Subj: [earthchanges] Re: Navy Papers on Y2K, Gary North, Y2K in (some parts) of Australia,Y2K in t... Date: 08/22/1999 10:42:49 PM Pacific Daylight Time From: Dee777@aol.com Reply-to: earthchanges@onelist.com To: earthchanges@onelist.com From: Dee777@aol.com In a message dated 08/22/1999 10:37:31 PM Central Daylight Time, hollyd@netconnect.com.au writes: << 21 August 1999 Dear Building Community Family, NAVY PAPERS ON Y2K By now most of you have heard about the infamous and seeming legitimate Pentagon Papers for Y2K. If you missed this information "Secret Government Study Reveals Massive Y2K Problems in American Cities", you can read it here http://www.jimlord.to/Index.html. Follow the links to the impact, implications, the charts showing affected cities. AP is also carrying this story. For those wonder who Jim Lord is, here is an extract from his bio: "Jim Lord is the author of, "A Survival Guide for the Year 2000 Problem: Consumer Solutions for the Worst Technical Blunder in History" a practical, 270 page guide to preparation for the Year 2000 Computer Crisis. He has written nearly ninety articles on Y2K. Mr. Lord has advised Congressional staffers, The Con-gressional Policy, and the US Taxpayer's Alliance, and is a Y2K Research Associate at George Washington University. He has appeared on more than 200 radio talk shows as well as Fox News, ABC NightLine, the Discovery Channel, C-Span and PAX TV. Mr. Lord is a retired Naval Officer with 24 years active service who came up through the enlisted ranks. His career was spent in the electronics field, including a tour as the Electronics Maintenance Officer on an aircraft carrier. At age 33, he earned a degree in Business, graduating with honors from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Following his military career, Mr. Lord was involved in shipbuilding, communication systems design, satellite systems, software engineering, training and marketing. This experience included nine years in the software industry. He also taught business courses at the college level for several years." Full bio here: http://www.jimlord.to/AboutJimLord.html Here's the other side of the coin: Navy Denies It Expects Y2K Failures By Robert Burns AP Military Writer Friday, August 20, 1999; 6:06 p.m. EDT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Navy on Friday denied reports it expects widespread failures in power, water and other utility services in the United States because of the Year 2000 computer bug. Although the Navy has not verified that all cities and communities near its installations are fully prepared for the Y2K problem, its survey of local utilities is showing a steady improvement, said Rear Adm. Louis M. Smith. "I don't think we have a problem with utilities," Smith, commander of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, told reporters at a hastily called Pentagon news conference. The Navy also issued a statement saying, "There are no indications of likely widespread failures of water, electricity, gas or sewer.'' For full story go here: http://search.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WAPO/19990820/V000890-082099-idx.html T hese papers were discussed at length during Art Bell's most recent interview of Gary North on August 12/13. If you have Real Audio capabilities, we urge you to listen to it. *************************************************************************** GARY NORTH ON Y2K Several other interesting topics were covered during this interview: 1. Because you have a current bank statement, it MAY NOT entitle you to the balance shown because it would not allow for _uncleared checks_ not showing on the statement. The balance shown may not reflect what you actually have in your account. You and the bank would have no way of proving this per that statement. Go to your bank and ask for _specifics_ how you can best prepare to cover this scenario. 2. The FDIC in America which insures deposits up to $100,000 insures the _bank_, not you, the account holder. This could present red tape if you try to collect since it will be the bank you're dealing with, not FDIC. (Now, before a ton of bank clerks write us, we are only sharing what Gary North found out.) In a court case with FDIC, North states your bank statement will have NO LEGAL VALUE. I'd keep one regardless! It's better than nothing. 3. Rural areas are most likely to be cut off first from the electrical grid when push comes to shove. Why? Utilities will want to concentrate their power for city dwellers and rural folks are more likely to have sources of back-up power. 4. Most people, if any, who choose to prepare for Y2K, will begin to think about it the second week of September. 5. The most likely areas of failure are sewer, water, natural gas - in that order. 6. Traffic jams are likely to be a problem during this time. 18-wheelers (truck drivers) will have first road priority since they must get products to the stores. Therefore car traffic may be restricted. 7. What may be expected in December: curfews and food allocation/rationing at the least *************************************************************************** Y2K IN OZ Wading through Y2K sites in Australia yields a lot of nothing with regard to readiness here. Victoria, where Stan and I live, stated categorically several weeks ago, it is 98-99% ready. What we don't understand is if Victoria is _that sure_ of compliance, why aren't other states beating down its door for solutions. It is much more difficult to obtain compliance information in Australia. Most sites offer generalities how to prepare and are very short how specific companies and utilities are faring. We are hearing both extremes, but in the main, usuable information is scarce. Julie King sent us an interesting article on the topic. She's in Western Australia, south of Perth. In the small town of Denmark, their newspaper warned openly about preparing for Y2K. In the 8 August issue of "The Sunday Times" the "Local Emergency Management Advisory Committee (LEMAC) and the shire council are advising residents to stockpile food and are conducting an audit of food, emergency power and fuel storage supplies. "The LEMAC brochure claims the millennium bug is similar to a cyclone but 'threatens the very fabric of our society, rather than just blowing down houses'. "LEMAC chairman Mark Fairclough said the list would prevent last-minute panic buying. "YOUR 'BUG' SHOPPING LIST (as per the newspaper article): 50 litres fresh water 10 kg wheat or other grain 10 kg powdered milk (in tins) for babies and infants 10 kg corn 500 g iodised salt 5 kg soybeans 15 g Vitamin C "Also include ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables (preferably ones that can be eaten cold). Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water). Sugar, pepper, mixed vitamins. Ready-to-eat cereals and uncooked instant cereals (in metal containers). Dry, crisp crackers (in metal container). Dried potatoes (and some fresh). Special foods for elderly people or those on special diets. Comfort/stress foods - biscuits, sweets, cereals, lollipops, instant coffee, tea bags, cocoa, chocolate bars, canned nuts, etc. High-energy food - peanut butter, crackers, musesli bars, etc. Vegetables oils, dried spices, baking powder (antiseptic as well as a substitute for toothpaste). Non-carbonated soft drinks and cordials. White rice and dry pasta." On the heels of this intelligent planning came the wet rag of Chief executive officer Graeme Inchley who said "the Shire of Denmark appeared to be over-reacting to the situation but, conceded there were no guarantees about what would happen at the turn of the millennium." ************************************************************************** Y2K IN THE UK Sheila Lawrence in London from the BC group sends in the Y2K propaganda from her area. She decribes the Crown's reaction as a "gloriously mind boggling example of British complacency". The article is from "Daily Express" - August 16 1999: The Millennium Bug will cause "isolated and short-term" disruption for business, but Britain will escape breakdown of essential services say Whitehall sources. The Express has seen guidelines detailing strategy for beating the bug in the last 20 weeks of this century, designed to ensure 'business as usual' in Britain as the new Millennium begins. Workers returning on January 4 may be locked out or find office phones dead, but there is 'cautious confidence' that all essential services will come through without significant disruption. Action 200k, the Government's watchdog, says nearly 30,000 small firms have not taken precautions. The Government is set to publish a sensitive report on problems in other countries that could affect Britain. Gerry Bell, consultant for IBM and an adviser to Action 2000 said "It's almost like putting on a play for one night. If you don't get it right, it doesn't really matter how good your dress rehearsal was". OBSERVATION: Doesn't the fact that "nearly 30,000 small firms have not taken precautions" bother them? ************************************************************************** GPS US Coast Guard Warns On Upcoming GPS Changes http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990819/tc/transport_gps_5.html By Tim Dobbyn WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Coast Guard Wednesday urged boaters and other civilian users of the Global Positioning System to play it safe over the next few days and make sure alternative navigation methods are available. In a final appeal to private citizens and businesses to check their equipment, the Coast Guard warned that some initial problems for older GPS receivers could begin Thursday although the weekend loomed as the most likely time for units made more than five years ago to shut down or give wrong information. This coming weekend, the 1,024-week time clock in the satellite-based GPS system turns over to zero after nearly 20 years, creating difficulties for some receivers. In a similar story, British ship captains were urged on Saturday to "make sure you know where you are". The Welsh port of Milford Haven, like many others in Britain, is closing for three hours and all ships and boats are being urged to check their navigational systems before moving off again. Round-the-world yachtsman Robin Knox-Johnston said sailors would have to go back to the old system of dead reckoning "which means you note your position and then work out your speed and distance from that". In a warning to sailors, he told BBC Radio: "Don't rely on it at midnight. Get a position at 11.30 p.m. Don't trust the system until you are sure it is all tying in together properly. At midnight, the 24 satellites of the Global Positioning System, which provide navigational data from 11,000 miles out in space, switch their timing system back to zero. Full story http://www.yahoo.co.uk/headlines/19990821/news/0935247266-0000057275.html ****************************************************************************** ** *** 22 NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS WILL PUSH Y2K READINESS ENVELOPE http://wwwsenate.gov/~y2k/news/pr990804.htm Full Testimony Available At: http://WWW.SENATE.GOV/~Y2K/hearings/990804 WASHINGTON, DC -- The chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said today that six nuclear power plants in the United States will remain unprepared for possible Year 2000 computer problems after November 1, and according to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), at least three of those plants have Y2K readiness deadlines in mid-December. Also identified by NEI were 16 additional plants with deadlines in late October. "Setting a late deadline for Y2K readiness in a nuclear power plant may not allow enough time to address unforseen problems in such an immensely complex and potentially dangerous facility," said U.S. Senator Robert F. Bennett, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on the Y2K Technology Problem. "Total Y2K readiness of the nation's nuclear power plants is vital to keeping the lights on in certain areas, and is absolutely necessary to guarantee public safety during the millennium date change." "Nuclear power plants shouldn't play Russian roulette when it comes to Y2K - where they wait until the last minute and then hope for the best," said U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Vice-Chairman of the Senate Y2K Committee. "It is essential that there be adequate time left so systems can be tested in order to assure a safe and continuous power supply." In testimony posted on the web site of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem, NRC chair Greta Joy Dicus said that the two D.C. Cook plants in Berrien County, Michigan would not be Y2K ready until after November 1, and would remain shut down during the Y2K transition. The plants are currently in the midst of an extended shutdown, and have Y2K readiness deadlines of December 15. Dicus also said that four other plants with November-or-later deadlines would require outages to complete Y2K activities. Those plants are the Brunswick Unit 1 near Wilmington, N.C.; Comanche Peak Unit 1 in Sommervell County, Texas; Salem Unit 1 in Salem County, N.J.; and Farley Unit 2 near Dothan, Alabama, which has a December 16 deadline. "These outages have been scheduled, and each of the licensees have experience on sister units in completing the most significant Y2K remediation activities," she said. Additionally, 15 plants have late October deadlines: Browns Ferry Units 1 and 2 near Decatur, Alabama; Comanche Peak Unit 2 in Sommervell County, Texas; Diablo Canyon Units 1 and 2 near San Luis Obispo, California; Hope Creek in Salem County, New Jersey; North Anna Unit 2 in Louisa County, Virginia; Peach Bottom Unit 3 in York County, Penn.; Salem Unit 2 in Salem County, N.J.; Sequoyah Units 1 and 2 near Chattanooga, Tenn.; South Texas Project Units 1 and 2 near Matagorda, Texas; Three Mile Island, near Harrisburg, Penn.; Vermont Yankee in Vernon, Vermont; and Watts Bar in Rhea County, Tennessee. Currently 30 of 103 U.S. nuclear power plants remain unprepared for Y2K. The NRC expects most to be Y2K ready by September 30, when it will make a determination whether certain facilities will remain operational. Dicus said, however, that she believes all plants will be able to operate...safely during the transition from 1999 to 2000, and we do not anticipate the need for the NRC to direct any plant-specific action. Today's (August 4, 1999) hearing also addressed the Y2K preparedness of gas utilities, upon which 60 million homes and businesses rely for heat. Statements by the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America and American Gas Association indicate that natural gas industries plan to be Y2K ready by September 30, but did not offer specifics on current levels of Y2K preparedness. Bennett and Dodd said they would be asking for additional information regarding current readiness and industry progress toward the September deadline. "I am pleased that the natural gas industry has set a goal of 100 percent compliance this fall," said Bennett. "But more specifics are necessary in order for Congress and the American public to be assured that this goal can be met." "The natural gas industry's testimony today shows a good faith effort is being made to become Y2K compliant," Dodd said. "I look forward to receiving more detailed information so we can be sure the public won't be left out in the cold." In light of the nuclear implications, here are some additional Potassium Iodide and Iodate sources: http://www.millennium-ark.net/News_Files/INFO_Files/PI.html With affection, Holly and Stan, happy but not "glowing" AUSTRALIAN site: http://www.ballarat.net.au/~standeyo/ AMERICAN sites: http://www.millennium-ark.net http://buddyebsen.com/standeyo/ Emergency Preparedness: http://www.millennium-ark.net/News_Files/Hollys.html