Got this flyer in the mail this weekend addressed to "resident" and entitled "Home Guide to Emergency Preparedness: Preparing a Plan for Emergency Events and Y2K." It starts out with the following statement from mayor Anthony Williams. (Reproduced for educational purposes only.)

"In an emergency, preparation means everything. As we look ahead to the Year 2000 and the severe weather season, your government is working hard to ensure that critical services are maintained. Our Y2K preparations are right on schedule, and we have backup plans in place for every conceivable situation. You may not experience any Y2K problems, but a severe thunderstorm, blizzard, or other emergencies can temporarily interrupt services at any time."

"As always, it's a good idea to make common sense preparations. This Home Guide will help you prepare your home and your family for most local emergency situations. I hope you find it helpful, and I appreciate the opportunity to serve you."

The Home Guide urges people to put together emergency preparedness kits which include such basic items as water, food, first aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools, and emergency supplies. Food is to cover 3-5 days of nonperishable foods. Though they add that bulk foods such as wheat, powdered milk, corn and soybeans can be stored for long periods of time and everything should be stored in insect and rodent proof containers.

Under tools and supplies they suggest having on hand the following: extra batteries, mess kits, paper goods, battery-operated radios, flashlights, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, cash (including change), non-electric can operner and utility knife, fire extinguisher, tube tent, pliers, adjustable wrench, plastic storage containers, signal flares, paper and pencil, needles and thread, medicine dropper, whistle, plastic sheeting, and local map. For sanitation: toilet paper, soap and liquid detergent, feminine supplies, plastic garbage bags, plastic bucket and lid, disinfectant and bleach.

Pluus complete changes of clothing, sleeping bags, work boots, rain gear, thermal underwear and sunglasses.

This is what the guide says about shelters:

"When conditions warrant, the DC Emergency Management Agency will establish community-based warming shelters for residents. Shelters are established in public schools, recreation centers, and other appropriate facilities where residents can sleep and eat. The DC Emergency Management Agency, assisted by DC Department of Human Services, the DC Department of Health, the DC Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the DC Public Schools staffs and operates the shelters. Persons needing shelter are asked to bring clothing, bathing and sanitary supplies, pre-filled prescription and other medical needs, denture and eye care materials, and special dietary supplies or requirements. With the exception of guide dogs, pets are not permitted in the shelters."

A section on dealing with pets in emergencies then follows. Then a section on "What to Do When Electrical Power is Interrupted" (including discussion of generators). Also section on "Keeping Warm in Your Home." Then small sections on y2k planning at home and at work, and warning about travel. Also urges folks to check on neighbors.

Also notes that a series of community meetings and workshops are scheduled in the city to help residents and businesses plan for potential y2k emergencies.

The detail in this flyer was quite something. If DC is telling their residents this much, what else do they know? I'm off to get more stuff. Don't know where I'll put it.

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), October 11, 1999

Answers

I especially like this sentence: "Our Y2K preparations are right on schedule" That certainly isn't what the GAO said in its Sep 24th report entitled "Status of the District of Columbia's Efforts to Renovate Systems and Develop Contingency and Continuity Plans." In the executive summary on page 2, for example, we find the sentence "Remediation measures for many mission-critical systems are not yet complete, testing is far from finished, and schedules for some projects have slipped over the last several months."

Ed

-- Ed Yourdon (ed@yourdon.com), October 11, 1999.

this sounds suspiciously like the one the virginia communities sent out. wonder if this is actually a template created by none other than the white house Y2K czar???? read closely and tell me if 1) it is dubbed "emergency preparedness", 2) they talk about preparing for 3-5 days for weather related emergencies, 3) they say something about how no one knows how long y2k disruptions will last but that business/government are preparing to minimize disruptions.

-- tt (cuddluppy@yahoo.com), October 11, 1999.

Push is coming to shove - I do not look forward to the next few chapters of this grim tale.

-- Praying for a Miracle (ConcernedCitizen@Facing.Reality), October 11, 1999.

Ed -- yes, that's quite a statement from the mayor -- "our y2k preparations are right on schedule." But important thing to note is that he didn't say that their y2k remediation was on schedule, just their preparations -- which I guess could mean their contingency planning for when stuff fails.

TT -- (1) The guide is called "Home Guide to Emergency Preparedness: Preparing a Plan for Emergency Events and Y2k."

(2) in the section of preparing your home for an emergency they talk very generally and say "Most emergency management planners suggest having enough supplies to last you and your family for three to five days for weather-related events."

(3) In the Y2k section, they write: "In short, if any computer program includes time-sensitive calculations or comparisons, results are unpredictable. No one knows what problems may occur, how widespread they may be, or how long they will last."

"The good news is that the federal government and the District of Columbia are addressing the problem. Utility companies, financial institutions, retail businesses, and many other commercial establishments also are acting to prevent problems."

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), October 11, 1999.

Though they add that bulk foods such as wheat, powdered milk, corn and soybeans can be stored for long periods of time and everything should be stored in insect and rodent proof containers.

BIG clue.

Thanks, Libby.

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), October 11, 1999.

Libby, I found this guide online at

http://www.y2k.dcgov.org/publicinfo/y2kprepareguide/homeguidepage1.htm

Is it the same one you got in the mail? (Hotlink, please??)

Good grief, if it is the same, the mailing costs alone are enough to raise an eyebrow!

Thanks for the heads up!

-- Arewyn (isitthatlate@lready.com), October 11, 1999.

There's a place where you can download an adobe acrobat version of this guide at:

http://www.y2k.dcgov.org/publicinfo/y2kprepareguide/y2kprepareguide.ht m

(Hot link?)

I think it's worth a read if only because if they're willing to go public with this advice there....!

-- Arewyn (isitthatlate@lready.com), October 11, 1999.

"In an emergency, preparation means everything. As we look ahead to the Year 2000 and the severe weather season, your government is working hard to ensure that critical services are maintained. Our Y2K preparations are right on schedule, and we have backup plans in place for every conceivable situation. You may not experience any Y2K problems, but a severe thunderstorm, blizzard, or other emergencies can temporarily interrupt services at any time."

So if a burglar with a weapon enters a DC citizen's home, and 911 does not work, just what does the DC police department recommend to citizens given the DC law against gun ownership? (Throw marshmallows at the intruder until 911 comes back online?)

If it's more than a bump in the road, a DC 7-11 store has got to be Y2K ground zero...

-- Ann Y Body (annybody@no.where.disorg), October 11, 1999.

DC Emergency Preparedness Guide in .pdf

Click onthe baove and click to download the .pdf

PS: The original link has a blank in the URL between the ht and m which fails to link to the DC downlaod page.

Peace.

-- Bill P (porterwn@one.net), October 11, 1999.

Now that's quite an interesting little document! Also in reading the HTML version on that D.C. web-site link.

Time to lurk around the California city sites again.

Diane

Above PDF file name...

http://www.y2k.dcgov.org/publicinfo/ y2kprepareguide/dcy2k_preparedness.pdf

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

See also...

GAO Reports Up: Status of the District of Columbia's Efforts to Renovate Systems and Develop Contingency and Continuity Plans.

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id= 001Y89

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

"community-based warming shelters"

Now that's a curious phrase. Warming shelters I understand, but why "community based"? If you had a flood, and the Red Cross came in, would they tell you to get doughnuts at a "community based soup kitchen", or would they say you could eat at just a "soup kitchen"?

Was there some alternative that they wanted to make sure you DIDN'T think about? Are they *really* planning for "federally administered" warming shelters, but aren't ready to say so yet? Did the guys writing the speech, who know the plan, say "community based" because drawing that distinction meant something to THEM? The distinction would mean nothing at all to us, unless there was something to distinguish it from ...

Maybe my antennae are out too far.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), October 11, 1999.

IF I know deep down in my heart that my remediations, etc. won't even come CLOSE to being finished before (fill in the blank) 2000...and we're on that schedule of work to be done...I could honestly say that "our Y2K preparations are right on schedule." I simply haven't told you how much will be completed before Jan.1, 2000.

beej

-- beej (beej@ppbbs.com), October 11, 1999.

When conditions warrant, the DC Emergency Management Agency will establish community-based warming shelters for residents ... Persons needing shelter are asked to bring clothing, bathing and sanitary supplies, pre-filled prescription and other medical needs, denture and eye care materials, and special dietary supplies or requirements.

Now I understand why they want people to store their preps in "easy to carry" containers:

"The six basic items that should be stored in your home are water, food, first-aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools, emergency supplies and specialty items. Keep these items in one easy-to-carry container such as a trash can, camping backpack or duffel bag."

-- Cheryl (Transplant@Oregon.com), October 11, 1999.

sounds exactly like the one we got in Montgomery County, MD.

-- sarah (qubr@aol.com), October 11, 1999.

Arewyn -- Yep. It's the same one....

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), October 11, 1999.

In Fairfax County we haven't received the one promised at our county's August Y2K meeting. However, this is like the BIG insert in the Sunday Washington Post about 3 weeks ago, put out by all Northern Virginia towns/counties, with their seals pictured on the cover.

It sure didn't sound like it was only for 3 days, any more than this DC info does. Who stores bulk foods and all that other stuff for just 3 days? They are telling the populace without really TELLING the populace...that it is going to be bad.

Shudder....

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), October 11, 1999.

Ladies and Gentlemen....please keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times...

HERE WE GO!!

-- Cory Hill (coryh@strategic-services.net), October 11, 1999.

Y'all are now seeing the delicately balanced message:

"Prepare, but not too much. Get ready for something bad, but not too ready. We think you may need to have some stockpiled supplies, but don't hoard, and we'll define that term more clearly later."

This will not create a sense of urgency, but that's not what's desired, it seems. Too easy for that to become a "panic", whatever that is.

Did you know that scores of people are now rioting in Mexico, due to gov't failure to deliver disaster relief after the flooding and landslides which killed hundreds? The rioters are being clubbed senseless and arrested. This news is in our local (San Diego) paper, but isn't getting national coverage. A "local" story, it seems.

Y2K will be local.

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.hid), October 11, 1999.

In their newspaper insert on Sunday, Kroger prominently advertised a whole page of "Stock up and Save Sale!" items, to-wit, and in order of appearance on the page: cereal, soup, soda, canned veg, tuna, paper towels, peanut butter, juice, laundry detergent, dried milk, ravioli, toilet paper, firelogs, bar soap, batteries, water, flashlight, Eveready Home Readiness Light Kit, Rubbermaid containers, Coleman propane fuel, first aid kit, oil lamp, 6-gall water can, and Sterno. Sounds as if they read Stan's posts!

Thus far, there has been no flyer from the city of Durham.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), October 11, 1999.

Gawd, talk about DISCONNECT. I ask: How can ANYONE in a major city or urban area actually read through one of these Y2K info documents, understand what it is saying might happen, and then just stay put and wait to see? I mean, if you are in someplace like Dee Cee and the electricity goes out for a week, its going to be like Mad Max!

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), October 11, 1999.

Did ya'll catch the word "WHEN" conditions warrant, not IF? WHOA. When addresses something that is going to happen not maybe. Well if I saw that in my mail I'd be moving out of the area very very fast. I guess it is fortunate for the government there that most people won't understand the ramifications of that word.

I live nowhere near DC but I am off to get more preps today.

-- Stacia (ClassyCwgl@aol.com), October 12, 1999.

Found a little blurb on the back of the flyer that thanks Montgomery County, MD for content and format ideas. Also says that the production of the brochure was made possible by a grant from AT&T and Pepco... What think ye?

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), October 13, 1999.