you exactly how this is going to turn out. It cannot be explained in a single newspaper column nor in a 30 second CNN sound bite, nor for that matter even in an hour. Our general attention spans are so short that any news media that addressed it adequetly would lose viewers (and advertising dollars) faster than you can say 'commercial spot'.

7. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Stay as flexible as possible and plan for a range of contingencies. Don't put all of your resources into one plan. For example, if power goes out sporadically and for short periods, this is easily survivable without great expenditures or excessive worry. If temporary food shortages do occur and you have a few things extra on the shelf, you won't have to stand in line. On the other hand, should the need aris eto leave your current home, plan for a range of possibilities here. Do you have friends in less crowded areas that you could stay with for a few days? a few weeks? a year? Remember to start with the easy stuff. If moving is not an option, then now would be a good time to get to know your neighbors better - should lawless violence ever break out, neighborhoods can be protected by the people who live there by simply working together.

8. Don't adopt the 'I gotta build a huge arsenal' approach. I neither encourage nor discourage gun ownership. If you are a responsible gun owner and would feel more comfortable with a few extra boxes of ammunition, fine. But you can't eat bullets and putting all your eggs in this basket is short-sighted and will waste waste what resources you do have. If you have never owned a gun before and decide you have to get one, then you owe it to your family, your neighbors and community to do it responsibly. Before you buy, get basic safety training and adhere to it rigidly. Also, before you buy, get advice from a weapons expert (please not Uncle 'shoot-em-up-yeeha' Bubba). You will also need a lot of practice - this takes time and money. Your local NRA, Issac Walton, law enforcement, etc. are good resources here. Never substitute a gun for clear headed thinking. They are tools, nothing more or less. Like most any potentially dangerous tool (e.g. an automobile), a lack of common sense and good judgement can be fatal to yourself, those you love and others around you.

That's my two cents. -Arnie

-- Arnie Rimmer (arnie_rimmer@usa.net), October 13, 1998.

Donna,

No problem with "wasting any bandwidth" on any new threads or getting extra bandwidth - I'm skinny enough to still wear my old blue jeans. And my old belts fit just fine.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 13, 1998.

Arnie,

Your list of don'ts is great! Some of the best advice for the new panicker I've seen. I'd like to address one of the things you mention:

My family and I are all Y2K aware, and we are making plans. This year for Christmas, we've decided to give each other all things from a list that we've made. We've made a list of appropriate items, and when somebody buys something from the list, its gets crossed off. Then, whoever bought it will wrap it and give it to whoever they think will ooh and aah the most. Of course, each item is really for the whole family. That way, we don't spend money on frivolous things, but we still get to have a big Christmas gift giving session. Actually, I imagine in some way, the quality of gifts and purpose behind it all will be the best we've shared in years...

-- pshannon (pshannon@inch.com), October 13, 1998.

The whole purpose and function of my website, Y2K Survive (www.y2ksurvive.com) is to provide information that will help the average person get through Y2K safely. If you've never given a thought to any kind of survival tactics, you're the kind of person I'm writing for. Check it out.

-- cody varian (cody@y2ksurvive.com), October 14, 1998.

I'm new to this site and have just been reading through some of the postings. I agree with all the good advice give to av - except for one small item. Mike said to start saving pop bottles and milk jugs for water storage. I believe milk jugs are biodegradable and will not hold up to long term storage requirements. I hve read this info on net sites and know it from experience, being from the boonies of the south.

-- Claudia Doggett (lbishop@PineBelt.net), October 15, 1998.

Empty bleach bottles are very stable and good for storing all sorts of liquids. They have to be stable - you can't put chlorine in anything that isn't.

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), October 17, 1998.

All right Ann, what did I say? These are the best people in the world and they will help you. Roberta

-- Msglory (roblackard@juno.com), October 18, 1998.

avjennings, I'm in Albuquerque and have found a great resource. Good people to talk with in person, and they also do preparidness classes. They are with Rio Grande Outfitters at 4200 Wyoming NE. I've been in a couple of times, and would recomend a trip down to Albuquerque to see them. Feel free to E-mail me.

-- Mary C. (MEC ALB@aol.com), October 19, 1998.