Any info from TPTB in the Metro Atlanta area?

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Lurking, mostly, around here, I have been pleased to read that some cities are at least trying to give out info and have some fall-back plans for their residents. I am fairly well prepped myself, but am concerned because I live in the SMSA of Atlanta. We're not famous for planning around here, but I've been surprised at the lack of info in the local media. Maybe I've been on line too much and have missed it. Does anyone have any info on preps, warnings, info. by local govts around here? Otherwise, I think I may have to go ahead and pull back to my #2 location. Thanks, y'all.

-- Nan M. Nawrocki (rocki3@juno.com), December 23, 1999

Answers

Nan... Darn little in the way of information coming out of Atlanta. City hall basically says " We're ready, everything's fine, don't worry." They do have an 800- number for Y2k questions, but that's just a voice recording. Sounds like you've made good plans. I think we're going to need them. Best Wishes, TLH

-- TLH (tlhaynes@bellsouth.net), December 23, 1999.

nan, what is smsa? i'm in east cobb (lifetime) and have never heard of smsa. oh, for those in the area, the Big Chicken has been delcared y2k compliant.

Z

-- theletterz (theletterz@yahoo.com), December 23, 1999.


I'll have to double check the Chicken...last time I was in they were still using older cash registers/ordering computers. The Chicken itself, as long as power is up, should continue to "rock and roll".

(It's eyes roll, the beaks rocks back and forth, the whole thing is about 55 feet tall over the KFC store .... you gotta see it to understand. So as a favor to the listening audience, I've got postcards available, and will send them to anybody who emails me a reply...)

---...---

The City of Atlanta itself began remediation and survey very, very late - surveys were not complete until late February 1999, and then the report was tied (may still be tied up in court) when Mayor Campbell sued because the remediation company didn't hire the "right" minority contractor.

As of late June, reports were very spotty, but NOBODY was indicating that remediation and testing would be complete, and several systems (iincluding all the PC's at city hall!) would be skipped completely.

Now, they're saying everything 's fine - there will be no problems. But the jury summons have already been printed and mailed to report for duty Jan 3, 1900.

The AJC (in its headline) claims this was NOT a y2k-bug. Do you wonder why I'm skeptical of what they are reporting - given blatant lies like that.

---...---...

Got a long reply (finally) from GA Power - they have fairly elaborate contigency plans and "life supprt" for their downtown offices. CNN has a 30 day "bunker" downtown - (complete with food, shelter, toilets, power, heat, water, comm gear, etc.) for all critcal employees and their families!

-- Robert A Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), December 23, 1999.


Here yah go: Dec. 2 Reports By County in GA

-- farf (madeupguy@hotmail.com), December 23, 1999.

theletterz-

SMSA stands for Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area. You know, in the neighborhood. :)

TLH

-- TLH (tlhaynes@bellsouth.net), December 23, 1999.



I saw Mayor Cambell on TV the other day. He was adamant in his statment that "We will be completely ready"

I almost fell off my chair laughing.

We are in really bad shape as far as I can see.

I live in the Virginia Highlands area, and am getting VERY nervous. Trying to decided if I should bug out or not.

-- John Beck (eurisko111@aol.com), December 23, 1999.


Nan, I also live in the SMSA of Atlanta. My advice is to err on the side of caution. Pull back to sight #2. As you said, the city government is not famous for planning around here. Or thinking for that matter. But look on the bright side, maybe Y2K will take care of that traffic problem for us. Good luck

-- ~***~ (~***~@earth.ebe), December 23, 1999.

I know a fireman who works in Decalb. They have been training on manuallly operated equipment -like hoses that can ciphon and pump from ponds. If you have someplace else to go - maybe you had better get while you can.

-- April (Alwzapril@home.com), December 23, 1999.

---I bugged out of the metro area last May. Atlanta is an extremely incompetently run, Democratic party machine town. the water/sewer system was run so very bad that it was finally privatized. Bill Campbell is a virtual dictator. recently his son was found to be driving around with a friend in a stolen car. ole bill ordered the cops to stop running license plate checks on cars visiting his house. that's the quality of his "fixing" matters, think about it.

Think about it. the metro area has about one billion oak trees right up to downtown. There are thousands of wood frame homes spreading out in a radius for miles and miles. All these trees have lost their leaves now, and the branches are dry. If we have a major power outtage there, and some fires break out all over, well, think "Dresden". Plus, with the history of the rodney king riots, with college kids and entire families looting at the drop of a verdict in los angeles, I don't think it's much of a safe place. I'd advise a vacation until into january, see what shakes out. Me, just moved rurqal and permanent, not going back there. Where I am now traffic jam consists of two bubbas stopped in their pickups jawin at each other in the road. And oh yea, there's work, and clean air, and beautiful views, and folks carry your purchases out to the car for you, and at drive up windows they speak understandable english. Lot of good trade offs. Plenty of water everywhere, most folks have large gardens, even all three of my local county gas station/stores carry ammo on the counter, and have racks of ball jars and lids, stuff like that. I say atlanta metro isn't worth it anymore. What's REALLY there that's so all important? Some "job"? Or is it the FABULOUS quality of the public schools? Or easier access to some "sporting" event? None of that stuff is worth it to me. Y2k just made me get it in gear a couple of years faster than I was already planning for, I am SO glad I moved out. Haven't heard a siren for more than a month now. Last week had two deer in the front yard here, not winos and crackheads like I was used to. got well water, a pond and a creek. got firewood. still working, making some money, not as much-granted-but perfectly acceptable and liveable, and safer by a factor of 10,000% or better. Why take a chance on all that municipal gov puter action and all that infrastructure staying up, when chances are it WON'T, leaving you stuck in the middle of three million folks with no nuthin'?

-- zog (zzoggy@yahoo.com), December 23, 1999.


Think about Atlanta. And DeeCee, Detroit City,New Orleans, Newark, Los Angeles, Dallas....are you kidding??Zog's got it right. Risk/reward is the whole deal. Even if y2k is a BITR, long-term these cities are a big headache. (At lease when we got rid of David Dinkins the problems got fixed by Rudy, or New York would still be over,but once Rudy leaves.......oh, I hate to even think about it.) My town has one traffic light, deer are the major threats to motorists, the big winter event is betting on which day the river will thaw (proceeds go to the fire dept. fund), and last week's Police Blotter had the item, "Catherine Black reported a tree was cut down sometime Dec. 18th from her front lawn. Police are looking into the matter.")Yes, it's "boring" and impossible to remain anonymous here, but I'll trade another day at a SOHO art gallery or shopping at IKEA for this wonderful peace and quiet (except of the owls) anytime. The Internet will make the cities obsolete.

-- wifey (steverromano@eaton.com), December 23, 1999.


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