Coping with the Millennium Bug: An action plan for Parishes
In his First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul noted, "For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside'" (1:18).1 Our world may soon witness the fulfillment of these words in a surprising and previously unimaginable way: a worldwide computer crisis known as the Millennium Bug. If computers are the Goliath dominating our present-day information society, a seemingly insignificant decision made over thirty years ago involving a mere two-digit number may prove to be the pebble that fells the giant—and this time we'll all feel the shock waves from the fall.
Preparing for the Millennium Bug has been called "one of the most important issues facing businesses, governments and other institutions worldwide."2 This problem involves the inability of many computers to recognize or calculate dates after December 31, 1999. Earlier generations of mainframe computers—many of which, though technically obsolete, are still in use today—were very large and relatively inefficient, especially in terms of storage capacity; this made computer memory very expensive. To save money and space, programmers expressed years in two-digit form: 68 for 1968, 84 for 1984, and so on. The problem arises from the fact that those computers whose programs haven't been updated will interpret 00 not as 2000, but as 1900.
Many experts in business, finance, and government have become increasingly concerned over the Y2K problem. (Y stands for Year, and K for a thousand: thus, the Year 2000.) A report by the Office of Management and Budget stated, "Unless they [computers] are fixed or replaced, they will fail at the turn of the century in one of three ways: they will reject legitimate entries, or they will compute erroneous results, or they will simply not run."3 An expert named Robert X. Cringley (a pseudonym), in his book Accidental Empires, asserted,
We can predict the date by which the old IBM—IBM the mainframe computing giant—will be dead. We can predict the very day that the main-frame computer era will end....On December 31, 1999, right at midnight, when the big ball drops and people are kissing in New York Times Square, the era of mainframe computing will be over.
This is a major problem for the simple reason that over 75% of the data needed for marketing decisions and projections by America's largest companies are stored in mainframe computers; if and when this data becomes unavailable or unreliable, the economic effects will be devastating.
Errors emanating from mainframe computers might very possibly start a chain reaction affecting all Americans—not just those directly involved in the computer age. In his July 14, 1998 address to the National Academy of Sciences, President Clinton noted that "we're not just talking about computer networks, but billions of imbedded chips built into everyday products. And it's worth remembering that the typical family home today has more computer power in it than the entire MIT campus had 20 years ago."4 So severe is the Y2K problem that the President proposed bringing in retired military and civilian computer programmers to assist in efforts to prepare for it; however, many experts believe it's already too late to prevent serious disruptions in our way of life. Non-compliant lines of computer code (i.e., those unable to read and process years expressed in four-digits) must be rewritten; some programs have millions of lines of code. The rewritten program must then be tested, and any bugs (undiscovered errors) corrected. This process is both enormously time-consuming and expensive.
Many companies are devoting large amounts of money and man-hours to addressing this challenge; the top 250 U.S. corporations alone will spend more than $37 billion to fix the problem.5 Complicating the situation is the fact that there are some 500 different computer languages; the original programs still used to operate the large main-frames are unfamiliar to most programmers today, and in many cases they no longer have supporting documentation (paperwork explaining the program's logic). An incorrect "correction" to the original program might cause the entire program to fail. The Wall Street Journal quoted one programmer as saying, "When I started here, I thought would come in, write a thousand lines of code, and change the world. Now, I'm afraid to change even a single byte [unit of information]. Everything is just so complicated."6 Even if by some miracle all the programs are rewritten in time, there isn't enough unused mainframe computer capacity to run tests to ensure that the corrected programs are now Y2K compliant.
Personal computers (PCs) may also experience problems. Each PC has a BIOS chip (Basic Input Output System). 79% of the pre-1997 BIOS chips aren't Y2K compliant, and 14% don't know that 2000 is a leap year.7 A widespread failure of computers—main-frame or PCs—will have serious effects on utilities, transportation, communications, finances, and technology. For instance, America's roughly 8,000 electric power plants are all working to repair their computers; even so, Senator Robert Bennett's Y2K committee stated that there is a 40% chance of nationwide power outages.8 Non-compliant chips are used throughout these plants, both nuclear and conventional. Moreover, electric utilities share power lines—meaning that one company's ineffective efforts to eliminate the Millennium Bug's effects might sabotage or negate another company's diligent efforts to do so, leading to widespread blackouts.9
Incredibly, 84% of the computer software being shipped today still isn't fully Y2K compliant.10 Also, the vast majority of the nation's 911 dispatch systems aren't compliant, and in spite of $463 million already spent by AT&T, there's still a high chance that telephone companies will suffer the failure of a mission critical system (i.e., one essential to continued operation).11 When it comes to reprogramming communications programs, one small mistake can affect the entire system, as happened for a day in 1996 when America Online was shut down by a one-digit error.
The country’s transportation system is heavily dependent on computers. Railways, for instance, rely on computers for the efficient scheduling and tracking of railcars throughout the country; these carry bulk items too large to be shipped by truck. A sudden inability to use computers in this process would have immediate and severe aftershocks throughout the country; these carry bulk items too large to be shipped by truck. A sudden inability to use computers in this process would have immediate and severe aftershocks throughout the economy; stores’ inventories could no longer be replaced in a timely manner. Shippers such as UPS and FedEx will suffer similar problems. Air travel will also be severely affected; Congress has been informed that the Federal Aviation Administration will not meet its Y2K deadline, which may force drastic reductions in airlines’ scheduled flights.12
The banking industry may be in better shape than most, as it had to begin preparing for Y2K back in the 1970s (due to the issuing of 30-year mortgages). The FDIC estimates that 88% of the 6,034 banks it regulates are making satisfactory progress. However, the system depends on ongoing transactions involving the sharing of financial information—and corrupt data from a non-compliant bank, whether American or foreign, might infect a compliant system. Also, banking is more heavily affected by public perceptions than most industries—and if people perceive a problem, there may be a run on the banks reminiscent of the Depression era.13
Stocks and commodities markets cannot function without reliable computers. Even though the United States is much further ahead than most of the world in preparing for the Y2K problem, the nature of our global economy means that an economic disaster elsewhere could soon have severe effects in the U.S. John Koskinen, a special presidential assistant managing the federal government's Y2K efforts, noted that "if [foreign] stock markets don't open on January 3, 2000, that Monday, it's going to have an impact on us even though those are not our markets."14
One expert, Gary North, states that if the world's mainframe computers lose their memories on January 1, 2000, we will have the equivalent of an "Alzheimer's economy." Just as a person with Alzheimer's disease may be physically capable of certain activities, but unable to function because of the disease's effects on memory and thinking, so the industrialized world may be physically capable of producing goods and services as before, but unable to function because of failures in economic forecasting and in overall coordination and control.
The situation with the federal government is mixed; some agencies are more prepared than others. In 1996 the IRS publicly admitted that its eleven-year, $4 billion computer upgrade had failed,15 and its computers remain hopelessly non-compliant, with more than 100 million lines of code to check. It took the Social Security Administration five years to fix 6 million of its 30 million lines of computer code; on this basis, the IRS cannot possibly finish reprogramming its computers in time. As one analyst noted, if large numbers of taxpayers conclude that the IRS is no longer able to track compliance, they may think they can stop paying—resulting in a collapse of the income tax system. This will make it impossible for the federal government to continue funding its innumerable programs and entitlement obligations.
According to the latest Congressional scorecard on Y2K preparations, only two-thirds of the government's 7,300 mission critical systems will be repaired in time; 66,000 non-critical systems likely won't be ready. Congressman Stephen Horn has issued a "report card" on the government's Y2K progress. Of twenty-four federal departments or agencies listed, there was only one A, along with four Bs, eight Cs, eight Ds, and three Fs.16 Based on current rates of progress, the Department of Defense (with 358 million lines of code) will not complete its Year 2000 projects until 2012, and the Departments of Labor and Energy until 2019.17
Likely results
In his best-selling book The Millennium Bug, Michael S. Hyatt suggests five major problems that may occur as a result of Y2K computer failures. (1) There may be a loss of faith in the banking system. (2) Computer hackers may take advantage of the situation by breaking into various systems, creating security problems. (3) Increasing numbers of businesses may fail because of an inability to function without computers. (4) We may see a massive increase in litigation due to Y2K problems (further reducing economic productivity). (5) It's possible that many of the losses incurred by businesses and individuals won't be insured (even if the insurance industry is still operating).18
The Washington, D.C. Year 2000 Group, consisting of computer experts from the military, government, the computer industry, and other sectors of society, was asked for its opinion on the economic effects of the Y2K problem. Of the 229 members who responded, 84% expect it to cause at least a 20% drop in the stock market; over 60% foresee at least an economic slowdown and a rise in unemployment; 56% believe there will be a mild recession and some runs on banks; 34% anticipate at least a strong recession; and 10% expect the country will suffer another depression.19 In July 1997 38 computer experts, with a total of 669.5 years of experience, were asked about the likely economic effects of the Y2K problem, using a scale of 1-5 (with one representing non-existent or minimal problems, three representing sizable economic disruptions, and five representing a probable collapse of the economy). The average score of their responses was 3.96.20
Recommended actions
As I hope the above description makes clear, it's highly possible that, in less than 400 days, our society will be experiencing a severe crisis; indeed, problems will likely occur even before then, as more people become aware of the negative implications of the Y2K situation. The Church will inevitably have a role to play in this upheaval—in both an active and passive sense. Many people will experience the collapse of their value systems, and will, in their brokenness and despair, turn to the Church for physical and spiritual assistance. We must be ready to help them. At the same time, the Church itself will be affected, with many of the normal activities of parish life being curtailed or transformed to one degree or another. It's not too early to begin preparing for these new realities; indeed, in some ways it may soon be too late. Nevertheless, there are some practical steps that parishes may take to prepare themselves for the Y2K crisis; I offer fifteen of them here (and reading them may well suggest others particularly suited to your own pastoral situation).
1. Become informed on the issue; this will aid your parish's efforts (and your own personal preparations) to get ready for the coming potential crisis. I highly recommend the earlier-mentioned The Millennium Bug,21 which is written in easily understood, non-technical language, and which contains suggested practical steps to be taken while there's still time. For those who are online or have access to the Internet, log on to www.catholic2000.com. Created by the Mary Foundation, this website investigates the Y2K problem from a distinctively Catholic perspective (and it offers links to other sites addressing the issue).
2. Bring members of the parish staff into the planning process; they may recognize particular needs, or have worthwhile suggestions, that wouldn't have occurred to you. Perhaps one certain person—the pastor or someone he designates—should be appointed as coordinator of the parish's Y2K preparations.
3. Get printouts ("hard copies") of all parish accounts with outside agencies or institutions; this would include savings or checking accounts with banks, deposits or loans from the diocese, insurance payments, tax and withholding records, payments into parish personnel's health and retirement programs, and statements from all private firms with which the parish has an account. It may be necessary after January 1, 2000 to prove that certain bank accounts exist (and contain X number of dollars), or that certain bills or invoices have been paid; having the proof stored on a computer disk somewhere won' t be of much help if the computers aren't functioning, or if the system is overwhelmed.
4. Have printouts made of all computerized parish records (if those records don't already exist in written form). This especially applies to parish census data and financial contributions, along with invoices, bookkeeping records, tuition receipts, and other statements of account. All documents stored on computer disks (including a priest's personal files, homilies, bulletin columns, correspondence, etc.) will be inaccessible in the case of power failures or other unforeseen problems; acquiring paper copies of everything may prove to be an indispensable backup. Because for many parishes this may represent a massive and cumbersome undertaking, it should be started early in 1999 (or at least in the less-hectic summer months), and then be updated regularly. This will be especially important during the week after Christmas (which falls on a Saturday in 1999). Many parishes close their offices over the holiday season, but the last few days before 2000 will be the final opportunity to prepare for a possible computer crash; parishes owe it to their donors to make sure a permanent (i.e., written) copy exists of their financial contributions.
5. Print or acquire sufficient copies of all parish forms, stationery, letters, and certificates needed for normal operations (blank baptismal and other sacramental certificates, registration forms, purchase orders, school tuition receipts, etc.). If electric power is interrupted for several weeks or more, it won't be possible (unless the parish has an old, hand-operated duplicating machine or printing press) to print up more of them. (Even if the Millennium Bug turns out to be much ado about nothing, the time, effort, and material expended won't be wasted; forms and certificates can be stored for as long as necessary until finally needed.)
6. If possible, acquire a manual (non-electric) typewriter. It could be invaluable for typing certificates and other documents if a loss of electric power renders word-processors and electric typewriters inoperable.
7. Consider purchasing a generator or wood-burning stove (along with ample fuel or firewood, respectively). In colder parts of the country (which is to say, most of the U.S.), some method of providing minimal heat or power is essential. Even if it takes only a few days or weeks to restore lost electric power (a scenario some experts consider highly optimistic), coping with one of the coldest months of the year may, for those unprepared, involve considerable hardship.
8. Purchase large quantities of needed supplies (altar wine, hosts, candles, maintenance supplies, rectory household items, etc.) well in advance. If there are breakdowns in production and distribution when the Millennium Bug strikes, buying needed items and supplies may become impossible, or at least exorbitantly expensive.
9. If the parish doesn't have a food pantry, now is the time to start one; if one does exist, it should be greatly expanded in the time remaining before 2000. Widespread social and economic disruptions—or even those occurring merely on a scattered, local basis-will bring many people to the rectory door, seeking assistance. Canned goods (assuming the availability of hand-operated can openers), cereals and other dried or packaged foods, canned juices, and other appropriate, non-perishable items, should be emphasized. Consideration should also be given to storing water, in case the loss of utilities makes it unavailable. Bottled water or spring water can be purchased in advance and stored until needed; also, empty plastic milk and soft drink containers can be rinsed, sterilized, and filled with tap water. (If storage space is limited, one might choose to wait until December before setting aside as much water as possible.) Recycled milk and soft drink containers will be very useful if it becomes necessary to give out water to persons seeking assistance from the parish.
10. Begin stockpiling small items and household supplies that will become essential or useful in case of economic disruptions; these can be set aside not only for persons in need seeking the parish's help, but also for use within the rectory itself. A list of such items might include flashlights, batteries of various sizes, disinfectant, first aid kits, various non-prescription drugs and medicines, toilet paper, laundry detergent (of a type suitable for use when washing clothes by hand), soap, matches, candles, cigarette lighters and lighter fluid, charcoal (for cooking on a barbecue grill), etc. Take an inventory of parish and rectory supplies in order to see which items should be replenished or stocked-up on in advance; this will help ensure that small but essential commodities aren't overlooked. Also, Michael S. Hyatt's The Millennium Bug suggests buying many more supplies than one might actually need, for if our currency collapses, we'll return to a barter economy, in which certain items will have to be traded for needed goods and services. (Were this to come about, it's not unreasonable to imagine parish employees being "paid" in food and household supplies.)
11. If the parish has a school, contingency plans should be made in case power failures or other problems prevent it from reopening on Monday, January 3, 2000. Perhaps each teacher might prepare a set of worksheets, a reading and homework list, and an outline for studying at home, for his students, with this material being sent home prior to the beginning of the Christmas vacation. The school's principal and faculty should be invited to begin thinking about this and other possible solutions, in case the Y2K problem has an effect on education. These or similar preparations should also be considered so as to ensure the continued functioning of a parish's religious education program and adult catechumenate (RCIA).
12. If the parish is sponsoring any sort of pilgrimage as part of its observance of the new millennium, careful thought should be given to the timing of such a trip. It might prove unwise to be far from home, and especially out of the country, when 2000 arrives. Not only are most other nations lagging behind the U.S. when it comes to preparing for the Millennium Bug, but airlines' flight scheduling and the FAA's air traffic control operations may be severely affected by computer problems. It's entirely possible that Americans overseas after December 31, 1999 may find getting home to be very difficult and time-consuming.
13. Security arrangements for parish buildings and facilities should be reviewed and, where necessary, reinforced. If, as some commentators fear, there's a widespread social and economic breakdown, theft, vandalism, and perhaps even looting may occur on a large scale. Alarm and home monitoring systems may be inoperable, and if phone services aren't working, it won't be possible to call 911 for help. All doors and windows should be checked to make sure locks are strong and in good working condition; fire extinguishers should also be ready for use. Rather than shutting the proverbial barn door after the horse has escaped, the parish should prepare to meet these and other potential Y2K problems now, before a crisis occurs.
14. People will continue coming to Mass (quite possibly including many previously inactive Catholics shaken by the crisis), and their spiritual needs will have to be met. One not insignificant need is that of information, along with a sense that the parish is continuing to function with some degree of normalcy. How will this information be provided, however, if it's no longer possible to print a parish bulletin each week? In view of this, it may be advisable to have something purchased or printed in advance to give to churchgoers each week (e.g., Catholic Updates or similar religious articles from a variety of sources). Letting parishioners take something home to read with them each week may be psychologically reassuring to them, helping them cope with the situation until normalcy returns. Moreover, many people will be vividly reminded that society and technology don't have the solution to all life's problems, and may be more receptive than usual to good reading material that assists their spiritual growth.
15. Lastly, consider informing your parishioners about the Millennium Bug and helping them make their own preparations for coping with it. You might arrange for a speaker to come in and give a presentation on this subject, or publicize other such efforts occurring in the area. Another possibility is to mail an information sheet to all your parishioners, or to insert it in your Sunday bulletin; it can give practical steps they can take to be ready for the Y2K crisis. (I have prepared such a sheet for my own parish; if you'd like a sample copy—which you may duplicate and distribute as needed—please send me a self-addressed stamped envelope at 17116 Olympia, Redford, MI 48240.) Some parishioners will already be well-informed about the Millennium Bug (and may indeed be a resource for the parish as it makes its own preparations). Others, however, will know little or nothing about it—and so the Church can perform a timely and important service by providing useful and reliable information.
Part of the education of parishioners on the Y2K situation involves the suggestion to begin storing food, water, and other essential supplies, and this raises a question regarding what some would consider hoarding: is it immoral or at least irresponsible to begin bulk purchases of needed commodities? Won't such "panic buying" make the situation worse? I would suggest that, if done early enough, such bulk purchases by large numbers of people won't be harmful, and may even be beneficial, to society as a whole. It may still be a few months or more before the general public realizes the possibility of potential shortages. Purchasing one's supplies now, before the crisis sets in, may to some small degree help minimize shortages later, and may in fact stimulate the economy to produce more goods, before a panic occurs, than would otherwise be the case. The Bible praises the virtue of prudence in many places (e.g., chapter 41 of Genesis—the story of Joseph's dream which led to the storing of grain in Egypt); our reliance on God for our daily bread doesn't preclude reasonable efforts to anticipate and provide for ourselves and our loved ones. Reflecting on these and other questions may prove to be an important part of our Y2K preparations.22
January 1, 2000 will arrive on schedule whether we're ready for it or not—and there are solid indications that many elements of our computer-based society will be found less than completely prepared. In times of crisis, people turn to the Church—and being ready for such situations can provide wonderful opportunities for evangelization. God may indeed have hidden things from the learned and the clever (cf. Matt. 11:25), but he also seeks to reveal the mysteries of His Kingdom to the merest children—and it's entirely possible that the Lord will use the Y2K crisis for this purpose.
In Tertio Millennio Adveniente Pope John Paul II states, "Everyone is asked to do as much as possible to ensure that the great challenge of the Year 2000 is not overlooked, for this challenge certainly involves a special grace of the Lord for the Church as for the whole of humanity" (par. 55). The Holy Father was surely not thinking of the Millennium Bug when he wrote these words, but they do apply in a profound (if unintended) sense to the potential crisis awaiting us. Now is the time to begin preparing; delay will only raise the material, economic, and spiritual costs of confronting the Y2K issue.
The Church, unlike every other institution or society in history, has the Lord's promise that nothing will prevail against it, and so our outlook should always be one of trust, confidence, and hope. Society is on the verge of a technological Tower of Babel, and when manmade institutions and inventions fail, many Americans may finally be ready to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and accept it as Good News.
*A cassette recording of the above article may be obtained from: Keep the Faith, Inc., 10 Audrey Pl., 110. Box 10544, Fairfield, N.J. 07004. Price $5. 00 postpaid (Canada: add 50$).
ENDNOTES
1 NAB translation. Paul was quoting Isa. 29:14, which says, "Therefore I will again deal with this people in surprising and wondrous fashion: The wisdom of its wise men shall perish and the under standing of its prudent men be hid."
2 The investment firm of Merrill Lynch, as quoted in "Faith, Not Fear: The Church's Response to Y2K," by Chris Mitchell (on the July 19, 1998 website of CBN News—www.cbn.org).
3 Getting Federal Computers Ready for 2000, Feb. 7, 1997.
4 Press release by the White House. Embedded computer chips are those which actually contain their own built-in programs (and testing them and replacing them with compliant chips, if necessary, can be time-consuming, inconvenient, and expensive). Such chips can be found in desktop computers, answering machines, photocopiers, fax machines, video cameras, voice mail, air conditioning, heating and lighting systems, burglar and fire alarms, automobiles, traffic lights, elevators, automated teller machines, credit card systems, hospital monitoring equipment, pacemakers, microwaves, VCRs, and many other examples of modern technology that we've come to take for granted.
5 USA Today, June 10, 1998, p. B1. It's estimated that the average Fortune 500 company spent $31 million on the Y2K problem through 1997, with an additional $117 million to be spent by 2000.
6 Wall Street Journal, December 11, 1996, p. B1.
7 Michael S. Hyatt, The Millennium Bug (Regnery Publishing, Inc.: Washington, D.C., 1998), pp. 22-23.
8 Hearing of June 12, 1998.
9 USA Today, June 10, 1998, p. B3.
10 Ibid. Older computers—those made before April 1997—will still be usable, but their dates will be wrong unless they're manually adjusted. Software such as Windows 98 and Windows NT 5.0 are compliant, but—according to Microsoft-Windows 95 still has "minor issues." To avoid garbled results after December 31, 1999, Windows 95 users will need to install Microsoft's free software patch (available online at www.microsoft.com/2000).
11 Ibid.
12 Ibid.
13 Ibid. The largest banks face massive challenges. Chase Manhattan, for instance, must check 200 million lines of code, 70,000 desktop computers, and 1000 software packages from 600 different software vendors. Even a very small number of errors in this process might undermine the final results.
14 Ibid., p. B2.
15 New York Times, January 31, 1996, p. A1.
16 Hyatt, pp. 109-110. The Social Security Administration received an A; Bs were earned by the General Services Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services (B-). Congressman Horn gave a grade of C to the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Labor, the Department of State, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense (C-). The eight Ds were assigned to the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, the Department of Justice, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Agriculture (D-), NASA (D-), and the Department of Treasury (D-). The Agency for International Development, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Education received grades of F
17 Ibid., p. 111.
18 Ibid., pp. 86-89.
19 July 19, 1998 website of CBN News—www.cbn.org.
20 Hyatt, p. 180.
21 Call Regnery Publishing at 1-888-219-4747 for ordering information.
22 One such question pertains to the realm of private revelations. There are in our country today (as in many parts of the world) alleged visionaries who claim to have received messages from Heaven regarding imminent famine, societal breakdown, and religious persecution here in the United States. An example of such a person is John Leary, a Catholic in Rochester, New York, whose visions have been published under the title Prepare for the Great Tribulation and the Era of Peace—Volumes I-IX (Queenship Publishing Company, 1-800-647-9882).
Supposedly God will not only protect us, but miraculously multiply the food of his people, as he did for the widow of Zarephath in the day of Elijah (1 Kg. 17:7-16), and our efforts to store supplies in advance—even minimally—will facilitate this event. (The prophecies also agree on one important point: in order to receive this divine gift of multiplication, it will first be necessary to share one's food generously with those in need.) Are these and other prophecies authentic, and if so, do they have a bearing on the Millennium Bug?
I personally tend to take many such prophecies seriously, while recognizing the possibility that alleged visions and revelations may be caused by psychological problems, wishful thinking or honest mistakes on the part of the "visionary," or by deliberate human or demonic deception. (This issue is discussed at length in Fr. Benedict Groeschel's book A Still, Small Voice—Ignatius Press—and also in the Commentary of my novel After the Darkness—Queenship Publishing.) Even if one believes in the real possibility of some form of coming chastisement, in which the Y2K problem may play a role (perhaps as one precipitating factor), discussing this in a public manner (especially on the part of recognized or perceived representatives of the Church) requires prudence and caution. Offering suggestions on how parishioners might prepare for problems resulting from the Millennium Bug might provide a solution: these suggestions (especially those involving the storing of food, water, and other supplies) might simultaneously help people prepare for even greater crises (if the prophecies are to be believed), since many of the same steps would be needed in either situation.
Reverend Joseph M. Esper is the pastor of Our Lady of Loretto Parish in Redford, Mich. He has had articles published in several magazines, including Fidelity, The Priest, and Signs and Wonders for Our Times. He is also the author of After the Darkness: A Catholic Novel on the Coming of the Antichrist and the End of the World (Queenship Publishing, 1997). This is his first article in HPR.
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