I have really tried to keep myself and my thoughts above the fray when it comes to the whole Y2K issue. It is difficult.
At the beginning of the year, as the hype was making an early peak, I shook my head at some friends and neighbors who talked of hoarding food and water, withdrawing their money from banks and investments (including the stock market) and buying generators and maybe even weapons to protect their families to get ready for the big event.
It all seemed a little alarmist, bordering on nuts to me.
We see a lot of Y2K “stuff” crossing the various news wires and services each day in the news business … direct deposit is the way to ensure you get paid in Y2K … be wary of fraudulent telemarketers posing as financial institutions and asking you to transfer money to protect your accounts from Y2K havoc … and countless other suggestions and warnings.
The radio station I listen to on the way to work sponsors Y2K Wednesday each week. The station brings in one self-proclaimed expert or another either to discuss possible worst-case scenarios or to laugh at all of the doom-sayers.
My husband thinks I should stop listening to such talk shows because I keep coming home and saying things like, “Now I am not buying into this whole Y2K thing, but I think it would be a good idea to buy an extra package of diapers each time we go to the store from now on … and I think we need to get a safe, too.”
Last week in the middle of a large spring thunderstorm the power went out in our neighborhood during the night. The sudden silence woke me up, so of course I had to alert my still-sleeping husband. I was afraid we wouldn’t wake up in time for work without the alarm. We knew where the candles were but it took a little time to find the matches. We couldn’t locate a flashlight, let alone batteries. I wasn’t concerned about food or water for a one-night power outage, but to have light and know what time it was seemed kind of important.
There are probably some basic things to be done before Y2K just to be on the safe side.
Candles, matches, batteries, a flashlight, a radio, a charged cell phone … before last week I had neglected to add these to my Y2K home preparedness list.
It is encouraging that the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry solutions has completed a Y2K test of the public switched telephone network without problems. I am sure the average Joe does not realize his cellular phone call is dependent on the public switched telephone network at some point-just as he also can’t remember where his batteries or flashlight are.
The associated wireless to wireline testing by CTIA and several manufacturers also was successful. Hopefully wireless carriers are just as prepared.
