I live in east central Florida and have been preparing since Feb. of this year. I know only a few others who are preparing. Our local paper printed a Y2K series last spring in which all local utilities etc were said to be compliant or near to being compliant. Since then, I have seen nothing in the paper. The Governor was supposed to put out some 30 second public awareness TV spots in October that did not materialize. Local stores have lots of canned goods on sale every week but there is absolutely no Y2K advertising in this area from any store. I have been to the state's Y2K website and they list every major department as 100 percent compliant since last winter. I find that hard to believe. I keep seeing posts on various boards of vague rumors to "get out of Florida", but nothing that can be proved. I was just wondering if anyone knows anything that can be substantiated about what Florida's real Y2K situation is. Thanks

-- Lornna Mitchell (doone@digital.net), November 11, 1999

Answers

Hi Lornna,

My family lives on the east and west coasts of Central Florida. My parents (east coast) have been preparing. They listened to me and thought that it was a reasonable thing to do. My brother and his family live on the west coast of Florida and they are oblivious.

I have heard those rumors too and can't seem to find out the source or the reason. I will watch this thread and see if somebody can nail them down or throw them out. I am MOST interested.

-- Ynott (Ynott@incorruptible.com), November 11, 1999.

Anyone who tells you to get out of your state is a MORON. What will you do? If the warmest state in the country is the worst place to be during Y2K failures, where would be the best? Alaska? Come on.

-- John Deere (garynorth2@yahoo.com), November 11, 1999.

Florida is NOT the warmest state in the country. Your ramblings are that of an illiterate.

Knowing why somebody wants you to leave Dodge, does not mean you will. It simply tells you what to better prepare for....you MORON.

-- Ynott (Ynott@incorruptible.com), November 11, 1999.

I have no intention of leaving - just wonder what these rumors are about.

-- Lornna Mitchell (doone@digital.net), November 11, 1999.

Lornna

I've seen a couple of those 30 second spots. They pretty much say that 'although no one really knows what will happen the state of Florida feels it is ready as can be for the rollover' and 'it would make good sense to prepare for some disruptions'.

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), November 11, 1999.

I too live in East Central Florida and have seen all that you have. I don't know what to tell you other than this old hen is prepared to the teeth.(and yes I know hens don't have teeth!) I am starting to see beans and rice prominently displayed in the aisles of WinnDixie. And I know people are buying lots of stuff from the Dollar store as I have talked with the manager. But I have a GI checker at WinnDixie and she says no one is stocking up that she can see. I think all the North Easterner retirees are living in a dream which includes the stock market, pension and SS checks and the golf course. They have finally made it and are not about to even entertain the thoughts of major disaster. Furthermore, the few older folks that I have talked with from the cities of the NE are sooooooooo ignorant when it comes to the basics, that it is just incredible to the likes of me. One was/is going to run his whole house off the generator of his motorhome. Yeah, right! Another was going to buy a generator he could plug in so he didn't have to store fuel. There are generations of city folk that would starve to death in the middle of a producing garden with a milk cow tied to the fence. When you have lived by your own hands/brain/witts with and against nature all of your life, its really hard to even talk with these people.. even when they ask. They have no frame of reference for survival. And I am talking about people who were old enuff to remember WWII or even the end of the depression. But its like they spent their lives putting that behind them, to the point that they cannot remember the important things. God help them. I still say, Where you will be next year is dependent upon where you have been!!

Taz

-- Taz (Taz@aol.com), November 11, 1999.

It is my humble opinion that should any problems arise on the North (NY, NJ, MA), everybody from these areas will start running. And they will be running hard until they reach a place where they will not need electricity or gas to keep themselves warm. Could this place be Florida?

-- Brooklyn (MSIS@cyberdude.com), November 11, 1999.

I've been curious about the references to get out of Florida, too. Seems someone posted an overheard remark made by Koskinen's secretary. Anyone remember that?

-- April (Alwzapril@home.com), November 11, 1999.

---it would seem to me that anyone living in florida would have already 'gotten it' in terms of preparing just because of the obviousness of tornadoes AND hurricanes AND wildfires AND riots AND the closeness to communist/terrorist states of cuba and mexico and nicaragua. just makes sense to me. any of those reasons, let alone y2k, would indicate to be prepared for a minimum of some months independence. Manure occurs, and it occurs fairly often in florida. zog

-- zog (zzoggy@yahoo.com), November 11, 1999.

Just because people in Florida know about hurricanes doesn't mean most sensibly prepare for them, reasonably in advance. Most wait for the 6 o'clock news to tell them the Hurricane Watch is on... and then they run to the store for water.

-- (normally@ease.notnow), November 11, 1999.

Zog...usually you make more sense. "AND riots AND the closeness to communist/terrorist states of cuba and mexico and nicaragua. just makes sense to me. any of those reasons, let alone y2k, would indicate to be prepared for a minimum of some months independence". Closeness of Mexico and Cuba and NICARAGUA??????? When was the last time Fidel tried to invade the US? We have a hell of a lot of water between us and Mexico...maybe you are thinking of Texas! And Nicaragua?? Well, in addition to lots of water we also have Honduras between us. Sheesh..!! Look at a map before you make such statements. And I guess I missed the riots when I was down at the river fishing. Taz

-- Taz (Taz@aol.com), November 11, 1999.

Air Conditioning MADE Florida. If the power goes down, no AC. Think about it!

-- Ralph Kramden (and@awaywego.com), November 11, 1999.

TAZ,

Oh what I would pay for your life experiences! How few are left that not only remember what it is to be self-reliant, but still continue to live that way. You remind me of my parents, and their brothers and sisters, who were raised on farms, and knew what it meant to learn to live during hard times. So many of the basic skills of living have been lost on my generation (I was raised in the 'burbs after my father returned from WWII Europe.)How much more so our children. We have all become so dependant on the "system"; all for the sake of convenience. If the extennsive problems at rollover, then I fear that many will suffer for lack of knowledge.

God bless you....I hope your skills and experience can be passed onto others while there is still opportunity.

-- TM (mercier7@pdnt.com), November 11, 1999.

I too live in E. Central Florida and I have heard the rumors to get out of Florida but I cannot substantiate any of them - of course that's the problem - not having reliable information. I laugh at the news media and get angry at government. I visit this website just to see what others are uncovering about Y2k regardless of where they live.

I did hear some nasty Y2k rumors this weekend - one about hospitals and the other about Florida power. I know the first one was hogwash and hope that the second one is.

In reference to person who wrote that people in Florida should be prepared because of hurricannes. You are absolutley right - but they're not. You should have been here the night before Floyd hit. People we're scrambling - it was like the day before Christmas. (At least in our area).

Concerning people preparing here in Florida for Y2k - a couple of our friends are doing the one week thing. Our neighbors appear to be oblivious of Y2K and I don't bring it up. (Maybe they are doing the same thing.)

So I'll just get a truck load of firewood, sit tight and hope for the best. I have a generator - but... did you ever see the movie "Road Warrior"? Why draw atttention to yourself? Candleight and silence, just like when the wind blows slightly and the power goes out. BTW there's a great book by William Manchester - "A World Lit Only By Fire". A history of Medival times. I think of that title every time our powers goes out.

Bookworm

-- bookworm (bookworm_2@hotmail.com), November 11, 1999.

Lorna, didn't you see last Friday's Orlando Sentinel full page ad on how to prepare for ONE WEEK? surprised the heck out of me as the Sentinel has been running a daily "no problem" article for months. I know what you mean about heads in the sand, its epidemic here, have stopped talking about it. Why try to save pple's lives if they are so complacent and look at me like I have lost my mind, or get a glass eyed expression? The most telling thing I have heard of was in a recent article (can't remember what site) where the writer sent out a thousand flyers to neighborhood warning pple of possible dangers of Y2K, got not one response. He then placed an ad in newpaper that had circulation of more than a million pple, offering help, info, and also got not one response! That sure tells the story, doesn't it? I too have wondererd how many Northerners will migrate when and if they see some danger signs, but can probably rest easy on that one, as it will be too late to go anywhere, realizing how brain dead most of them are. I have heard rumors on Y2K chat room about "get out of Florida" but no real basis of them, except Koskinnem's secretary"s daughter or something like that. anyone want a good laugh about financial predictions in "29 & "30, which sound suspiciously like today's lies & deception,Email me and I will send it to you. Wish I could afford a $20,000 for a protection trained German Shepherd, the ultimate looter defense. They are legal, require no ammunition, no batteries, are portable and will do one heck of a job of taking down anyone who threatens you or your possessions. I have researched and found them cheaper, so if anyone interested, I would be glad to give you info. God bless you and your loved ones and keep them safe. Nancy

-- Nancy Black (dwightppp@yahoo.com), November 11, 1999.

Florida had better walk on eggshells playing "prevent the people from panic." It went to great effort to lesson dependency and instead found itself with an increase of dependency. The people are really sinking into the globally dreaded cries from a populace, "I'm rioting because the gobmint hasn't even offered a glass of water!" The people are sitting around with stupified and blank expressions looking to the "gobmint" to feed it, water it, and change its newspapers. Florida needs to start shaking the lepers' clutch from its robes. It's too many of them.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), November 11, 1999.

Hi, guys, I'm in Vero Beach for the weather, etc. I'm not scared of a Mexican invasion. Even Fidel isn't going to come. People basically don't GI here, although I have talked to several people who are "concerned." I don't see rice and beans being pushed in Winn Dixie-- it's holiday time. Buy your fruit cakes.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), November 11, 1999.

I seem to remember reading one time that Florda (or a part of Florida) uses more electricity than it generates. If it's true, then Florida has to import some of its electricity to meet the demand, and that could be a problem for Florida next year.

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), November 11, 1999.

According to a survey by the National Association of State Information Resource Executives Inc. reported in the following article, 99% of Florida's mission-critical systems are compliant:

"Survey of Y2K readiness among U.S. states"

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/991110/bjf.html

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), November 11, 1999.

Thank you all for your responses - I guess we are all in the same boat - we've heard the rumors - but we sure can't prove any of them. Anyway I appreciate your input and insights.

-- Lornna Mitchell (doone@digital.net), November 11, 1999.

---Taz--the reason I included those references to riots was because they HAVE happened, in tampa, st. pete, and miami, and I think but don't remember orlando, too, could be wrong on that one. If you have never experienced a riot up close and personal it's undescribable, truly terrifying. As to those countries, various sources have indicated that those countries have sleeper agents in place to take advantage of any breakdown in the US. They still want the whole enchilada. And I know there's a huge underground movement based in mexico and the south western US states to take back what mexico lost way back when. wish I could remember the name of this "movement", maybe someone else can, then I'm sure some sort of link can be found. Have to remember, in a guerrila war, it doesn't take too many nasty guys to screw up an entire region. In simulated hostile "attacks", our various special forces(green beanies, dolphin doods, etc), have been surprisingly effective in disrupting utilities, telecommunications centers(I think the US has less than a dozen main node areas for that)) infiltrating supposedly secure sites, pulling off practice "assassinations", etc. It's a real threat, and those potential "hostiles" are concentrated in, among a few other places, florida. Just something else to throw in the worry pot, but it IS real. Have you been reading about russia and spetsnaz and back pack nukes and other arms hidden in this country, biological and chemical and conventional? Well, those three countries I named have agents in place as well, along with russia, china-long list probably and who knows how many radical muslim groups and cells there are, complete with 100% State backing and funding from such places as Iraq and Iran. It's a real concern, honest! zog

-- zog (zzoggy@yahoo.com), November 11, 1999.

Lornna, I can't think of a better place to be than Central Florida. I live between Daytona Beach and Orlando, sort of in the swamps, and love it. Keeping cool in the summer is is my only real worry. Food in the swamps is abundant if you know what to look for, B vitamins and garlic keep most of the bugs off me, city folks arn't going to come down my road, and there are plenty of Viet Nam vet neighbors to hang out with who would put up one hell of a fight if necessary. Some of them have been living without electric for years and I've learned alot from them, some GI, some don't, and probably wouldn't notice anything less than a 10. I've been a city boy most of my life (Buffalo N.Y.} and been living in the boonies now for about 8 years and love it.

-- Zeda (rickster@ n-jcenter.com), November 11, 1999.

Zeda

I know where you mean - it is beautiful - we have a lot of those areas in the middle of the state. I too hate to think about keeping cool if power outages occur in summer. I have lived in Florida for 36 years and still think the damn summers are too long. I am always praying for a cool front when October gets here. You sound like you are all set. We will stay in our house in our little development close to our kids and hope for the best. Take Care

-- Lornna Mitchell (doone@digital.net), November 11, 1999.

Last night I was reading the book "The Creek", the native Floridian's version of Cross Creek and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. In this book, the author, J. T Glisson, mentions that air conditioning was invented in 1948 (I think) and that it wasn't until that time that Florida came into its own. Where I live, I don't use a lot of AC. I will turn it on in the morning to get rid of the humidity in the house. We always have a lot of dew here and when the sun comes up and hits that dew, we have about an hour and a half that is miserable. I like the AC for keeping that moisture out of the house and then things don't mold. But even 40 miles south of here there is a great deal of difference in temperature. And further south would be just unbearable to my way of thinking if there is no AC. We won't freeze to death down here, but there may be a lot that die from the heat if the grid goes down and stays down. I think freezing to death might be easier. So when all you Yanks start heading south, remember summer is just around the corner. ( I have a lot of gaul calling anyone else a Yank...I was born in Buffalo, NY and lived all my life in the west and Alaska until 5 years ago. However, I have taken to this southern life real well. Am even reconsidering my thoughts on slavery. Racist?? No way...I couldn't care less what color the slave is. Ask my husband..he says I am a natural slave master! LOL Taz

-- Taz (Taz@aol.com), November 11, 1999.

My I add a few cents worth?

It is my humble opinion that should any problems arise on the North (NY, NJ, MA), everybody from these areas will start running. And they will be running hard until they reach a place where they will not need electricity or gas to keep themselves warm. Could this place be Florida?

-- Brooklyn (MSIS@cyberdude.com), November 11, 1999.

Yes, it could be. But ya better pick the right county to be a homeless bum in. Most of the redneck Sheriffs down here do NOT tolerate a bunch of street bums. Move along now.

Air Conditioning MADE Florida. If the power goes down, no AC. Think about it!

-- Ralph Kramden (and@awaywego.com), November 11, 1999.

Hey Ralphie my boy! Hope you are right, because it will drive out all of the lightwieght wimps that complain about the heat. [No offense Lornna ;-)]They go from their AC house to their AC car to their AC office and back again and then bitch about how HOT it was today. I work outside in it everyday, and it would be nice to see the cars all headed north for a change. Might be a good time to get yourself a cheap above ground pool kiddos. Call it your Y2K water supply.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), November 11, 1999.

It is true, we will be miserable, without A.C. But, it is tolerable. At night, wet a towel for your torso, a washcloth for your neck, they "fool" your bodies temperature control center. And I have to say something about uninvited strangers barging in. When you are new, to the South, it is best to "walk lightly" for a bit, to prove you are a decent human being. They are the kindest, most benevalent(misp) human beings. Hell, they still have the respect to pull off the road when a Funeral procession goes by. But you have to remember, these are the decendants of the Civil War soldiers. And they may be rough around the edges, but they are steel, clear through. Just remember, "You don't spit on Superman's Cape, and you don't mess around with Jim". I was raised with their kind, had no fear them "I would live this life, forever". Looked at it, in a different light,as a Granny, when I recently went to to a county fair. There they all were, all the Truck Drivers, the Mechanics, the Electricians, the Plumbers, the Septic Tank Cleaners, hard working mankind. I was respectful of them, they of me. Had I acted any differently, I have no uncertainity, they would have cast me out. Think also, about the snakes, spiders, and all the others of God's creatures, that he placed at this location. Well, you may ask, if those are such a great danger, why am I still alive? I do not know why I am graced, I only know that before I venture into my wooded two acres, I pray the following prayer. " Please, Jesus, that I may see your serpent/spider/bee/Fire ant/snake before it sees me, that I may more quickly flee, if it be Your Will. And don't you know, this afternoon, I came face to face, with a Hugh Garden Spider (beautiful, if you can get past the size), and I was "allowed" to "see" it, before I stuck my face in it's web,(it was woven where it wasn't supposed to be), I would have "spazed out". Sorry, I am a "Wimpy Granny". Don't know how to milk a cow, bought two Roosters and one Hen (supposed to be the other way around), don't think "know nothing about birthing babies". But I am not giving up. I keep buying those grocereis, candles, and praying to Jesus to let me see his critters before they see me. Heaven's Speed. Got Snakes?

-- Church Fan Hand Waver (handfan@wavingaway.com), November 11, 1999.

Lornna, Good Morning from NC, I used to live in Florida and just had to move out, glad I did but I did leave my kids there. But they know how to get up here if needed. To semi answer your question, Think about the retired panic it would cause to the Senior citizens if they got wind that their Florida money might be in peril. Florida is so uptight about tourisum certainly Gov.Bush wouldn't want all that money to be spent somewhere else.

There was a newsreporter in Tampa ,think his name was John Wilson ??? Anyway he wouldn't say anything about Y2K unless his CH 13 Fox news would tell him to. And he used to be a Journalist,now just a reader!!!

Tourisum and Senior Citizens is why there's no consistant reports about Y2K. Furie...

-- Furie (furieart@dnet.net), November 12, 1999.