From the August 13, 1999 Susquehanna County Weekender, a paper more known for its ads than its news. Start clip:

DELTA COMPANY PREPARES FOR CIVIL DISTURBANCES

The local PA Army National Guard unit conducted civil disturbance training July 24 and 25 in Concrete City, Luzerne County (PA), in order to disperse an angry mob protesting the food shortages and power outage caused by Y2K computer problems. The infantrymen of Susquehanna county teamed with the volunteer firemen from Jessup in this role playing in order to prepare for any potential problems which may arise in the upcoming New Year.

Due to concerns which have arisen because of Y2K, the Army National Guard has deemed it necessary to preparte its soldiers in case of a local emergency, such as power outages and food shortages. Advance preparation allows the Guard to make necessary adjustments to the mision in order to be ready for the real thing.

Once again, Delta Company and the National Guard are doing their job to make Susquehanna and Pennsylvania a better place to live. The Army National Guard provides other opportunities for educational and occupational advancement. To find out how to benefit call ...

End clip

Folks this is the Guard unit from the Pennsylvania equivilent of Mayberry RFD, and they're preparing to contain Y2K civil disturbances in conjunction with local volunteer firefighters. But for power outages and food shortages in one of the most rural counties in the state?

This article showing up in the county weekend shopping guide would be about par for local news coverage. It's a press release from the local Guard unit being used as a space-filler in the weekly coupon-clipper sheet. But what this story implies is far bigger than the local new coverage. How many more local weekly papers around the country have, or could have printed similar stories? How many mainstream local and regional papers declined to run similar press releases from their local Guard unit?

*How much of the government's actual Y2K preparations are going on, just out of view, until they come to light through some circumstances like this example?*

This article really does raise my concerns. Not because I fear the local Guard unit busting in my doors to go after my stock of rice & beans. I'm more concerned because this type of preparation being deemed necessary for rural Guard units makes me wonder just how bad people who get to see the real data think Y2K is going to be.

I'll be honest, my Y2K Warning System just went off with a resounding yelp. I'm now thinking that my planned 8.0 to 8.5 is going to move to a solid 9.0. Time to think about an extra thousand pounds of rice, beans and grains and another visit to the papergoods department at Sam's.

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), August 13, 1999

Answers

oh, you silly doomer. how dare you take information and draw conclusions. You're supposed to just watch t.v. and be happy. Stop thinking please. The nat'l guard is practicing scenarios Just In Case-- but the chances are so small, why are you worried about what they are doing.

The government has the right to go as far as acting out possible scenarios, but you are a silly doomer if you even try to prepare for those scenarios.

hey, the national guard already(back in january) announced they'd be in downtown seattle for new years--- see? if they were trying to cover it up, they wouldn't tell us! No, they'd wait until right about now, then announce they'd be there, then everybody would get it, and realize there are more problems anticipated.....wouldn't they?

Hey, quit that thinking! go back to sleep!

sarcasm off

-- Super (Slfsl@yahoo.com), August 13, 1999.

Wildweasel,

Here's a companion thread from a few week's back to add into the mix

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0018Pz

Foreign Troops and National Guard Preparing for Y2K

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Grayling, Michigan was the location for a unique training exercise called the Partner Challenge 1999, which took place during the weekend of June 18th and ended Tuesday, June 22...[snip]

According to the Record Eagle, Soldiers also will take in a land navigation course and will practice taking over and securing an area where they face dissenters and people begging for food and money.

-- RUOK (RUOK@yesiam.com), August 13, 1999.

I was told yesterday that our local Guard will be training with the local Fire and Police in late Oct.

Of greater interest, the local Guard personnel were notified that it was recommended/ordered that their families spend the last week of Dec thru the first week (minimum) of Jan "camping" at the Natl' Guard Armory.

This is in the same County (Calif) where it was posted that the Sheriff is hoarding for 3 weeks disruption.

It used to be JIT, now it is JIC (Just In Case).

-- Mitchell Barnes (spanda@inreach.com), August 13, 1999.

the handwriting is on the wall -- can you read?
GET READY

-- h (h@h.h), August 13, 1999.

WW:

Tell everyone who will listen.

Prepare now. Stockpile now.

Don't delay. The time is short to act.

If they won't listen to you, then they are stupid idiots.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), August 13, 1999.

What's got me wondering is if this training is for percieved future local actions or will our local boys spend Millenium Weekend and beyond in one of the state's urban centers? If it's for urban center duty then I won't be surprized to see a lot of empty seats on the bus going to Philly or Pittsburg. And we could use our trained folks locally for any emergency.

If it's for local action I have to ask "Where in heaven's name are they going to get that many troublemakers from around here?" Or more precisely "Where do they expect those troublemakers to be coming from?"

Might be time for some of us old vets to gather locally and discuss the judicious use of chainsaws on trees located near major highways.

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), August 13, 1999.

WW,

The cities will be the big problem, first, last, and always. The NG will be under the direction of FEMA when the executive orders kick in. They may not be telling the troops yet, but the Base Commanders are wise to the real targets, bet on it. Remember, the DoD has set Sept 1, 1999 as the start of the "alert" period.

-- Gordon (gpconnolly@aol.com), August 14, 1999.

18 days from now

-- 18 (18@18.18), August 14, 1999.

Interesting thoughts. I'm going to chat with our local NG Infantry unit next week. I know a couple of the guys, they taught a scout unit I sponsered some land navigation and compass skills a while back. Good guys. Pretty funny to watch a bunch of young boys trying to sneak up a couple of Ranger's. But hey they all learned how to read a map and find their way around with a compass.

In another lifetime I was "acquainted" with the road blocking techniques that could be used. Trees work for a while but a C4 charge or some DET cord move them pretty quick. Problem I see is that there is a shortage of trees right by the offramps! :) However a turned over semi rig is a different story. Especially one marked with a hazmat sign. Or there is the gravel truck, fully loaded of course, jack knifed at the bottom of the off ramp. However everything can be moved given time either by a dozer, tank, explosives, etc. Every minute gained is to the defenders advantage.

-- Freelancer (mercenary2000@yahoo.com), August 14, 1999.