A fun quote from the City of Cincinnati Web Site.

Y2K PREPARATION CINCINNATI This entire site is dedicated to describing the efforts and anticipated events as they may affect the citizens of the City of Cincinnati. Locally, as addressed elsewhere, we expect the millennium to pass almost without notice. Y2K problems involving our electricity,natural gas, water, communications, and emergency services seem to be well considered and remediated. The only problems that would appear to involve the City in general is a possible exacerbated number of false fire, burglar, and hold-up alarms and false reports by mentally impaired persons. As such, unsubstantiated panic may be our biggest concern.

-- Barney Fife (ohyeahhhhh@dwgi.net), October 03, 1999

Answers

"false reports by mentally impaired persons"

LOL! Is this the politically correct way to refer to New Year's Eve drunken partiers?

LOL, I'll be using this one at the next party. 'Give me the car keys, you're mentally impaired.'

-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), October 03, 1999.

The sad thing is that I live here.

-- Barney Fife (ohyeahhhh@dwgi.net), October 03, 1999.

Sorry Barney, I feel your pain. I'm in the Chicago area, not much better I fear. :-(

-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), October 03, 1999.

Barney, please give the website. I live here too.

-- FOX (ardrimc@aol.com), October 03, 1999.

Fox my Bro, we're in a heap o' trouble.

What is being done?

-- Barney Fife (ohyeahhhh@dwgi.net), October 03, 1999.

Deborah,

Do you have any current information about the situation in Chicago? There was a flurry of articles in the local papers back in the spring and summer, but I don't recall seeing anything lately.

The reason I ask is that one of my sons attends college there. He'll be leaving, for the Christmas break, before the middle of December, but I'd like to keep an eye on things, in case there is a deterioration in the period after Thanksgiving.

Thanks, Ed

-- Ed Yourdon (HumptyDumptyY2K@yourdon.com), October 03, 1999.

Hi Ed,

Sorry if it took a long time to get back to you. I don't have any inside information. I do know that Chicago had claimed it would be finished by the end of Sept. but I have yet to read/hear any triumphant announcements. I'm glad your son will be leaving mid December, I wish my friends would do the same. I don't expect to see any problems before then, but that is just my opinion. By all appearances y2k doesn't exist here, but I notice that Wal Mart can't keep sleeping bags on the shelves, although they are constantly getting new shipments. I met an older couple there Sat. in the camping aisle looking at campstoves. We had a brief conversation, they were preparing for y2k, little things give me hope. Com Ed testified that they were compliant before the Senate Sub Commitee (you probably know that) but due to the problems they seem to be having with their infrastructure in general, I don't really trust them. ;-) FOF seems to be their motto, which has been my ongoing experience with this co. for about the last six years. I had read in the Daily Herald (major Suburban daily news) that generator sales doubled in the Chicago area after the latest series of outages. Water/sewers are reported to be ancient & not heavily reliant upon embedded systems. I am more concerned about pumping stations relying upon power. Especially to suburbs & outlying areas which Lake Michigan water is routed through from Chicago, these are often small communities and I have not read anything which has given me confidence in their contingency planning. I repeatedly asked my community for information about how many communities our local water 'traveled through' before reaching us,(also preparedness, contingencies etc.) I have not gotten a response (tax dollars hard at work). Contingencies for wastewater are supposed to hinge upon the Deep Tunnel Project which has had a few major problems resulting in flooding without y2k complications even being a factor. Of course if fuel is short we will be in the same boat as everyone else. Mayor Daley has said almost nothing about y2k. There hasn't been any visable leadership. Publicly, y2k is a non issue. I read a blurb recently saying that Gov. Ryan is not planning on calling up the National Guard for the rollover because he does not forsee the need, which was followed up with the statement 'but of course he can change his mind, he's the Governor'. All in all I'm a polly when it comes to the human response in Chicago. Things would have to really bad for longer than a few days (10 scenario) for things to get out of control, and at that point your son will be long gone. I always post anything out of the ordinary I come accross in reference to Chicago, and will continue to do so. I will e-mail you personally if things start getting 'strange' earlier than anticipated. I would really hate to have one of my children far away from me right now. My cousin is in college in Arizona, I 'freak out' just thinking about it, at least she is a GI. I wish I had better information to offer you, you have helped me with your book & this forum a great deal.

-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), October 04, 1999.

Deborah,

Come to think of it, I haven't heard anything at all about Chicago! Maybe most people are just too busy going about their usual business to worry about Y2K. What you say about the apparent lack of awareness says a lot about what we might expect near the end of the year (PANIC!!). Better get yourself some of those sleeping bags just in case... hear it gets mighty cold in The Windy City!! Best wishes.

-- @ (@@@.@), October 04, 1999.

Oh yow! Sorry about the formatting....note to self: do not post at 3 a.m.

@- You bet'cha!

-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), October 04, 1999.