As an advertising insert, there is no copy on the websight.

Gazette

I have been talking to those I work with concerning y2k since last August. I have lived with much good natured kidding about it for months.In addition to the Washington Post, we have a number of other newspapers. One is the Gazette. When I returned from lunch today there was an 8 page advertising supplement from this paper sitting on my desk. This was paid for by the county. The first full page is color with the county seal, a letter from the County Executive, and a picture of a family planning for " Emergency Events and Y2K".

Some of the topics covered

Preparing Your Home for an Emergency

Your Emergency Preparedness Kit

Public Emergency Shelters

What to DO When Electrical Power is Lost

Keeping Warm

Keeping Updated in Emergency

Y2K Contingency Planning A Must

Y2k Planning at Home

Y2K Planning at work

Financial and Personal Records

Travel

Testing Your Personal Computer

ETC.

Some of these had other topics included. Now Mongomery County is quite wealthy and can afford to do this. The Gazette is delivered free to all county residents though they change the name for each city- Silver Spring Gazette-Rockville Gazette etc.

In spite of all that I read, I am glad this County is out in front as far as cautioning the people about the issue. One of the great results was the look on the faces of my co-workers as the light dawned. The decision to prepare and the degree of preparedness is personal, but the information should be inclusive and disseminated to all.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), May 05, 1999

Answers

Sorry about that. What did I do?

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), May 05, 1999.

Perhaps this is a carefully developped test to see if we can handle the suggestion?? To see if there will be sudden changes in purchase patterns, and or runs on specific supplies.

Chuck

-- Chuck d n d (not@wo.rk), May 05, 1999.

Chuck

Possible. I know there is a great deal of concern amoung County officials. There are numerous town meetings and there is quite a website. Either way, I am glad to see it.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), May 05, 1999.

From what I have heard, Montogomery County government is on the ball. I'm not sure, but I think they also were one fo the first to have done a Y2K drill and tried to figure out where they have weak links. In fact, my guess is that Montogomery County government is doing more than any other county in the Washington Metropolitan area which offically includes Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George's Counties (Maryland), Washington, D.C., and Fairfax, Loudon, and Prince William Counties (Virgina). This is good news. Wish my county was up to speed!

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), May 05, 1999.

A GAZABETASITE Hmmmmmm I like it {%)

-- spun@lright (mikeymac@uswest.net), May 05, 1999.

After reading this stuff above, I ran out, dug the Gazette out from the gutter, and read the insert. I had hoped that I could give this locallly prepared material to my DWGI wife, and so gain some support for preparation effort.

But this material is worse than useless, and I now hope that my wife doesn't even see it, as it will merely reinforce her opinion that everything is OK, land that all of my preparation effort and expense is stupid.

The insert itself was apparently sponsored totally by the Montgomery County Government, and not by the Gazette. But I did learn something. I should store water for 3 to 5 days, but I should not use milk cartons for storage containers, and I must not store tap water. I also learned that my local government is acting to prevent problems.

There is absolutely nothing useful in this insert, but amazingly enough, half of page eight is devoted to a liability disclaimer.

But I should not be surprised. Everyone who lives around here is a bureaucrat.

.

-- dave (wootendave@hotmail.com), May 06, 1999.

Dave,

Last I heard,(from someone in county government remediation elsewhere,)is Montgomery County Maryland was a leader on Y2K discovery and remediation. As I recall they have been cited numerous times in presentations for the work they had done. Based on memory I believe they found problems with the 911 system which were the telephone company's responsibility to fix. That was in process months ago.

As far as worthless, hey 3-5 days of water is 3-5 days more than most will have and last I knew no one can guarantee the severity of Y2K.

If I had to be at a New Year's eve party, Montgomery county could be my second place choice. My first choice would be the City of Manitowoc, WI (the mayor and his staff take their Y2K seriously).

Good Luck, jh

-- john hebert (jt_hebert@hotmail.com), May 06, 1999.

TO ALL:

Y2K IS DEADLY. I personally guarentee it. Please do not say that "no one guarantees the severity of Y2K." I do. Thank you very much. -Joseph Almond

y2knewswire.com

FYI, Almond is author of scores of Y2K essays and speeches, quotes and columns. See two of his most circulated pieces at the above website.

They are:

"Y2K IS DEADLY." (a speech to his Community on 3/20/99)

"The Y2K 100 Scarcity List" (Items to Disappear First in the Panic of 1999)

This List, now in its third reprint, (100,000) is the subject of a news conference on May 27, 1999 at the National Press Club (8:00-11:00 AM)

The above is FYI, for what it's worth.

Respectfully,

Joseph Almond

-- Joseph Almond (sa2000@webtv.net), May 18, 1999.

TO ALL:

Y2K IS DEADLY. I personally guarantee it. Please do not say that "no one guarantees the severity of Y2K." I do. Thank you very much. -Joseph Almond

y2knewswire.com

FYI, Almond is author of scores of Y2K essays and speeches, quotes and columns. See two of his most circulated pieces at the above website.

They are:

"Y2K IS DEADLY." (a speech to his Community on 3/20/99)

"The Y2K 100 Scarcity List" (Items to Disappear First in the Panic of 1999)

This List, now in its third reprint, (100,000) is the subject of a news conference on May 27, 1999 at the National Press Club (8:00-11:00 AM)

The above is FYI, for what it's worth.

Respectfully,

Joseph Almond

-- Joseph Almond (sa2000@webtv.net), May 18, 1999.

Mike,

Here is a quick followup - the May 1999 issue of Government Technology did an interview with Montgomery County's chief administrative officer, Bruce Romer. Titled "Beyond & Back, Simulating Our Y2K Future" the article talks about their Dec 21, 1998 test - rolling the dates forward, what they learned, and where he will be new years eve (most likely at work, in case there are any unforeseen events).

When push comes to shove on Y2K, Montgomery County is indeed considered a leader.

I'm providing a web address where you should eventually be able to find it online - but it isn't active yet. It would typically become active in a couple weeks - by the end of June at the latest(only apr and prior issues are available now.)

http://www.govtech.net/gtmag/1999/may/toc/toc.shtm

Good Luck, jh

-- john hebert (jt_hebert@hotmail.com), May 25, 1999.

I wouldn't recommend storing water in milk-cartons either, as no matter HOW good you wash them, a trace of bacteria could still remain. However, I see absolutely NO reason why you shouldn't store some tap water. You may not want to DRINK it, but don't you intend to wash your feet on occasion?

Anita

-- Anita Spooner (spoonera@msn.com), May 25, 1999.

Mike,

That May issue I previously noted is now posted on the govtech site.

jh

-- john hebert (jt_hebert@hotmail.com), June 08, 1999.