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Technology Stocks : Discuss Year 2000 Issues -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ken who wrote (7608)	8/2/1999 3:14:00 PM
From: Ken	Respond to of 9818

<CITIES WILL BURN> This has long been my #1 Y2K fear-I've written an analysis on this subject-not one person has been able to find a hole in it. This article is perhaps better than my paper. I have not posted my paper here as I did not want to be slammed as a 'doomer'!:>) <<< Subject Cities Will Burn y2ktimebomb.com Comment: This one has been on my mind ever since the Montreal ice storm crisis of January, 1998. Well, actually, ever since it ended. The city's mayor decided not to alert the public that the water treatment facility was about to shut down for lack of power. Untreated water would have flowed into any unfrozen pipes. Why the silence? Because Montreal's fire marshall convinced the mayor that there was a greater threat than untreated water: fire. He told the mayor that if the people were alerted, they would fill their bathtubs with water, thereby lowering water pressure. If a fire broke out at that point, it might spread untrollably. It will be cold in January. Someone in every city will do something stupid to keep warm if power goes off for 72 hours. Fires will begin. How will they end? We have relied on water pressure to protect our cities from fire. Without electrical power, pressure will drop. Then what? Susan Conniry, the survivalist, discusses this on Westergaard's site (August 2). * * * * * * * * * * * * * Last week I received the following e-mail: "I just had lunch with a State official. He had just returned from a meeting of Emergency Managers in Washington, D.C. During that session, the managers were advised that within 24 hours after the roll-over into the Year 2000, it was anticipated that every major city in the United States would be on fire, and their contingency plans should include provisions accordingly." Whether or not you believe the message to be valid (the sender asked to remain anonymous), after you consider the possibilities that might lead to this kind of scenario, you should be more than convinced. Last January during our Preparedness workshop, my husband advised the audience (as we always do) as to the precautionary measures that should be observed when there is an open flame of any kind. He made particular emphasis that a burning candle should NEVER be left unattended. As if to prove him correct, the local YWCA burned that night. The reason? A resident (who hadn't attended the workshop) left a candle burning in her room, it fell over and the rest is history. The likelihood for these kinds of accidents will be exponential if the power is out for any time period at all. Although candles with an open flame require due diligence another concern is the storage of quantities of flammable liquids. Ask yourself how many of your neighbors have stored various fuels (diesel, gasoline, propane, and/or kerosene) in their garages? Many of them will have paid no mind to simple safety precautions for storage of any flammable and combustible materials. . . . And, of course, in an emergency situation there is always a chance of civil chaos. Riots in the streets that more often than not lead to fires. . . . Now add insult to injury for the emergency/safety services personnel. At a Law Enforcement Y2K readiness meeting in June 1999, the representative of the Office of Emergency Services (California) informed the group that another concern for emergency managers is the fact that legislation has just been passed to allow the use of fireworks for New year's Eve celebrations. There was a collective groan from all in attendance. . . . Tip of the Week Regardless of the reason, fire or otherwise, being prepared to go mobile is always important. It is prudent to have an "escape" action plan in case you need to relocate from your home. Determine various escape routes and relocation possibilities ahead of time and make sure your entire family has several rendezvous points. . . . Car packs are vital, but what if you must leave on foot? A backpack is like having your house on your back. It is an essential item for a complete personal preparedness program. Items contained in your pack must provide you with the basic survival necessities: shelter, water, fire and food. Contents: (this is a list - you may want to add or subtract items but keep it simple). . . . y2ktimebomb.com