Please read the MSN Y2K article today on the home page. The first thing I noticed was no 911 listed. I expect mpre cities will be added during the day but at 8am Sunday there must be about 30. I'm pretty shaken up by this even though we have been preparing. Suddenly it is not just TB2000 and speculation. Pam

-- Pamela (jpjgood@penn.com), December 26, 1999

Answers

What pray tell are you talking about? Can't seem to find the reference at www.msn.com. Is that where I should look?

-- (...@.......), December 26, 1999.

Pamela,

Please provide an url or link. I too, am confused as to what you are trying to point out here. Thank you!

-- luann (flataufm@hutchtel.net), December 26, 1999.

I think she is referring to the item to the right of Lucille Ball's picture. Local Info Y2k help. Click it and then on the next screen in the middle select your city.

Its nothing really, just contact numbers in case of emergency. Stuff you should already know.

-- hamster (hamster@mycage.com), December 26, 1999.

Copy and paste it for us...cant find it Thanks

-- Rod (rspain@webcombo.net), December 26, 1999.

Pamela, Are you talking about - Local info: Y2K help - at MSN.com?

-- Ellen (Ellen@watching eyes.com), December 26, 1999.

Maybe this link ... Select your city is at the top

Link

-- John (jh@NotReal.ca), December 26, 1999.

John, Thanks, I guess. That got me a list of emergency numbers in Amarillo.

Pamala, if you can't link, just type in the address. Please.

-- MegaMe (CWHale67@aol.com), December 26, 1999.

Yes, I meant the story to the right of Lucielle Ball's picture entitled "Local Info:Y2K help." on MSN's home page. I just tried to do a URL but it didn't work. I thought the story was shocking. Here is a national news service telling us where to call, city by city, when it all goes wong--TSHTF. Police, Electric, Emergency room numbers---NOT 911. Maybe it isn't news--maybe I just got up too early Sunday morning and got spooked. Pam

-- Pamela (jpjgood@penn.com), December 26, 1999.

http://www.msn.com/ Got so flummoxed I forgot to put the marker on the location line before. Pam

-- Pamela (jpjgood@penn.com), December 26, 1999.

Pam, perhaps the reason 911 numbers are not listed is because there is some concern that a number of 911 systems are not fully Y2K-ready. Such systems consists of consoles which include telephone and radio linkage, powered by electricity. If the console goes down, persons calling 911 will not be able to get through. However, there are other non-911 telephone lines which will connect you to the 911 operators, who can then dispatch help by means of hand-held, battery powered radios. I think it's merely a precaution and you should feel a sense of security, not panic.

(There was an incident in NYC, I believe, where the 911 system went down and someone died as a result because the non-911 number was not known.)

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), December 26, 1999.

So does this mead the telephones are going to work. Or is it some evil plot to make us think the phones will work when TPTB know they really won't?

-- Butt Nugget (catsbutt@umailme.com), December 26, 1999.

Actually I dont see why they even have to list 911, I mean its 911. Everyone knows what number to call in an emergency. It might be a different number in different countries but even kids know 911 is for help.

OTOH, I wouldnt want every little problem going into 911. If your power is out and phones work you should call your power company, not 911.

-- hamster (hamster@mycage.com), December 26, 1999.

Ironically in Australia the emergency number is 000

Regards, Simon

-- Simon Richards (simon@wair.com.au), December 26, 1999.

Just a tip on phones. The local telephone utility also has backup power generation capabilities to keep phones working, thing is, for how long is not known. The generator is probably using natural gas or diesel for fuel. So you can depend on phone service for a while.

-- clyde king (cjk@kiva.net), December 26, 1999.

There is some ongoing concern (with reason) that not all 911 systems will work. Taking the time to write down the individual emergency numbers for your area is a good idea. (another form of insurance)

A lot of the 911 systems are old. The peripheral equipment surrounding them that supports how they dispatch may well not be able to link to the correct site. The telephone switch should be able to take the call, doing something with it could be another matter.

Net net write down those numbers and lets pray you do not need them

-- Nancy (Wellsnl@hotmail.com), December 26, 1999.

WHAT A STUPID LIST!!! I looked at the list for Washington DC. DUH. looks like an amateur pulled it together because it would make a nice article. i am not impressed. i would also not worry because there is no 911. maybe the journalist was too lazy to look anything up.

-- tt (cuddluppy@nowhere.com), December 26, 1999.