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Please note the contradiction here: Ellen Gordon, director of the Iowa Division of Emergency Management, said her family also has no special Y2K preparation plans. "We have enough food in our home to survive for two weeks to a month," she said. "We have a portable radio and flashlights with batteries."

I find it AMAZING the director has AMASSED a TWO WEEK TO ONE MONTH supply(she's not hoarding you see) of food but yet she has the audacity to inform others to only prepare for about a 3 day winter storm. What kind of storm is she preparing for and why is this not considered HOARDING??

JOHN McCORMICK Register Staff Writer 11/29/1999

A year ago, Linda Dietz was planning to stockpile food and buy a generator because she was concerned there would be food and power shortages when Jan. 1, 2000, arrives.

Yet with the deadline for fixing Year 2000 computer problems barely more than a month away, Dietz has mellowed considerably in her attitudes and planned preparations.

"I might have a few extra things but not major stocks of food," said Dietz, a member of the Central Iowa Computer Users Group and a Des Moines resident. "There's a real sense of calm that I didn't have before."

The hoarding of food and other supplies is one of the greatest concerns experts have about theal weeks of December, when nervousness about Y2K is expected to climax.

While most retailers have yet to report any Y2K-induced buying binges,ere is concern that pictures in the media of just a few empty store shelves could set off panic buying at the end of the month.

A recent national poll by the Yankelovich Partners showed that 44 percent of Americans said they might withdraw extra cash and stockpile food or water before the end of the year, while 30 percent said they might buy extra fuel for their vehicles or home.

Some Iowans are stockpiling large quantities of supplies, but experts suggest that major purchases are unnecessary to properly prepare.

Instead, they say, people should simply have the kinds of extra supplies they would want during a blizzard: a few days' worth of food, some water and battery-powered lights and radios.

"I"m going to do very little," said John Post, who has worked to resolve Y2K problems for a Des Moines insurance company. "I have a gas grill, so I can cook, I"ll probably have some extra water on hand just in case, but I"m not stockpiling food."

Ellen Gordon, director of the Iowa Division of Emergency Management, said her family also has no special Y2K preparation plans. We have enough food in our home to survive for two weeks to a month," she said. "We have a portable radio and flashlights with batteries."

Paul Maakestad, the Year 2000 project manager for MidAmerican Energy, said his family doesn't plan to do anything special to prepare. "We try to be provisioned in the event of a winter storm that keeps us indoors," he said.

Part of Maakestad's confidence comes as the result of his belief that the power will stay on. "We don"t anticipate that electric or gas service is going to be compromised for any significant period of time," he said.

The Red Cross says that its Y2K recommendations are not new and that it"s always prudent to have emergency supplies on hand in case of disaster. The agency recommends that families have enough food and supplies to last at least three days.

Some major retailers plan to boost their stocks of items people tend to buy before storms.

Ruth Mitchell, a spokeswoman for West Des Moines-based Hy-Vee Inc., said her company is bulking up on about 35 items that might be in greater demand during December. The items include batteries, water, baby food, canned goods, peanut butter and toilet tissue.

Mitchell said Hy-Vee has yet to see any extra buying as a result of Y2K, but the company is prepared to move in extra products to stores that might experience heavy buying.

Federal Reserve officials have said U.S. businesses and individuals will probably spend more money than usual stockpiling goods at the end of the year because of Y2K, although the overall impact on the economy is expected to be minimal.

How to prepare

State officials have recommended preparing for Y2K much the way you would for a major winter storm. If you're going to stock up for Y2K, here are some things to consider:

BATTERIES: Have extra batteries for radios and flashlights.

CASH: Have some extra cash, just in case automated teller machines fail.

Although the Federal Reserve is boosting the nation's currency supply to accommodate extra Y2K withdraws, bankers have encouraged consumers not to withdraw too much, for fear that thieves will take advantage of the situation.

COOKING: If power fails, plan to use alternative cooking devices in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. Don't use open flames or charcoal indoors.

FOOD: If you're storing canned or dry goods, monitor expiration dates. Most experts agree that a three-day supply will get you through most emergencies. Make sure you have a non-electric can opener.

GASOLINE: Fill vehicle gas tanks several days before the end of the year, to avoid last-minute rushes. If you plan to store extra fuel for electrical generation, make sure it's stored in a safe location outside your home.

MISCELLANEOUS: Make sure first-aid kits are stocked with fresh supplies.

WATER: Water storage containers should be food-grade quality. If your local water is treated commercially by a water treatment utility, you do not have to treat the water before storing it. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons and glass bottles. Empty soda bottles are better than milk jugs because protein residue might cling to milk bottles. Store one gallon of water per person per day. It's important to change and replace stored water every six months.

Sources: American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, wire services

-- y2k dave (xsdaa111@hotmail.com), December 05, 1999

Two of the smarter Time Bomb 2000ers flaunting their brainpower. Have you mental giants figured out you are typing in italics?

Love, The y2k dave Cleanup Crew

-- The y2k dave Cleanup Crew (don't@charge.enough), December 05, 1999.

"Stockpiling" = What Da Fedz or the NYSE-listed companies do. Goooood company. Goooood Fedz.

"Hoarding" = What you've done. Baaaaad citizen.

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), December 05, 1999.

Thanks cleanup crew. You surely don't get paid enough and I thought I had this html down pat.

-- y2k dave (xsdaa111@hotmail.com), December 05, 1999.

Anyone with half a brain that lives in an area that can get blizzards will easily have preparations for a month. It is just something that you do. In the winter you don't run to the store every other day like you do in the 'burbs. And in Iowa, there aren't too many 'burbs!! Get real...there are tons of people like my family that are ALWAYS PREPARED. Its as natural as breathing. There will be lots of people who will survive just fine that have never heard of y2k. They have their winter wood in, the larder is stocked with store goods and all the produce from the summer's garden, the hay and grain are in for the winter, the flour barrel is full for the winter, the propane tanks are all topped off, the diesel tanks are all topped off for the farm machinery and the heaters in the barns where necessary. There are lots of people in this vast country who do live like this ALL OF THE TIME. Its you people in the 'burbs and the cities that don't have a clue as to how to take care of yourselves that are the real problem. And I am not being critical here, just stating a fact.

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie123@aol.com), December 05, 1999.

The hoarding accusation has always bugged me. I read a newspaper article recently indicating that those who 'hoarded food, water, and other supplies' would be the cause of trouble (not the solution, of course). I wish they could tell me how I could hoard water !! I have a 30,000 gal pool, one water barrel, two toilet tanks, a bathtub and 3 sinks (also a well and gen). Is THAT considered hoarding ? Ludicrous, of course.

I do wonder, though, why those who have infinitely more possessions (toys), of every kind, than the average person aren't labeled *hoarders*. Actually, none of the diamonds, cars, boats, furs, houses, etc., etc., etc., that they have *accumulated* (does that equal hoarding ?) will do much for them when push comes to shove in the game of survival. Maybe I could acquire a nice boat for a loaf of bread and jug of water...

-- Kenin Marble (kenin17@yahoo.com), December 05, 1999.

AMMO:have extra #4 buckshot loaded in your mossberg 500shotgun(around $150 dollars,kmart/wal-mart)in case your skeptic neighbor freaks out and thinks he can steal your children's food and medicine.

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), December 05, 1999.

>hoarding is stocking up when no need

Look. Hoarding is good. If I buy a ton of coffee when I know the price is going to skyrocket in the future I have helped the poor retailer empty out the overstocked shelves while I have saved future money.

Win, win. My reward is I can drink the cheap coffee or sell to others at a fair price (determined by supply and demand) when prices are higher and coffee is scarce.

Who loses in these transactions?

Nobody, that's who!

-- cgbg jr (cgbgjr@webtv.net), December 05, 1999.

Ah...... I love that word HOARDING.

I am a HOARDER and I know it. I admit it. OK!

I also plan to HOARD the telephone lines at 12:00:001 January 1, 2000. I just can't stand the wait.

-- the Virginian (1@1.com), December 05, 1999.

It's always prudent to be prudent . . . but not too prudent.

-- (Prudence@bulkingup.com), December 05, 1999.