I LOVE THIS!!! so for all those months, the government has been saying that merchants selling preparedness products were just trying to bilk the public out of their money. Looks like the government decided to jump on the bandwagon. I don't fault this (as long as the prices are fair)--I do fault that they have assailed merchants doing the same for a long time!!!!

http://www.msnbc.com/local/KRNV/49370.asp

-- tt (cuddluppy@nowhere.com), November 29, 1999

Answers

Disaster preparation store opens in RENO, Nevada

After receiving a lot of calls from folks wondering what they should have on hand in the event of an emergency. The Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Red Cross opened a store just in time for the year 2000. Once inside the store a customer will find everything you need here in case of an emergency. Among other items, there is a one person emergency backpack that includes a battery powered radio, flashlight, a water purifying kit, and a box of water and food. The idea behind the survival one person backpack is to be able to survive for 72 hours on his/her own. This backpack costs $55.00. However, the Red Cross is selling smaller and larger kits depending upon a persons needs. There are also pet first aid kits for sale. Even if a person doesnt purchase some of the handy items on sale in the store. Red Cross workers are handing out disaster supply boxes for free. The boxes are empty; however, a list of all the items needed is inside the box. So, you can build your own kit. Red Cross workers say that the most important items needed are water, food and warm clothes.

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Dang... I wish I had known about this before the weekend... would've headed to Reno. Another tidbit in the "interesting timing" catagory:

New mint for Carson City

CARSON CITY, Nevada, Nov. 26  Organizers call it history in the making. For a few hours Saturday, the State Museum in Carson City will return to its old status as a mint. Silver Millennium Commemorative Coins will be minted form 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. or until the coins run out. Theyll be virtually pure silver and will be going for $25.00.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), November 29, 1999.

"Interesting."

Well to be precise, the Red Cross is NOT a government agency... but it's close enough... for government work.

;-D

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 29, 1999.

The Red Cross, like the US Post Office, is NOT an official government agency but does receive partial funding from Uncle Sam. There can be no argument as to the good work that the Red Cross has done but they have a history of charging for many of their services. They are run like a typical corporation with salaries and overhead expenses that must be replenished. For them to enter into a retail sales operation like this should come as no surprise. The question is, why so late into the game? Have to wonder how many more of these outlets will be put into service, if any. Why Reno?

-- Ready (4@it.com), November 29, 1999.