The final preparations of municipal and emergency service providers in Weyburn are in place for the change in the calendar to the year 2000.

At the City of Weyburn's Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) command centre to be set up on Friday, Dec. 31, the Weyburn Amateur Radio Club's ham operators will be on standby to provide backup for all communications systems should there be any failure as a result of the rollover to the new year.

"We'll be set up with VHF and HF capabilities. We'll be ready to go if the phone lines go down and someone wanted to pass a message to a loved one elsewhere, or if the Fleetnet system went down for police or ambulance we could relay messages to them from the dispatchers," said Rawn Oliver, a senior member of the ham radio club and their new designated examiner.

Their members will mostly be on standby throughout the day as most primary systems are expected to stay up during that time, including local and long distance phones, cell phones and Fleetnet radio service used by police services, fire departments and ambulance.

Club member Dale Huff is the EMO communications officer, and indicated the organization has continuous ham radio capabilities year-round in the event of an emergency, such as a tornado or blizzard. They will have additional HF (High Frequency) service up and broadcasting within minutes if it is required.

"We won't really be staffing the place. We always have ham capability and we're available all the time. We're not just set up for Y2K," he said, adding Regina will be setting up HF service at their hospitals. The Weyburn EMO will also be covering the Radville and Fillmore hospitals at short notice as part of their mutual assistance plan, if they're needed.

One way they may come into use is if long distance phone service is lost but local phone service remains in place; in this case, the ham operators have a phone patch they can use to contact the local phone service outside of our area to make a call.

The EMO's command centre will be set up at the fire hall, and officials will start monitoring the rollover to the new year as it comes in around the world starting at 7 a.m. on Dec. 31. The first to enter 2000 will be in the New Zealand area hitting the new year at 6 a.m. Weyburn time. As the new year comes in to the various time zones around the world the situations will be monitored via the Internet and news services like CNN, so if any problems start to arise the emergency service groups will be aware of it.

The RCMP will have their members ready and on standby for any emergency as well, including at the Weyburn, Milestone, Radville and Fillmore detachments in this region.

Direction to prepare for the year 2000 came down from the police force's headquarters, and from F Division, the headquarters for Saskatchewan.

"For the past several months, we have been working hard to ensure our communications systems, our computers and, most important of all, our people are prepared for Y2K and whatever that may bring. Computers have been tested and backup communications systems are in place, just in case of disruptions," said Assistant Commissioner J.G. Harper Boucher of F Division, in a statement issued on Thursday.

Leave was restricted to all members through the holiday period to ensure manpower will be available should any problems arise related to Y2K.

Emergency services have recommended residents should be prepared for any eventuality, with a home emergency kit available to tide them over should problems arise in the new year.

The kit should include a battery-powered radio and flashlight, first aid kit, a water supply, three days worth of non-perishable food, candles and matches, blankets and warm clothing, identification, spare keys, extra cash, and prescription drugs to last at least three days. An emergency plan should also be worked out so individuals or families know what to do if a problem arises.

For those with travel plans, most services are in place and no problems are anticipated there. All flights are going out as normal over new year's, according to Lorena Squires of CAA Travel in Weyburn, adding there have been no inquiries or concerns about which countries might not be Y2K-compliant.

Many tour companies have been staying away from operating right at midnight on Dec. 31, operating late in the afternoon or the next day, she said.

Information about the Y2K-readiness of particular countries is available on the Internet web site for the federal Foreign Affairs and International Trade department, which advises all travellers to carry their passports and stay in touch with consular officials while overseas. Travel advisory reports are available from Foreign Affairs, as are country readiness statements.

Problems in foreign countries may be caused by computer-based systems, which may affect travel, telecommunications due to excess demand, and banking services, including the use of credit and debit cards. According to Foreign Affairs, very few countries will be completely free of problems related to Y2K, although problems may be restricted to particular countries or parts of countries.