I live near a prison and am wondering if anyone knows the statis of what they are doing to make sure that the prisoners stay inside. Has anyone seen anything about this?

Also, the Y2K Weatherman is urging everyone to contact Opray about Y2K. I am wondering why we should do this. I feel that as more people become aware of Y2K and start preparing, the sooner the government might intervene to prevent hoarding. I really think this will happen in the future. As I am not fully prepared myself, I would like a little more time before Y2K panic starts. I think this will also happen and it might be soon.

I have several messages on the net asking for input from computer programers and those people working on the problem. I asked for opinions from the trenches. I have received several a day. I have not received one that tells me they think everything will be ok. All, and this is the truth, urge me to prepare.

There is a small subdivision in my community. There are several bankers, a CPA, teachers, and other professionals. I recently heard from one that lives within this subdivision that these people have been planning, storing, and preparing for Y2K. They started over a year ago. It is my understanding that all have withdrawn their savings. It makes one wonder when bankers are withdrawing why we are being told that the banks will be ok.

-- Linda A. (adahi@muhlon.com), November 24, 1998

Answers

The Firechief here split a years worth of food with friends of mine. The problem is real, prepare now.

-- Bill (bill@microsoft.com), November 24, 1998.

Bankers starting a run on banks, thats a new twist! Wonder if they're starting runs on competitors hoping to pick up the pieces. I suppose the fire chief is trained up for emergency, being a way of life for him.

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), November 24, 1998.

A LONG time ago (somewhere under the compost in the archives) a Prison warden was quoted as saying, "You will be coming here begging for food" and etc.

this would suggest that there would be food, power, and the ability to take care of the WHOLE prison population, including the guards and families.

CR

-- Chuck, etc (rienzoo@en.com), November 24, 1998.

Linda,

I'd submit that one critical question which you really must get answered is whether the automated cell doors in the prison fail secure (i.e. locked) or failsafe (i.e. unlocked)...that varies from one part of the country to another, depending on local laws. You might also want to find out if there are any contingency plans to use additional guards in case of power outages, etc.

just my 2 cents worth, Arlin Adams

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), November 24, 1998.

Linda,

The idea of Oprah is seeing that the whole country prepares for Y2K, not just a few. IF we all prepare, there is less chance of creating TEOTWAWKI and a "10."

See the thread ... ""If Oprah Had A Y2K TV Show -- What Should She Cover?"

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 24, 1998.

Linda, I happen to know a person in prison (im not proud of it thats for sure) but I guess they did a Y2k test and the doors open and the outside gates open. So basically they are free to go because I know if i worked there i wouldnt want to try to stop all the prisoners from leaving all at the same time. It would be impossible I have asked this question before a few months ago and people dont like to talk about it because they didnt respond. The prison that i know that will fail is Salinas Valley. I donno about the others

-- MoJo (Morgan) (Y2KFever@Aol.com), November 24, 1998.

Linda in response to your question about prisons, I asked my brother, who works with administrations from many prisons, mostly regarding prisoner rehab, this same question. His answer is somewhat sobering. He stated that in times of extreme emergency that, paraphrasing, all inmates would be put in lockdown and gassed!! He said that this is a little known administative policy that is in found at nearly all maximum security prisons. Again, I'm only repeating what I was told. I hope this does not effect any of your loved ones.

-- Art R. (mrsrhino2@aol.com), November 25, 1998.

"He stated that in times of extreme emergency that, paraphrasing, all inmates would be put in lockdown and gassed!!"

Years ago I worked on the design of prisons, namely, all the piping and plumbing. We NEVER designed special features for prisons for running gas through piping. Could be done through the HVAC system, I suppose. Robert Cook, P.E., on this forum could speak to this.

It' hard for me to believe this (gas prisoners). But in emergencies, anything is possible. Wow!

-- Joe (jba@there.com), November 25, 1998.

The IT supervisor for all Western Canadian prisons said to me two months ago when I phoned him, that the water supply for the prison 30 miles from us came from the town well. Since then I have learned that it comes from the reservoir 70 miles south - it used to come from the town well. If he does not know that, obviously the firefighters will not be able to put out any riot induced fires, or even run the kitchens/washrooms if the pumping power fails from the reservoir.

His contingency plan was to use the armed forces as extra guards - I told him he would have to stand in line as our Prime Minister had already said the army would be used for any emergencies in the cities. Will check back soon with him to see if he has become more informed on the water situation...everything else looked good on paper and they were testing.

-- Laurane (familyties@rttinc.com), November 25, 1998.

Stink gas? Tear gas? Maybe. If rioting was occuring and "nobody" could "in" to isolate the those killing/raping from those being victimized. That might let guards in to start getting control back.

Deadly gas - (phosgene, Chlorine, ..) etc. No way! No governor would stand for it.

Through the HVAC? Could be done, but you'd lose some effect through settlement, entrapment in dampers, barriers, outlets. More likely the odor going through would either panic the rioters - and they would stop. Or panic the rioters - and you would become "fighting maniac's" desparate to get out.

Either way, you hurt the guys not rioting.

Long run - did the warden aknowledge needing water, power, food, sewage, service electricity for lights, doors, surveilance cameras, barriers, gates (front and interior), spotlights outside at the barrier, food distribution and cleanup, laundry, etc.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), November 25, 1998.