Link: http://www.albertaweb.com/year2000/docs/doc3800.html

http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonNews/es.es-12-22-0013.html

Wednesday, December 22, 1999

The Max says it's ready for Y2K

By DAVIS SHEREMATA, EDMONTON SUN

  Prisoners at the maximum-security Edmonton Institution may be surrounded by other criminals, but they never worry where their next meal is going to come from.

Now inmates at "The Max" are free from worries about going without power, food and television thanks to the Y2K computer bug, too.

"On the off chance that something does happen (on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1), we have made sure we have enough food, medicine and water in place for three months," said Rick Dyhm, Max spokesman.

"In the event that power is cut off and food and water are cut off, we can provide all basic necessities."

Corrections Canada has Y2K-tested its most critical computerized systems twice already and expects no major problems, but it is preparing in case its suppliers of water and electricity are not as well prepared.

Staff will have satellite telephones and hand-held radios on hand in case the telephone system goes down.

All prisoners, as per normal routine, will be locked in their cells when the clock hits midnight. Although cell doors are operated electronically, doors that are shut will stay closed if the power dies.

"If the power goes off, the doors stay locked and we can only open them with a key," said Dyhm.

Should the power kick off and the guard towers go dark, Dyhm said it will only be a few seconds before the prison's backup generator kicks in.

"We have a very good generator that's served us well for the last 22 years," Dyhm said. "I believe we've purchased or rented some additional generators as well.

"We had a Y2K compliance review and we were rated one of the best correctional facilities in the country when it comes to Y2K preparedness."

-- me (me@not.me), December 23, 1999

Answers

It just goes to prove the old saw about the only two groups that are always taken care of...prisoners and slaves.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), December 23, 1999.

Good GI's now all I hope for is the prison doors stay locked!

-- Susan Barrett (sue59@bellsouth.net), December 23, 1999.

Damn! if there was one area that I had hoped was DGI and had made NO preps it is Maximum security prisons....

-- (no cull@the.max), December 23, 1999.

Gosh, now I'll get a good nights rest. I've worried and worried about these prisoners. What a relief knowing that they're ok.

What's this make the rest of us? Chopped Liver?

-- RIchard (Astral-Acres@webtv.net), December 23, 1999.

Hey, it IS a release in knowing the @#$@ers aren't going to get out.. ;)

Leo

-- Leo (lchampion@ozemail.com.au), December 23, 1999.

THE FCI IN NORTH WEST FLA HAS FOOD& FUEL FOR THIRTY DAYS & THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN IF THE POWER GOES OUT. ALL LEAVE HAS BEEN CANCELD THEY ARE ON ALERT.

-- Rkrato (RKRATO2862@PHONL.COM), December 23, 1999.