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HAPPY NEW YEAR. Sofar all problems I had was a 40 minute power failure and minor problems with the back up software... It might have been unrelated to the Y2K problem.
However, the Y2K problem gives a nice opportunity to exercise "Be Prepared" with the Scouts. Do this before that problem gets explained on every candy wrapper, or before you can't buy a mouse pad without a Y2K safety statement.
Anyway: 
the
webmaster backs up his home computer weekly on tape (and the council website
monthly on CD). I don't spend further time guessing whether the CD reader
will work after January 1 :-).
- Make sure you have enough bottled drinking water.
- Get some spare batteries for your flashlight. (I'm not claiming the batteries have a Y2K problem; but the first set might get used)
- If you need any medication, do you have a weeks supply stocked in your own house?
- Fill up your car (before the expected stampede to the gas station on December 31).
- Tell your parents that you will check out whether they are OK, after the phones work again.
- Make sure you have a statement of your bank accounts on paper, just in case you have to argue. Get a copy of your insurance policies. Get a credit report on yourself.
- Make sure you have enough cash to buy your newspaper (or whatever else you might need).
- If you don't live in California: think about warmth ... :-(
- Avoid being in an airplane (or train, elevator, car etc.). (Your car engine is not likely to fail, but there might be drunk drivers)
- Have a battery powered radio and listen occasionally to the local news.
- I'm not sure whether some computers might be programmed in a way that the problem occurs already 2 days early; other software might show problems a year late... There are also some (I think much more severe) problems to expect for the year 2038 (in particular: Tuesday, January 19), but we will worry about this later.
- Enjoy new years eve with your loved ones.
- Finally, my son (12) suggests to make sure we have enough toilet paper.
- Don't get paranoid.