We keep hearing (and hooting at) various agencies' advice to stock up on supplies for three days. Could this be a deliberate effort to get people used to stockpiling, that this "three days" will be gradually extended, say, to five, then a week, then two weeks, etc., thus minimizing panic?

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), February 19, 1999

Answers

Good question, old git.

We ain't waitin' for some snot-nosed kid in the administration to manipulate me anymore.

Got a zippo?

Mike Cumbie

-- Michael H. Cumbie (Mikecumbie@aol.com), February 19, 1999.

I think its a have-it-both-ways butt covering. Since most people go to the grocery every three days, most will say Oh I already do that so will do nothing. Yet the official who announced this three day alert can say Theyve been warned! But if said official says two or three or more weeks supplies are in order, people might put two-n-two together and think they might need a couple three weeks worth of expenses in cash. Then there would be real fractional reserve banking hell to pay. And of course, since all we have to fear is fear itself....

Sort of like the baloney coming out of Dan Glickmans mouth the other day. An agriculture secretary telling us what a bad idea it was to buy extra food.

Danger, Danger Will Robinson....

Booster C.

-- Booster C. (booster@cable.com), February 19, 1999.

I think so.

Once you get people started, even if it's only for "3 days" you've established a mindset. Increasing the degree of preparation is only a slight adjustment in behavior.

Plus, if everyone actually did prepare for 3 days, then it would make a lot of other jobs (FEMA, NG) easier -- people wouldn't be in dire distress, just miserable -- so priorities could be established.

-- De (dealton@concentric.net), February 19, 1999.

Old Git,

It's my understanding that 72 hours or three days is the standard emergency & disaster preparedness recommendation WHEN help can come from the outside.

That is still the Y2K unknown.

I suspect they'll gradually increase the time frame as summer and reports roll along.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), February 19, 1999.

The latest issue of Bottom Line had an article on Y2K. I don't have it in front of me here at work, but I think they recommended storing up one month's worth of cash, 2 weeks worth of food, water (14 gal per person), "alternate" cooking methods such as sterno, flashlights/batteries, and several months worth of prescription medicines. They did not advise heading to the hills with a year's worth of dehydrated food.

-- Melinda Gierisch (gieriscm@hotmail.com), February 20, 1999.