US goes Y2K 'nuts'

BOSTON

A public college in Wisconsin is under fire for spending $130,000 (Pounds 208,000) on a millennium disaster plan that includes stockpiling enough food, fuel and water to sustain 500 people for a week.

Just in case the power grid blacks out and transportation and communications fail, Lakeshore Technical College has accumulated nine tons of food, 2,400 gallons of water, liquid propane, two-way radios, electrical generators, portable toilets, and portable heaters.

College spokeswoman Tammie Stahl said: "It's thinking ahead ... if something happens, we don't want to be hit."

But legislators who oversee the state-run school called the preparations "nutty behaviour that isn't fitting for a public institution".

In response, the college backpedalled slightly, promising to return all of the emergency supplies if they are not needed.

Under administrators' plans, Lakeshore would open its doors to 500 area residents on a first-come, first-served basis in the event of a catastrophe.