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"Are you ready for weather emergencies?"
(asked at Presto Espresso in Totem Lake on 12-29-98; published in the EJ on 01-03-99)

David Parks, Customer service rep. & apartment manager

"As ready as I'm going to get. I've got my 4-wheel drive for the road. At home, if the power goes out, I'm going to be pretty cold till it comes back on. I do have an oil lantern --my girlfriend, Amy, got it for me for Christmas -- and flashlights."

Tesfaye Terefe, College mathematics instructor, Seattle

"Yes, I put water and food -- ready-made food like soup and pizza -- and wood, a radio, flashlights and a kerosene lamp always in the house. I used to work for a school district and they gave us orientation."

Scotty Hicks, Cashier, Kirkland

"Yeah. I don't have a heater in my car so I've got a sleeping bag, gloves, my hat, and camping gear. At home -- I'm never at home. But my parents have candles, and a generator for like the fridge and the freezer, and of course, the TV."

Ken Faust, Financial consultant, Kenmore

"I think so, yes. I carry extra things in my car -- gloves and heavy clothes. I spent a lot of years in cold country, North Dakota and Montana, so you get used to being ready. And I keep the car full of gas. I don't do anything special at home. It's too warm here."

Julie Holve, Supervisor, Kenmore

"I'm not ready in any area, but my neighbor is very organized. She has a change of clothes in her car, a make-up case, everything. We have water, a non-electric can opener, matches, candles, a wood stove, a radio, crunchy peanut butter -- I guess we're more ready than I thought! And my husband is going to get a cord of wood delivered. He's thinking about the Year 2000 thing -- he's worried and wants to be ready."

Heidi Holve, Cashier & student, Kenmore

"I'm kind of prepared, in certain areas. I have clothes in my car. I should get back-up batteries, candles, backpack stuff. But all I need is tuna and a can opener."

© 1999 by the Bellevue, WA-based Eastside Journal newspaper.

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