The local news just did a segment on Y2K preps. They showed a PACKED Cosco and the manager there said they are getting an extra 1,000+ people per day mostly buying water, canned goods, TP and Gas Grills. One guys cart had ONLY water and TP. They said despite Cosco's expansion of their water aisle (they showed a literal MOUNTAIN of water) that by the end of each day they are CLEANED OUT!

Then they moved onto an Army-Navy store where the owner said lots of older people were coming in to stock up. He said one couple came in with a list that had Y2K written at the top and they just filled up like kids in a candy store. THEN when they cut back to the newscasters they segued by saying "and now here's someone who is fully stocked for Y2K, our weather man..."

Yes boys and girls, the herd finally moves.

On a personal note, I just returned some movies to West Coast Video. They had a little sign up by the register saying "Please bear with us while we get Y2K compliant!" About two months ago I went in and saw a whole bunch of techies swapping out machines and installing new software for Y2K. I knew what they were doing since they were talking about making the systems Y2K compliant. Well, two months later and it looks like the 'upgrade' isn't going so well. One can only hope it's going better elsewhere...

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), December 29, 1999

Answers

Newschannel/affiliate network, please. Could be interesting.

-- Simpleminded (nope@wont.never), December 29, 1999.

What city are you located in....? Thanks for the update Tech...

Blessings...

-- STFrancis (STFrancis@heaven.com), December 29, 1999.

The herd is NOT moving here. Was out and about in a large city this morning and virtually nothing happening.

-- (Here@today.com), December 29, 1999.

It's News12 New Jersey. I don't even think they have a website. I believe they are a subsidiary of The Star-Ledger but I don't know for sure. These are the folks who reported on Operation Phoenix Readiness at Fort Dix when no one else was covering it.

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), December 29, 1999.

Yes. News12 NewJersey DOES have a website:

http://www.news12.com/newjersey/njstories/newsnj3.shtml

However, nothing in there except a report on the increase in gun purchases this year (except in Jersey, I guess you've all already got one) and how the Transit Authority is stopping the trains a few minutes before midnight.

Funny. I didn't know they HAD Coscos on the East Coast....or West Coast Videos, either....

-- Simpleminded (nope@wont.never), December 29, 1999.

I agree. Drove by the bank and noticed long lines outside. At the local Wal-Mart and K-Mart, parking lots are both full and more people then I have ever seen. Gas lines are starting to form at the stations. Drove by a few, just to check, and noticed not only are they filling up the cars and trucks, but also a large number of containers. At one, it looked like someone way trying to fill a milk (?) carton and a heated discussion was taking place between a numbers of the customers. The large Truck Stop just outside of town is full, and I noticed a number of large RVs filling up. Was some what surprised to see the owners not only filling up their RVs, but also a large number of, what looked like 5 gallon or larger size containers of gas. Will maintain my watch. No sign of NG here, yet. It the lines grew any larger and the people, like the ones at the gas station, start letting the tempers flair, who knows. Local Police is out in force keeping a watch. Glad I am not one of them. Will try to post back soon.

Bob

-- bob (bobwalters@cwo.com), December 29, 1999.

Most of the herd will get their yearend checks today, Thursday or Friday. Having blown their pay from last week on Christmas shopping, the few and and the proud will spend their last checks on TP, etc. The herd is beginning to smell an ill wind.

-- idunno (idunno@whoknows.com), December 29, 1999.

LOTS of talk in the stores in Kalamazoo, Michigan about Y2K. Quite a few carts with little but water and such. Candles at the Army surplus store (out of most kinds).

-- mushroom (mushroom_bs_too_long@yahoo.com), December 29, 1999.

We do have Costco's in New Jersey, and West Coast Videos..thank you very much. In fact, I have one of both in my town too.

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), December 29, 1999.

Thanks for the link. I bookmarked it.

However, nothing in there except a report on the increase in gun purchases this year (except in Jersey, I guess you've all already got one)...

And then some...(Grin)

Funny. I didn't know they HAD Coscos on the East Coast....or West Coast Videos, either...

No Cosco's by me, this was in the middle of the state in Monmouth County. I'm way North of there. The video store became a West Coast Video about two years ago when they got bought out.

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), December 29, 1999.

My apologies, kritter. I thought Costco was a West Coast phenomenon. I learn something new everyday.

-- Simpleminded (nope@wont.never), December 29, 1999.

I learn something new everyday.

-- Simpleminded (nope@wont.never), December 29, 1999

Then there is still hope for you... Simpleminded one...

-- Forum Regular (Here@y2k.comx), December 29, 1999.

Here's one for you TECH32--

FOF(very reliable,etc.) ---

Houston Federal Reserve delivering $129 Million a day to local banks, much more than normal daily cash amount.

Nope, no URL for that one, I'm afraid. Would make an interesting local spotlight story on say, ABC, CBS or NBC. CNN could have it first, if they wanted it.

-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), December 29, 1999.

Central Ohio:

My brother works for a local Meijer's store. I just called him to have him pick up more cough medicine (bronchitis is no fun, believe me) - the first words out of his mouth were "Bottled water is flying outta here today." and that the water situation was on the front page of the paper (not sure if he was speaking of the Columbus Dispatch or USA Today).

Anyway, the stampede is on... Head uphill and AWAY from the herd.

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), December 29, 1999.

Have any of you ever heard a herd move????

Believe me----there wont be any questions IF the herd is moving.

YOU WILL KNOW IT.

Starts tomorrow afternoon. Show time!!!!

-- ...d.... (dciinc@aol.com), December 29, 1999.

What is TP?

-- Jeff Sanders (JSanders@nospam.com), December 29, 1999.

Deb:

Enlighten us please. What was the headline about the "water situation" and what was the gist of the story.

-- Interested Spectator (is@the_ring.side), December 29, 1999.

Jeff, TP= Toilet Paper (available by the case at Sam's)

-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), December 29, 1999.

Hi TECH32. Just got back from both Home Depot and Costco. Had to leave Costco without getting anything it was so crowded inside with people lined up at registers and all the way down the aisles! Many carts had 5 gal water bottles, others had cases of water, tp, all the usual suspects. Home depot was just normal. Guess everyone is at Costco. They still had lots of stock (water, gen sets, tp, batteries, etc). I asked the person at the door how long it was like that and he said all day, and that they weren't expecting it to be 'this bad'.

So that is the latest from here, in the Land of the DGIs, where some folks are finally getting ready for the 'three day storm'.

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@here.now), December 29, 1999.

If you still need to get some supplies, the best time to go is late at night when they are restocking the shelves...(24 hour Walmart)...hardly anyone is there shopping late...

BTW...in the lawn & garden section they had a large new display by NK of "Kitchen Crop Sprouters"...it has three divided sections and comes with a large packet of Alphalfa seed for about $10...there is also a selection of various seed combinations to choose from, 4 ounces ea. for about $2.50...

compared to other prices on sprouting seeds it was pretty good...but it just says it is all natural...no claims to being organic on the label...

-- Texas Terri (DeepintheHeart@Texas.com), December 29, 1999.

Rob,

Thanks for the Home Depot update. I'm actually heading there tomorrow for some 2x4's (the VERY LAST thing on my list). I could do without them but they're just so damned handy to have around I decided to get a few more. After that I'm Done (with a big 'D').

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), December 29, 1999.

Just stopped by the lcoal Safeway (Auburn WA), no sign of any herd moving. Shelves fully stocked (except the offbrand on sale TP). But the other day, when filling up the ole RV (can't remember if it was the propane or the gas), the attendent made an enquiring comment about why I was getting ready - told him ski season was here, time to spend time on the slopes. Why bother wasting time explaining what I'm doing?

-- Phread (lurking@y2k.com), December 29, 1999.

Hello,

I went to Wal Mart in a NW Suburb of Chicago last night (Dec. 28).

Every oil lamp in the store was gone (they had plenty a week ago) all of the clear oil, and blue oil was gone about six bottles of plum/purple left (I grabbed two).

The flashlight aisle was crowded and about half of the flashlights were cleared out.

All of the Coleman Cookstoves were gone (except display models) they had pallet loads of these cookstoves until very recently (which IMO is not normal in the Midwest in the Winter) All battery operated lanterns were sold with only a couple propane models left on shelves. Propane stock was low.

They were out of seven gallon gas cans & there were only a few five gallon containers left, plenty of one gallon cans.

There were multiple pallets of water in the main aisle of the store all of which were almost empty. They had extra pallets of water (still wrapped) in the garden center.

The toilet paper aisle was decimated & laundry detergent was almost gone as well.

About half the candle shelves were empty & they had two cases of outdoor citranella candles on the shelf, which was really strange to see when there is snow on the ground outside.

I saw a young very Suburbanite couple trying to decide what kind of ammo to purchase (with a young child in the cart...(chuckle) they did not fit the 'profile'.

I saw many people with multiple gas cans, quantaties of water & other typical y2k prep items in their carts. I saw more people prepping last night than I have seen total in the last year.

I then went to the grocery store which was utterly normal and did not see one person that might be prepping. The only thing different there was the types of things on display/sale in their main (impulse purchase) aisle. Bottled water, spam, tuna, and the like. All of the shelves were fully stocked except the canned soup aisle which had taken a healthy hit. I hope that grocery store looks exactly the same in the following months.

Peace to you,

-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), December 29, 1999.

Out this past monday at the Lowe's in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Not much of a crowd,plenty of stuff to choose from and pretty much finished off my preps. But - there were a stack of about 12 generators toward the front of the store and each time I passed by there making my way up and down the aisles,there were several people hanging out lookin' over these gennies. By the time I left there ( about 90 minutes ), 10 of them were gone. Last night my wife was at WALMART in W-B getting a few more things.She picked up 4 gas containers from a shelf that had only 6. She told me that she noticed some guy following her around the store. He finally approached her and DEMANDED that she give him one of those containers so that they both could have three.She told him to shove it, picked-up her cell phone and started to call the township police. The creep left at that point.

Things are getting weirder.

-- JR.MINT (duckand@cover.net), December 29, 1999.

JR. MINT:

Sorry to say, but people will become meaner as their panic increases.

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), December 29, 1999.

OK, to clarify: while in the store there was a measure of security. But when consumers leave the store and go to their cars, they are out of sight of store security guards and in the sight of potential thieves. WTSHTF, there will be a massive rise in thefts occurring in unsecured parking lots. Be prepared for self defense!

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), December 29, 1999.

Just a few interesting items for the day.

Been trying to get a delivery of floral arrangement sent by a friend for the past week. Got a call from local floral retailer early afternoon. They wanted to know if I had received it yet, seems they've had a few "glitches in their system" and were having to call all on list -- some have called stating they received 2 arrangements and are finding others had none. They would send one out right away, not yet -- they are a somewhat small family business in the city -- would like to know the cost of to correct this computer error. Some small businesses are going to have a hard time surviving. Nice older woman stated that she does not want to hear about 2000, right now it's bad enough before.

No lines -- no shortages here, but then again you can quote someone $200 to go look at an AC/heat unit that's not functioning evening and weekend and they do not blink an eye -- may not seem that extreme, but most of these have 4 other systems functioning properly in their residences and they've got to have the 1 broken fixed immediately. I honestly don't know how they would reaction to all 5 not working w/o power.

More money out of the bank - was expecting to get lecture or an unpleasant disposition. Instead, got the bills I wanted and was told by teller that the bank (major bank) had not thought this through, as the orders were put in a long time ago for large bills as that was what people would want. She stated that that they're ordering as many 10's and 20's as they can possibly get to just keep up.

Previous thread about gun sales and comments about maybe some first time purchasers out there. Husband has been making some purchases over last couple of days and has seen quite the opposite (don't want to group people) but according to descriptions of appearance, etc. they were not first timers -- younger, gang type of clothing, etc. Can't wait to seem when these meet up w/the first timers, I'm planning to stay away from both.

-- claurann (claurann@aol.com), December 29, 1999.

I carry my North American Firearms .22 mag "Black Widow." A woman just isn't safe anymore, we're too vulnerable.

-- ~~~~~ (~~~~@~~~.xcom), December 29, 1999.

dinosaur

absolutely-excellent reminder.we agreed that it would be better if we went out together(if it's necessary after work to so) to watch each other's back. frankly it's probably _best_ to start hangin' out here as much as possible to stay out of harm's way.

-- JR.MINT (duckand@cover.net), December 29, 1999.