I live in Port Charlote, on the gulf side of Florida. At 10 AM this morning the news media were forecasting that Huricane Irene would hit our town on Saturday. I went to the bank to get some money out. A notice was on the door that the bank was closed due to the possible potential huricane. I then noticed that all of the local banks were closed.

At noon I went to the supermarket and tried to cash a check but they didn't have any money left. About thirty people were trying to cash thier paychecks but had been turned away.

So here was an instance where the banks could have safely waited until about 6PM before closing but they did'nt. It was very eye opening to see the ramifications of the bank's action. Do you think I will depend on them for money when Y2K hits? Don't think so.

-- Watcher4 (anon@anon.com), October 15, 1999

Answers

Humm.

Be well and stay dry Watcher4!

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), October 15, 1999.

I am SO GLAD you posted this.

When remnants of "Floyd" were due to pass over Long Island the entire Fleet Bank (formerly NatWest) closed down at 12pm. The storm didnt show up until 8pm that day and when it did it was 35mph winds with rain. I went to the bank at 1pm to deposit 6 checks and saw a line at the ATM and the bank closed. People in line were saying one thing "Why the hell are they closed, everything else is open."

It was true, EVERYTHING on Long Island was open except the banks. At 1pm there were no real winds and only drizzle.

Remember, the banks can close for anything. If rumour starts that Y2k might cause unruly customers the bank will close to PROTECT US from unruly mobs.

-- hamster (hamster@mycage.com), October 15, 1999.

Watcher4,

People have loudly shared that in the Floyd aftermath money wasn't of any use. The survivors of the recent Mexican flooding said the same. Once the shelves are bare there isn't anything to purchase. You've got to develop the habit of being prepared for any emergency. It should be you sitting smugly in front of the t.v. watching the "sheeple" go forth in the Day Before Madness.

Y2K will be nasty and I honestly don't know if having any cash will do much good. People aren't going to trade beans for it because a number of Y2K'ers aren't convinced the currency will hold up.

Remember your history. The Donner Party had a very wealthy family in its midst and that family went hungry. Money did nothing for them trapped in that storm.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), October 15, 1999.

The main point I was trying to make in my post was that you absolutely cannot trust your bank to act in your best interest. Huricane Irene was advertised as being a level one huricane, not something to really get too upset about.

But the banks, for reasons known only to them, decided to close at 10AM. At the supermarket, a good many people (those who live from paycheck to paycheck) were seriously inconvienced by the bank's actions. It's called the ripple effect. THe point I'm trying to make is that everybody needs to act in thier own self- interest and don't trust the banks.

-- Watcher4 (anon@anon.com), October 15, 1999.

Thanks watcher. Hope you didn't sustain any damage in the storm. My wife was stuck in the drive through lane at our bank yesterday. Some nut was withdrawing all of his money from the bank. Go figure...... Bwahahahahahhahahahahahahah

Sorry, couldn't help myself. ;-)

-- dozerdoctor (dozerdoc@yahoo.com), October 15, 1999.

Watcher4, tell me, what does thier mean? Is it perhaps that you are trying to say....their? Please learn to write it right. It is real annoying that so many Americans make this totally stupid mistake!!!!

-- bbbb (bbb@bbb.com), October 16, 1999.

bbbb....

could it be that they were typing to fast and their fingers hit the keys in the wrong order? Could it be that they are bad spellers? Or could it be that they have had a little to much to drink? Think about what you just wrote. Mistakes happen... that's life!

Before you criticize, why not pick a name instead of a letter?

-- (cannot-say@this.time), October 16, 1999.

If bbbb were to use its REGULAR name then we'd be able to see ITS typing pecadillo's.

'Twould then be the pot calling the kettle a very austere shade of grey.

Night train

-- Jes an ol spellin fool of a footballer (nighttr@in.lane), October 16, 1999.

A radio station reported that one prominent bank in america (ahem)was closing their ATMs so they could free up the ATM [telephone] "lines" for emergency use.

Now, to address the subject of spellos or goofos. It's February 15. Your stash of food is gone. Your local church set's out a sign announcing "Free Food For Familys and Children." Bet you wouldn't pick nits about the spelling on the sign. I doubt spellos really irritate people as much as gives them a platform for demonstrating superiority. Now THAT'S irritating.

-- (notbanking@on.it), October 16, 1999.

hay bbcc, wat da fug ist wrung wit my slelum, anyhow???

-- Watcher4 (anon@anon.com), October 16, 1999.