http://www.pa2k.org/assets/pdf/Consumers_Guide.pdf
 
 

*Pages 1--8 from Untitled* 1 Visit pa2k. org or can2k. com for more information

A Consumer's Guide for Y2K Planning YEAR 2000

Presented by: Government of Mexico Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Tom Ridge, Governor 1 2 Dear Fellow Pennsylvanians, As chair of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council, I am pleased to share with you this publication prepared by Penn State Cooperative Extension, "A Consumer's Guide for Y2K Planning," designed to provide accurate and timely facts concerning Y2K computer issues.

This publication provides responsible consumer suggestions on how you can best prepare your family to deal with problems that may occur on January 1, 2000. These emergency guidelines are consistent with precautions recommended for severe winter weather and other occurrences that could impact utility service and the supply of goods and services within the community.

Under Governor Tom Ridge's leadership, Pennsylvania has gained national recognition as one of the leading state governments in the country in meeting the Y2K computer challenge. In addition, to address the Y2K public con-cerns, Governor Ridge has initiated a comprehensive educational outreach campaign, "Pa2K-Pennsylvanians Working Together," in partnership with the federal government of Canada and The Pennsylvania State University. I invite you to explore the many Y2K-resources available through our popular "Pa2K" Web site at: www. pa2k. org. Another helpful resource is the federal government's toll-free Y2K help line at 1-888-USA-4-Y2K (1-888-872-4925), offering answers to consumer questions from trained staff and recorded messages.

Some people are predicting catastrophic consequences. However, there is no foundation for this extreme pessimism. Overstocking or hoarding food, fuel, cash, and other things is both unnecessary and potentially dangerous. While we do not anticipate any serious problems associated with the Y2K phenomenon, it is prudent for residents to take reasonable precautions. This publication provides sound guidance to help you be prepared in a responsible and rational manner.

I hope you will make preparations in your home and become active in your local community to ensure that busi-nesses, local government, schools, and hospitals in your area are prepared for the century date-change. If concerned citizens bring their considerable energy to bear on helping their communities "squash the Year 2000 bug," Pennsylva-nia can enter the 21st century as a Leader Among States and a Competitor Among Nations.

Sincerely,

Mark S. Schweiker Lieutenant Governor Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE 200 MAIN CAPITOL

HARRISBURG, PA 17120-0002 717-787-3300 FAX 717-783-0150 E-MAIL: lieutenant-governor@ state. pa. us 2 3 What Is Y2K and Why Should You Be Concerned About It? You've probably heard people talking about "Y2K," the "Millennium Bug," or the "Y2K Computer Glitch" and wondered what they meant. "Y2K" is a short way of saying the Year 2000. The terms Y2K, millennium bug, or Y2K computer glitch often are used when people talk about the Year 2000 computer problem.

Why is there concern? In the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s when computers were first built computer program-mers used two numbers instead of four to indicate the year. For ex-ample, 1963 was abbreviated as "63" and 1991 as "91." Early programmers did this to save computer space and money. Out of habit, many computer programmers continued to use two numbers instead of four into the 1990s. When the year 2000 arrives, this programming shortcut might cause some computers to perform as if "00" means 1900 instead of 2000.

Some people believe that since they don't own a computer, the Y2K issue will not affect them. The truth is that computers affect our lives daily, whether we realize it or not. Small computers, called microprocessors or computer chips, run machines such as elevators, VCRs, and common household appliances. Companies that supply services such as water and electricity also rely on computers. If computers aren't programmed to distinguish between 1900 and 2000, a disruption in services and other things we take for granted could occur when January 1, 2000, arrives. Government agencies, financial institutions, companies, and organizations that feel the Y2K bug will affect their operations have been taking steps to make corrections. When the necessary corrections have been made and tested successfully, an agency or organization is described as "Y2K-compliant" or "Y2K-ready."

Despite intensive efforts to make business operations Y2K-ready, no one knows exactly what will happen on January 1, 2000. The best alterna-tive in light of this uncertainty is to prepare for what might happen. This publication contains steps consum-ers can take to prepare for emergen-cies. Whether you believe Y2K glitches will be dramatic or nonexis-tent, most of these steps should be taken to prepare for any unknown or natural disaster. In such an emergency, these preparations can help you manage until some nor-malcy returns. Being prepared is the best defense you can have. In fact, many of the suggestions here are good practices for any year. If electricity, gas, water, or sewer services failed, how could you and your family adapt to the loss of these services for a week or two? If your family enjoys camping, you may already have some idea of how to "survive" without all of the modern conveniences.

Caution! Caution! Caution! Con artists, people out to make a fast buck, and unprincipled business owners may try to take advantage of uninformed consumers or prey on the fear of the unknown. Do not be talked into buying a service or product that is supposed to remedy mishaps caused by the Y2K com-puter bug. Instead, seek information from reliable, unbiased sources before making any major purchase. Checking with three different sources before buying is a good way to protect yourself from fraud.

Also, many so-called "Y2K survivalists" advocate stockpiling months of water, food, and medicine to prepare for potential emergencies in the year 2000. If people follow this advice, it won't matter if our systems fail. People, not computers, will create a great catastrophe in 2000 by causing shortages that seriously disrupt our food supply system. The American Red Cross suggests preparing as you would for a severe winter storm by keeping a one-to two-week supply of essential food, water, and medicine. If we act responsibly as citizens and consumers, we can all be ready for Y2K and other potential emergencies.

Things to Do When Preparing for Emergencies

Food 1. Gather food items that your family likes to eat, that need minimal preparation, and that do not need refrigeration. Canned and dried foods are good choices. Determine the amount you need for a two-week period by looking at past purchases. Grocery receipts from one to two weeks can help you decide how much to buy for emergency purposes. Ask family members to help by developing menus based on the following emergency foods or the foods you store.

2000 3 4 2. Rotate food items by eating from the "emergency supply" and replacing what you use immediately. This will keep your emergency food supply fresh.

Food Items to Consider CANNED

* Fruits

* Vegetables

* Juices

* Milk

* Soup

* Meat (beef, pork)

* Fish

* Poultry

* Prepared foods that need only to be heated (items with a 6-to 12- month shelf life are good choices.)

DRIED

* Sugar

* Flour

* Baking mix

* Muffin mix

* Powdered milk

* Salt, pepper, and fre

*uently used spices

* Ready-to-eat cereal

* Uncooked instant cereal

* Pasta

* Rice

* Nuts

* Crackers

* Cookies

* Fruit (raisins, apricots, prunes)

OTHER

* Peanut butter

* Jelly

* Canned beverages

* Candy (hard)

* Vegetable oil

FOOD STORAGE CONSIDERATIONS ° Prepackaged foods store best and usually won't spoil until opened.

° Buy items in one-or two-use sizes so you don't have to store opened food.

° Use food-grade storage containers such as glass jars, plastic bags with sturdy closures, and vacuum-sealed containers.

METHODS TO HEAT FOOD

* Propane or kerosene stove with fuel

* Outdoor charcoal or propane grill

* Candle warmers

* Nonelectric chafing dishes

* Fondue pots

* Sterno

WATER Expect to use at least one gallon of water per person, per day and store at least a three-day supply for each family member. Water can be stored in thoroughly washed plastic, glass, fiberglass, or enamel-lined metal containers. Clean plastic soft drink containers are good choices and are readily available in most areas.

Heating and Cooling How can you stay warm or cool if your primary system fails?

Consider the Needs of All Family Members

When gathering supplies to prepare for an emergency, be sure to think about the needs of all members of your family. Some of them may have additional requirements.

° Elderly family members may need special foods, medical items, or specialized products such as denture care products.

° Babies probably will require special foods or care needs such as disposable bottle liners, disposable diapers, toys, and medication measuring spoons.

° Anyone with an ongoing health problem that requires daily maintenance will need to have medicines on hand, such as inhalers for asthma patients or insulin for diabetics.

Basic Items

* Paper cups, plates, and bowls (no dishwashing conserves water)

* Plastic utensils

* Flashlights with batteries

* Nonelectric can opener

* Matches in a waterproof container

* Aluminum foil (to line cooking pans)

* Plastic storage containers

* Needles, thread, and scissors

* Shutoff wrench to turn off household gas and water

* Candles, lamps, and lamp oil

* Battery-operated smoke alarm

* Tarps or plastic sheeting

Safety

* Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (replace batteries each October)

* Fire extinguishers

* Generators (If you use one, make sure it is in a well-ventilated area away from indoor air intakes.)

Sanitation/ Personal Care

* Toilet paper

* Paper towels

* Contact lenses and solutions

* Extra eyeglasses

* Plastic garbage bags and ties in various sizes

* Disinfectant

* Household chlorine bleach

* Feminine hygiene supplies

Pets

* Food (canned or dry)

* Toys

* Litter

* Bedding

* Other routinely needed items (medicine) 4 5 Entertainment Without electricity, some common forms of entertainment, such as television, will be unavailable. Be sure to store items that can provide enjoyment and ease boredom but don't require electricity. Possibilities include:

* Craft supplies and directions

* Board games

* Jigsaw puzzles

* Cards

* Books

First Aid Kit Take a first aid and/ or cardiopulmo-nary resuscitation (CPR) course or refresher. You can buy a first aid kit and manual from your local Ameri-can Red Cross chapter. You also can put together a basic first aid kit. Be sure to include:

*Adhesive bandages in assorted sizes

*Two-and four-inch sterile gauze pads (4Ð 6)

*Hypoallergenic adhesive tape

*Triangular bandages (3)

*Two-and three-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)

*Scissors

*Tweezers

*Needle

*Moistened towelettes (baby wipes)

*Antiseptic (peroxide)

*Thermometer

*Tongue depressors (2)

*Petroleum jelly or other lubricant

*Assorted sizes of safety pins

*Cleansing agent/ soap

*Latex gloves (2 pairs)

*Sunscreen

*Nonprescription drugs (aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever)

*Antidiarrhea medication

*Antacid (for stomach upset)

*Syrup of ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center)

*Laxative

*Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)

Medical Considerations Other things to consider or do: 1. Have a two-week supply of any maintenance drugs (those used every day).

2. Get or update copies of your medical and dental records.

3. Get or update vaccines for tetanus, flu, and pneumonia.

4. Register with your local emergency management office if you are on a life-support system that requires electricity, such as dialysis or pumps for intravenous drips.

5. Have a printed copy of key medical information on each family member, such as immunization records, any major surgeries, allergies, usual medications, doctors' names, and phone numbers.

Communication

* Radio with plenty of batteries

* Walkie-talkies

* Cellular phone

Home Appliances/ Home Office Equipment The date feature on most household appliances is not critical to its functioning. In most cases, the date is an "extra." Appliances that display only a time of day and/ or day of the week are not likely to be affected by the Y2K computer glitch, but those with a month/ day/ year calendar function may malfunction. If you are concerned about the operation of an appliance, contact the manufacturer for more information. Before calling, make sure you have the product name and model number handy for easy reference. Check your owner's manual for toll-free numbers. If the manuals cannot be located, check with telephone directory assistance for company numbers. Ask for the consumer information department. Local reference librarians also may help you locate company addresses and phone numbers.

Personal Computers Personal computers can be affected by the Y2K bug just like larger mainframe systems. There are three major areas of concern: your hardware, your software, and the files spreadsheets, databases, documents, and other data that you created with your software. Make a list of your computer soft-ware and files and assess their Y2K-readiness status.

The first thing to do is check your "BIOS" chip the circuit board that sets the date on your personal computer. BIOS stands for basic input/ output system. To find out about your BIOS chip, check the owner's manual, talk to the manufac-turer, or test it. It may need to be replaced. Software also may need to be replaced or upgraded. If you don't feel confident with the information you get from the manual, call or write the manufacturer or supplier. Many have toll-free numbers. You also could check the manufacturer's Web site. Some Web sites offer free software to test your personal computer. Many of these are listed on Pennsylvania's Web site for product compliance, http:// www. pa2k. org/ html/ compliant. shtml

In addition to your hardware and software applications, it's important to make sure that your files are Y2K-ready. When upgrading your files, use a four-digit year: mm/ dd/ yyyy.

If you don't feel confident in making software changes or date format changes, consult a professional. 5 6 Financial Matters Keep printed copies of all bank state-ments, canceled checks, mortgage payments, car payments, and other financial transactions that you may need for proof of payment for a few months before and after the arrival of the year 2000, or until you are satisfied that there are no problems with the accounting systems of your financial institutions.

Get a copy of your credit report from one of the major credit bureaus before and after January 1, 2000. A report costs about $8.

Experian: (888) 397-3742 http:// www. experian. com

Equifax: (800) 685-1111 http:// www. equifax. com

Transunion: (800) 888-4213 http:// www. tuc. com

For installment loans (those with fixed monthly payments), get state-ments from your creditors that list your payments toward principal, interest, and other charges. Get a payment schedule showing your loan balance after each monthly payment is made until the loan is repaid.

Contact Social Security for a recent personal earnings and benefit estimate statement before 1999 ends and sometime in early 2000 to check records. You can call Social Security at (800) 772-1213, or visit the Web site at http:// www. ssa. gov.

If your bank automatically deducts bill payments from your account each month, pay bills manually from October 1999 to March 2000. Send-ing payments on major bills by certified mail with return receipt will provide additional proof of delivery on time.

Have enough cash to cover two-to three-weeks' expenses. Withdraw small amounts of money gradually

before December 1, 1999, and keep it in a safe place. Small bills ($ 5, $10, and $20) make it easier to make change.

Transportation Make sure you have at least a half a tank of gas in your car or truck.

Beyond Your Household

° Get involved locally by attending public meetings in your community.

° Contact the local emergency management office to find out what preparations are being made.

° Hold a neighborhood meeting to update neighbors on Y2K preparations.

911 Remember É "911" is for emergency use ONLY. Please do not call "just to see if it works." All "911" centers will be Y2K compliant. Call ONLY if you have a real emergency and need assistance.

Final Note The suggestions listed in this booklet will get you started preparing for emergencies. However, each family's situation is different. Give additional thought to ways you can prepare your household. For instance, clothing needs are important in cold climates, and persons who use gas to cook might store slightly different foods than someone who uses electricity.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), October 20, 1999

Answers

"Have enough cash to cover two-to three-weeks' expenses."

UH - OH.

Greenspin and Kosky ain't gonna like this. They said enough for a weekend. If every state in the country says 2-3 weeks it's bye-bye bankies, close them doors before everybody gets theirs.

-- @ (@@@.@), October 20, 1999.

you should have food for two weeks, but only 3 days of water? Hmmmnnnn! Lets see, hurricane Irene who basically missed Florida was last Saturday and we still have thousands that are without power. Oh yeah, 3 day storm. Tell that to the people of NC. I tell everyone to prepare for a minimum of two months, even though we have prepared for at least a year. But figure if I can get them to do two months it gives them some breathing room and keeps them out of the initial riots that may occur.

Taz

-- Taz (Taz@aol.com), October 20, 1999.

* * * 19991020 Wednesday

In the second from last paragraph ...

... 'All "911" centers will be Y2K compliant.' ...

Hmmm... Shouldn't that tense be present, as in "are?!?!"

Sounds like the political spin machine is ramped up good these days.

Third paragraph in from top sez ...

"Under Governor Tom Ridge's leadership, Pennsylvania has gained national recognition as one of the leading state governments in the country in meeting the Y2K computer challenge."

I suppose the above reflects the wonderful situation of the thousands of (state) Philadelphia School District teachers, employees and retirees that haven't been paid since the school year started, thanks to fouled up computers and no viable contingency/continuity plans.

Talk about accountability disconnect!

At least the prep doc looks reasonable. One can only be amazed at how that happened.

My only caveat would be that the preps should be for a duration until the local first non-hybrid crop harvest might be expected. Say, June/July.

Regards, Bob Mangus

* * *

-- Robert Mangus (rmangus1@yahoo.com), October 20, 1999.

The Red Cross only states to have enough supplies to last up to a week but this article clearly states two weeks. I wonder when the sheeple that are not prepared now will go and get their two weeks worth of supplies. After Christmas???

-- y2k dave (xsdaa111@hotmail.com), October 20, 1999.

If the gov' was really smart he would have instructed his constituents to buy a short wave radio with sideband capabilities, since that is where the real info will come from.This is what the Hams will be using to communicate to citizens all over the world the situations in their areas. All military on land and sea use the sidebandand you can listen to them also. For starters try shortwave 5085, 6890. 1217, 1216 and 9400.I do not sell radios, and tho I find several programs on these stations offensive (mainly some racists, tho not many) there is a heck of a lot of good info there.I must stress this: you have to have the sideband!

-- Betty Alice (Barn266@aol.com), October 20, 1999.

"Heating and Cooling How can you stay warm or cool if your primary system fails?"

Well isn't that a nice statement. A Y2K document that is concerned about staying cool? In the middle of winter?

And no suggestions on how to stay warm in the middle of winter. IMHO if they are worried about keeping the kids entertained during a power outage without a TV (addicts) and give a brief mention to keeping warm, there is a great disconnect in the minds of those that think it will be a "three day disruption" and back to normal. I think that they might want to think that through a bit better before folks figure out their own methods of Heat. And burn down their homes.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), October 20, 1999.

Even though it's a short list, it's better than I've seen. Actually, it's just what I've been hoping for - a way to get my neighbors partially prepared without them thinking I'm a "Y2K Nut". I can just give them a copy and gently coax them into using it. After all, it is from our state GOVERNMENT! It's probably a cut & paste job from Red Cross (sunscreen is on the list - Pennsylvania in January. What the hell do I need sunscreen for?) but it's better than nuthin'

-- (rcarver@inacom.com), October 20, 1999.