London s Salvation Army Preparing For Y2K

Dont remember seeing anything, yet, on the stateside preparations. -- Diane

The London Free Press Online
Thursday, March 11, 1999

Sally Ann stocking up in event of Y2K crisis

http://www.canoe.ca/LondonNews/lf.lf-03-11-0015.html

By PETER GEIGEN-MILLER AND JOHN HERBERT, Free Press Reporters

The Salvation Army will be ready to feed and house up to 700 people if Y2K troubles force cold and hungry Londoners out of their homes Jan. 1.

And the Army is working with other churches and organizations to be able to accommodate people, said Maj. Marshall Phinney said. "This is only short-term at the moment but we are developing a long-term plan right now." Short-term means seven to 10 days, he said.

The Sally Ann has started to stockpile beds, food, water and clothing and bought 100 fold-up beds in case the Year 2000 computer problems cause power disruptions or shutdowns in other key services on New Year's day, Maj. Walter Clarke said.

It also has bought an electric generator for $1,500 -- the first of seven or eight it hopes to obtain.

Problems could arise because some computer systems only recognize the final two digits of a year, meaning they might confuse 2000 with 1900 and malfunction.

The Salvation Army's preparations are part of London's overall plan for coping with emergencies. It involves emergency services and volunteer organizations such as St. John Ambulance, service clubs, church groups and amateur radio operators.

The plan will cover many possibilities, including how medical care is provided in an emergency, Phinney said. "An emergency medical system will be set up that will allow us to deliver medical staff to the scene of an emergency or deliver people to a hospital."

The Winnipeg floods and last winter's ice storm in Eastern Ontario and Quebec were wakeup calls London must be better prepared for major emergencies, Phinney said.

Natural disasters -- blizzards, tornadoes, ice storms -- are only one possibility, he said.

"It could happen if a plane crashed here or a train carrying poison gas went off the tracks. There are trucks carrying really bad explosives on (Highway) 401. What would happen if one of them crashed or there was a spill of industrial waste?"

With Y2K, it's a case of preparing for a range of possibilities -- from major disruptions in services to little or no impact on daily lives.

But if the Y2K crisis fizzles, the time preparing for it won't be wasted, Phinney said."Anything we do with Y2K will prepare us for dealing with emergencies and it brings us together as agencies on common ground."

If you can help

Anyone interested in helping the Salvation Army with its emergency plan can call Major Harold Hosken at 672-5597.

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), March 11, 1999

Answers

700 down, 50+million to go. Although I can't help thinking that the Brits don't suffer from the same vanity problem that we have stateside. Having faced the thought of extermination once this century, I don't think they're too proud to put away a little extra dried ox tongue or whatever it is that passes for food over there.

-- Puddintame (dit@dot.com), March 11, 1999.

Hats off to this one Sally Ann community. By their example they may encourage awareness of our vulnerabilities and stimulate more self reliance. Every step one takes towards self reliance is a step towards more self respect and respect for others. Thus, less vulnerability for others including me and you. Thanks Diane. Keep rolling out the good posts. They are great. Regards,

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), March 11, 1999.

Has anyone heard anything about the preparation effort going on in Bedford, Oregon?

I have heard that every 7th home has/is being issued with a wood- burning stove and are to be used as focal points throughout the community.

Does anyone know more about this and what other preparations are going on in Bedford, Oregon?

-- US (communities@preparationrightnow.com), March 12, 1999.

Just to make things clear for Puddintame and anyone else, I believe the "London" referred to above is London, Ontario, Canada.

If anyone is interested in reading more about The Salvation Army and their Y2K plans -- some of which do NOT involve disasters at all! -- may I invite you to www.kellner2000.com to learn about my new book, "Y2K -- Apocalypse or Opportunity"? You can order a copy (discounted) and read the GOOD NEWS about Y2K.

-- Mark A. Kellner (mark@kellner2000.com), March 12, 1999.

Mark,

You're right ... it IS Canada! (Sheesh! Kabashes head!) And the story link's "disappeared" now.

Well, it's still significant, eh?

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), March 12, 1999.

US (communities@preparationrightnow.com),

I sent an "e" to Leska about your Oregon info. I'll do some checking too.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), March 12, 1999.

"Has anyone heard anything about the preparation effort going on in Bedford, Oregon?"

US, I've never heard of Bedford, Oregon, but I live about 30 miles north of Medford, Oregon. I've not heard about the kind of preps you describe.

To give you a rough idea about preps in this area:

One local TV station ran a short segment on y2k a week ago. Their recommendations for preps were to have a little cash on hand, and maybe a couple of days' worth of food. Stockpile? No. Organize neighborhood committees? No. At the end of the segment, they said that y2k wouldn't even be a "...bump in the road."

There was a group that formed in the area that also put up a web site:

www.rv-y2k.org

If you spend a little time at the web site, you will see that they don't update it often (they did when it was new), and the forum they used to have there was dropped. The committee chair stepped down a month or so ago, pleading that she wanted to get back to her family. In general, the y2k effort there seems to have declined.

In my town, there has been only one mention of y2k in the local paper, last year. It made the front page, but the article was small, and conveyed the message that y2k was nothing to worry about. No problem.

I could outline a few other things I've discovered about attitudes towards y2k in this area, but I think you get the idea. The entire area is in full official denial.

That is not to say that there are no GIs here. Many people have moved into the area to seek refuge from a severe y2k scenario. For a few months, real estate was booming. I haven't kept up with it, but it seems to be unchanged from last fall. Still lots of RE for sale, lots of people buying.

LP

-- LP (soldog@hotmail.com), March 14, 1999.

LP,

There is a Benton, Oregon near the Corvallis area, I surmise. Tried finding some relevant info but it doesnt appear to be on the related web-sites.

Sent a few e-mails off to friends who might know something.

Diane

Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments

http://www.cwcog.cog.or.us/

Links

http:// www.cwcog.cog.or.us/COG/cog_lnk.htm

Local News, Area Information, & Community Links

http://www.gtconnect.com/

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), March 14, 1999.