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Category: Computers & Technology : y2k
The year 2000 is fast approaching, and many people believe that the Y2K Bug will cause havoc through-out the world. Communication, travel, distribution of goods, commerce, trade, utilities, and various other necessities could be disrupted. Experts state that there should be only a minimal disruption in services, if there is any at all; but, if you are prepared, you can survive. Whether this is true or not, it does not hurt to be prepared.
If the Y2K Bug does cause the computers around the world to go down, then you should be prepared for an interruption in utilities service, a run on the bank, and a run on the grocery stores. Now is the time to prepare. Prior to December 31st, 1999, (or some predict September 9, 1999 {9-9-99}, you should assess your needs (number of family member, special needs, etc.), go shopping, and collect all the necessary documents you will need. Do not forget the special needs of babies and the elderly. You should be prepared for at least two weeks of interrupted services. By that time the government and local emergency agencies will have corrected the problem or begun emergency operations.
After assessing your needs, you will need to go shopping.
PART 1: Shopping
Generator
The first thing to keep in mind is that the power may go out. If this happens, you may want to use a generator. However, you must decide NOW if you want to invest in a generator. They can be difficult, expensive, and dangerous. You will not be able to run most of your major appliances with it - such as washer and dryer, air conditioner/heater. Ask your local dealer for specific information about what can be operated with a generator and how long it can operate. If you decide to buy a generator, ensure that you have the correct cords and connectors. It will not do any good to have your generator sitting idle during the crisis. There are some safety tips to know if you decide to buy a generator:
Always read the manual and follow the manufacture's instructions.
Don't fill fuel tanks until needed.
Keeping a lot of fuel in a garage isn't safe.
Most starters use rope pulls, but if yours uses a battery, make sure it is kept charged.
Connect items with electrical cords directly to the generator. Make sure cords are not damaged and don't lie in water.
Do not connect the generator to your home's wiring system. If wires are damaged or wet you can be electrocuted or start a fire. And power can travel through supply lines, electrocuting people in adjacent homes or crews restoring power.
If you're determined to connect to your wiring system, consult an electrician in advance to make sure you have the proper transfer switch; this will keep power from backing up into the power lines or into other homes.
Never operate a generator inside a home. The exhaust can kill you. Keep it outside and ventilated.
Never overload generators, the instruction manual will tell you the maximum load.
Other Sources of Light
Whether you use a generator or not, you will still need a source of alternative light. Some alternatives are flashlights, battery operated lanterns, propane lamps, oil lamps (hurricane lamps), and candles. You must always be careful when using anything with a flame or fuel.
Never leave flames unattended.
Stock extra wicks, mantles, and fuel.
Stock extra batteries and bulbs for flashlights.
Buy the right size batteries for flashlights and lamps.
Food and water are more important than electricity and lights. If there is a run on the grocery stores or an interuption of utilities, you won't have a chance to get food and water later.
Food
Buy all of the non-perishable foods you will need and put them in a box. Get enough food for two weeks. Then put them in a box and leave them alone. Don't forget to stock up on ice and pack coolers. If you have a supply of food, you can avoid any runs on the grocery stores.
Here are a few suggestions for your grocery shopping:
Bottled water
Ice
Shelf-package juice and milk boxes
Canned and powdered milk
Beverages (powdered or canned, fruit juices, instant coffee, tea)
Prepared foods (canned soups, beef, spaghetti, tuna, chicken, ham, corned beef hash, fruit cocktail, packaged pudding)
Canned vegetables and fruits
Dried fruits
Snacks (crackers, cookies, hard candy, nuts)
Snack spreads (peanut butter, cheese spreads, jelly)
Cereals
Raw vegetables
Sugar, salt, pepper
Bread
Dry and canned pet food
Extra formula, baby food
Don't buy foods that are salty, or dry, or high in fat or protein; they'll make you thirsty. When shopping, keep in mind the foods that people like to eat. It does no good to buy food that people won't eat.
Determine how you will cook that food. Gas services may or may not be interrupted; however, if your home is all electric, you will need an alternative to the stove.
Gas grills, charcoal grills, and propane camp stoves are good ideas. Check your gas grill and/or camp stove before hand to make sure they are in good working order.
Have extra fuel on hand, and if you are using a charcoal grill, buy extra charcoal and matches.
Don't grill indoors! Don't even use canned heat stoves indoors. You can spill the fuel or be overcome by fumes, carbon dioxide or smoke, or start a fire.
Water
You can go weeks without food but only days without water; however, don't ration; drink as much as you need, you can always look for more water later. Figure on 2 quarts to 1 gallon of water per person per day.
Other Things to Consider
Besides electricity, food and water, there are other necessities that need to be thought out ahead of time.
After eating and drinking, the next logical step is the bathroom. You will need to purchase the following items just in case the sewers back up or there are other problems with the toilet: small can with tight lid, plastic bags for liners, disinfectant or bleach, deodorizer.
There are also baby needs to consider if you have an infant. Baby will need disposable diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, diaper rash ointment, petroleum jelly, baby medicines (pain, cold, cough), a medicine dropper, extra formula, and baby food.
Keep your checkbook balanced and withdraw some money from the ATM prior to the crisis. Keep your last bank statement and all of your latest financial statements. If the computers all go down, the bank won't know how much is in your account, and credit cards and ATM cards will not work. Don't forget to back up your computer system and all important files.
If the Y2K bug crashes the computer systems and puts the power out, drugstores will be mobbed, if they're not closed. Ensure that you have a least a two week supply of prescription drugs. As well as:
Medic-alert tags
Feminine hygiene items
Soap
First-aid kit and first-aid handbook
Extra over-the-counter medicine (for colds, allergies, cough)
Children's
medicines
Aspirin
Diarrhea medication
Bandages
Adhesive tape
Cotton-tipped swabs
Antiseptic solution
Sterile rolls, bandages
Ear drops
Thermometer
Tweezers
Needles
Disinfectant
Plastic bags, jugs or containers for water and ice
Water purification tablets (available at pharmacies and camping stores), 2 percent tincture of iodine or household bleach that contains hypochlorite as its only active ingredient -- not bleach with soap or other additives for purifying water
Plastic sheeting
While you're out, remember the television, VCR, video games, and bug zapper will not work with the electricity out, so you will have to find other means of entertainment. Read a book or catch up on all of those magazines you've never read. Make sure your hand held games have batteries and buy some board games, they don't require batteries and are just as fun. Here are a few other things that you may want to pick up:
Battery-operated radio
Extra batteries
Toilet paper
Matches
Clock (wind-up or battery-operated)
Plastic garbage bags
Working fire extinguishers
Scissors
An inexpensive rabbit-ears television antenna to use if cable goes out
Map of the area
List of phone numbers
Plastic to line bathtub to fill with water
Jugs or containers to store water
Water purification tablets (usually available only in drug stores)
Manual can opener
Bottle opener
Matches
Pocketknife - preferably Swiss Army
Disposable dishes
Ice chests or coolers
Paper plates, napkins, cutlery, cups
PART 2: Prepare At Home
Now that you've finished shopping, it is time to gather together all of your important documents - passports, wills, contracts, insurance papers, household inventory, car titles, deeds, leases, phone number list and tax information - so that they can be placed in your safe deposit box or stored in a safe place prior to the crisis.
Immediately prior to the crisis crank up your ice maker, break out the ice cube trays or fill jugs with water, so you can be making and storing ice in your freezer or coolers around the clock. Store cubes or small blocks of ice in sealed bags and containers so you can drink it after it melts. Turn your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting and drape blankets over them - but keep bottom vents clear. Then move perishables you'll use first into ice chests to limit opening of refrigerators. Designate one cooler you will open regularly; fill that with drinks and less perishable items. Set aside other coolers for more perishable things such as meats and open them only rarely. Fill your refrigerator and freezer. Food will stay cold longer when the power goes out and frozen food is as good as a block of ice. Fill extra ice cube trays or plastic jugs and freeze them. Make sure coolers are packed with ice.
Clean your bathtub thoroughly, then wash it with bleach. Rinse it thoroughly. If possible, line it with plastic. Then fill it and as many clean bottles as you can with drinking water. Fill your toilet tank; you'll want it to flush after the crisis.
If you run out of water, there are other water sources such as; the water in your water heater. To use it just turn off the power - otherwise the empty tank could explode when power resumes - and open the spigot at the bottom. Don't reconnect until utility officials say the water supply is safe. There is also water in your toilet tank, tub, and pipes. If you're not comfortable
about drinking the water in your tub, pipes, water heater or toilet tank, make that your water for washing or flushing. Don't waste good drinking water cleaning up.
There are other ways to get good, clean, drinking water. Purify all water that is not bottled. This can be done several ways.
1. Bring water to a 3- to 5-minute rolling boil. You can improve flavor by adding a pinch of salt.
2. Household bleach, which contains hypochlorite as its only active ingredient. Never use bleach containing soap, lemon or other additives. Use eight drops per gallon of clear water or 16 drops per gallon of cloudy water. Mix thoroughly and let stand 30 minutes. The water should have a slight chlorine smell; if it doesn't, repeat the dose and let it stand another 15
minutes.
3. Purify with household (2 percent) tincture of iodine: use 12 drops per gallon. Be very careful that you don't use the wrong strength.
4. Water purification tablets. Follow instructions.
As far as food is concerned you should grill perishable meats. They will stay edible longer than raw meats. When power returns, you can safely refreeze foods that still are half frozen. Here are a few safety tip when dealing with food:
Safe at room temperature for a few days
Fresh fruits, vegetables
Dried fruits, coconut
Opened jars of salad dressing, peanut butter, jelly, pickled products, barbecue or taco sauces, ketchup, mustard, olives
Fruit juices
Hard or processed cheeses
Butter or margarine
Unsafe:
Frozen fish or shellfish that have no ice crystals
Partially melted ice cream
Food that has come in contact with flood water
Bulging, leaking or severely dented cans
If in doubt, throw it out. Being a little hungry is a lot better than being sick. Food that smells fine may still contain bacteria, and it takes only a tiny amount to make you very sick. Diarrhea depletes fluids you can't easily replace when drinking water is at a premium. Throw out any meat that isn't at least ice cold. Grill perishable meats. Note: Even cooked meat must stay cold and is good for only three to four days. Keep hands clean at all times. Sanitation will be a real problem. Eat and drink perishables first. Pace your eating.
There's no need to stuff yourself just to get rid of perishable food.
Every time you open the refrigerator, you waste valuable cold air and sharply reduce the life span of perishable food inside.
Unsafe if above 40 degrees for more than two hours:
Fruit pies
Raw or uncooked meats, poultry or seafood
Milk, cream, yogurt, soft cheeses
Cooked pasta without sauce, pasta salads
Custard, chiffon or cheese pies
Fresh eggs, egg substitutes
Meat-topped pizza, lunch meats
Casseroles, stews or soups
Mayonnaise and tartar sauce
Refrigerator cookie dough
Cream-filled pastries
Call the U.S. Department of Agriculture Meat and Poultry Hotline: (800) 535-4555. TTY/TTD (for the hearing impaired): (800) 256-7072. Web page: www.fsis.usda.gov
The toilet may not work or may back up. If necessary, use water from the bathtub to flush the toilet. Pour some bleach in the bowl after each use.
Unplug all of you electrical appliances and do not plug them in again until you are told it is safe to do so. Don't forget pets and plants.
When the computers crash, the electricity goes out, and everyone is going crazy, relax, you are prepared. You have food and water. You can survive the Y2K bug without much difficulty as long as you are prepared. Even if nothing happens, you will be prepared for any crisis or natural disaster.
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