Dear Reader,

How long do you predict severe disruptions in basic services will last? For the purpose of this question, "severe disruptions" means continuous lack of electrical power or water, lack of food through normal distribution channels, serious rioting or domestic unrest. Please feel free to add the justification for your estimate.

I learned a great deal from an earlier question asking what it might take to change one's mind about Y2K-related problems. Thank you for the thoughtful responses.

Mr. Decker

-- Mr. Decker (kcdecker@worldnet.att.net), April 05, 1999

Answers

Predictions? A parlor game on the same level as that other holy grail, the "real" info about crit systems and the percent that is remediated.

-- Mitchell Barnes (spanda@inreach.com), April 05, 1999.

After months of research I am happy to inform you that I DO NOT KNOW. If I did know, no one would believe me anyway.

-- Professor (Einstein@HarvardU.org), April 05, 1999.

Mr. Barnes,

FYI, my firm is 100 percent Y2K compliant... from facility systems like HVAC through our network servers.

Mr. Decker

-- Mr. Decker (kcdecker@worldnet.att.net), April 05, 1999.

Is your company "typical" of all companies? Can you predict how many companies are ready "NOW"? Where's all the good news?

-- lisa_in_cedar (efchange@hotmail.com), April 05, 1999.

Mr. Decker,

I forgot what your firm does. Do you have contingency plans for power outages lasting more than a few hours? Will employees have leave cancelled in late December/early January?

Helen

-- Helen (sstaten@fullnet.net), April 05, 1999.

Clueless in the Steel City but,,,,,, I am preparing for 4 months. Got to get through the winter here in Steeler country.

-- SCOTTY (BLehman202@aol.com), April 05, 1999.

I am prepared with 1 year of food. Not because I expect severe disruptions for that length of time, but I do worry about a severe recession or depression. I live in a rural area and am preparing for some disruption of power. I expect that IF there are grid problems, that power will be channeled to cities first, and to rural areas last

I do not have any real sense of what is to come. The thought of what COULD happen is real enough for me. Do I believe it could be really bad? Yes, I do. Do I believe it could be an 8+? Yes, I do. I also believe it could be a 2 or 3. Am I sure enough to prepare for only a 2 or 3? No, I am not. I will prepare to the best of my ability for the 8+, and hope like h*ll for a 2 or 3.

I despise working in the garden, washing clothes without electricity sounds like torture, and I am addicted to cigarettes and the internet (in that order), both of which could be in short supply. There is nothing good about a y2k meltdown that I can conceive of, and I do not intend to be totally unprepared IF it should happen.

-- (mybit@cybers.space), April 06, 1999.

Mr. Decker I'm glad to hear your firm is 100% compliant.

And what does that have to do with predictions of the sort you are asking for?

-- Mitchell Barnes (spanda@inreach.com), April 06, 1999.