March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Prepare for Y2K, Mainers advised

Mainers are being advised to prepare for any Y2K emergency as they would for a snowstorm or ice storm.

To that end, NEWS readers are reminded to stock up on a small supply of food that doesn’t need to be cooked; to set aside drinking water for family members and pets; to have on hand a sufficient quantity of batteries, plus flashlights, lanterns, candles and a portable, battery-operated radio; to have enough money available for over the weekend; and to get prescriptions filled if they may run out next week.

Those using generators are reminded not to use them indoors because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Two deaths from the gas occurred in Maine during the 1998 ice storm.

If a power outage occurs, turn off all appliances as they can be damaged when power is restored.

While no emergencies are expected, municipalities in the NEWS’ readership area are offering shelters if needed. Residents can contact their local municipal offices or police and fire departments for more information, using nonemergency phone numbers.

Here is a partial listing of shelters:

Madawaska: the elementary school

Caribou: Teague Park School, Glenn Street.

Presque Isle: Forum building, Mechanic Street.

Oakfield: the community center on Smyrna Road near Interstate 95.

Patten, Sherman, Stacyville and Mount Chase area: Katahdin High School in Sherman Station.

Houlton: Houlton High School and Houlton Elementary School.

Hodgdon: the town’s fire station.

Island Falls: the municipal building. Members of other groups and organizations with their own facilities should go to those buildings.

Millinocket: The shelters will be open only if absolutely necessary. They are at St. Martin’s of Tours Catholic Church, Highland Avenue; American Legion building, Center Street; VFW Hall, Oxford Street.

East Millinocket: the fire station on Main Street.

Lincoln: Ballard Hill Community Center on Main Street.

Machias: University of Maine at Machias, Reynold’s Athletic Center, O’Brien Avenue.

Calais: Calais Armory, Calais Avenue.

Waldo County: shelters, as yet unspectified, will be activated if needed.

Pittsfield: Maine Central Institute’s Wright Gymnasium.

Skowhegan: the town office, community center or public works garage.

Bingham: the high school.

West Forks Plantation: the town hall.

Dover-Foxcroft: the fire station.

Moosehead Lake region: the Greenville schools.

Dexter: The fire station has been designated as a primary emergency shelter, with the ambulance building on Grove Street and the old town hall as secondary emergency shelters.

Stetson: Stetson Meetinghouse.

Etna: the community center.

Brewer: the Brewer Auditorium, Wilson Street.

Bangor: No shelters have been established, but if there are problems, residents can go to the city’s eight polling places and speak with public safety officials between 11 p.m. tonight and 1:30 p.m. Saturday:

Mary Snow School, off Essex Street.

Bangor High School, 885 Broadway.

Abraham Lincoln School, 45 Forest Ave.

William S. Cohen School, Garland Street.

Fourteenth Street School.

Bangor Community Center, Davis Road.

Bangor Civic Center, Dutton Street.

Fifth Street Middle School.


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