Y2K Supplies Are Always Good in Quake Country

Just a note to let you know how dumb your article “Extra, Extra” (Jan. 12) was. It’s about people across the country who stocked up for Y2K only to find the nonevent left them holding a lot of supplies they can’t use. Well, that may be true in Little Rock, Zeke, but here in Southern California--earthquake country--we should have emergency items stocked up, so maybe folks around here who overstocked can feel better off having those things on hand: water, canned goods, paper, etc.; in fact, it’s a blessing in disguise! But does your article suggest that? Gosh, no. Other than the afterthought in one caption about batteries, “They might come in handy if the Big One strikes,” there’s nothing about keeping all that stuff handy in case of an earthquake in Southern California. Why not? A nice opportunity was missed here.

--WARREN GARFIELD

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