Y2K-wary Kansans stock up 'just in case'

Customers put rush on food, water, guns.

By MARGARET STAFFORD

The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Kan. --- Midwestern practicality --- not panic --- is prompting Kansans to buy everything from freeze-dried food to guns in preparation for possible Y2K problems.

That is the consensus of many business owners, who say they are selling more "survival" items than usual --- but customers don't seem to be overly worried about potential disaster arising from computer glitches.

"For the most part, we see a 'just in case' feeling," said Steve Kalm, manager of Ryders Sporting Goods in Arma. "I don't see many people who are convinced that something drastic is going to happen."

Still, just to be safe, Kansans are stocking up on such goods as freeze-dried food, water, batteries, lanterns, flashlights, propane fuel, transistor radios and wood-burning stoves.

"We're selling just about everything we've got," said Jacelyn Boatman, manager of Mickey's Surplus in Kansas City, Kan., which sells nearly anything anyone could need to get through a few days without electricity or water.

Most customers don't say specifically they are preparing for Y2K, but they will admit it when they are asked, she said.

"They bring a cartful of stuff up to the counter, and I say, 'Surely you're not going camping at this time of year,' " Boatman said, "and they start talking about Y2K."

C.L. Guy, who owns Rain Drop Bottled Water in Garden City, said customers have been calling for weeks to be sure he will have a supply on hand if they need it.

"We haven't had purchases, but they want to be sure we can provide water if things go wrong," said Guy, who is assuring his customers they will be fine. "We have our own well, so all we would need to do is fire up a generator. I don't think we'll need to do that, but you never know."

Ryders, which sells mostly hunting and fishing equipment, has been out of propane lantern fuel for several weeks, Kalm said. But the biggest interest has been in guns and ammunition.

"We've seen a lot more female customers coming in to buy firearms," Kalm said. "Most of the men already own guns, so they're stocking up on shells. I think protection if something does go wrong is the biggest concern now."

Staying warm is another big concern, with increased sales of fuel, firewood and fireplaces reported.

Back in February, Hearth and Home Inc. in Wichita reported a 70 percent increase in sales of wood-burning stoves. Employee Amber Crusinberry said sales have remained constant through the year.

"We still have a heavy demand," she said. "A lot of people come in and say they want the stove to be there if the electricity goes out."

But Crusinberry agreed most customers are just being cautious.

"They say that (Y2K) is a factor, but they aren't coming in panicky and saying, 'That's just something I'm really worried about,' " she said.

Being ready for potential disaster isn't unusual for Kansans who often deal with power outages or food shortages caused by violent weather, Guy said.

"People out in the country lose power every once in awhile anyway," Guy said. "We're pretty good at being prepared."

For example, most people who are worried about having propane fuel after the new year already have made preparations, said Don Reinert, owner of Reinert Propane in Inman.

"We're just implementing and scheduling those arrangements now," he said. "I don't expect a last-minute rash of calls."

Reinert said customers were more concerned earlier in the year, and some people did install larger propane fuel tanks. He checked then and was assured by his suppliers he would have fuel in January.

"There are a few instances out there where people are really concerned and have stocked up on food and water," he said. "But I think it's going to be quite a New Year's celebration, and we're going to celebrate that nothing happened."

Don't be so sure, warns Ned Colburn, who owns Conquest International Corp. in Plainville, which sells steam water distillers, pressure cookers, hard red winter wheat, freeze-dried meals and a myriad of similar products.

Colburn foresees electrical power outages and telephone problems in bigger cities and food shortages on store shelves in rural areas - -- but only for the first few days of January.

"I think it's going to be an inconvenience, pretty temporary," he said. "But there are going to be some angry people after January first, and some of the most angry will be the scoffers."

Colburn, who said he has been using his own products for years, acknowledges that some of his neighbors think he is "a nut on this Y2K stuff." But he said the government was derelict in not warning people until recently to prepare as though for a storm, with 24 to 72 hours' worth of food and water.

And Colburn said 80 percent of his customers are buying his products because they want to simplify their lives, not in preparation for Y2K.

"Y2K has heightened a trend that has been going on for 20 years behind the scenes," he said. "No matter the circum0stances, it just makes sense to be as self-reliant as possible. The Bible itself says to be prepared. It's just common sense."

Y2K-wary

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