Pharmacies, fuel businesses to hedge against Y2K hoarding

By Joe Winter

Local pharmacies and fuel businesses say they and suppliers will stock extra products as a hedge against possible buying sprees by consumers concerned about Y2K.

"We're kind of afraid about (hoarding)," said Bruce Anderson of Hudson Pharmacy at the Hudson Medical Center. He does not foresee a rush right before New Year's, but thinks a gradual buildup by consumers over the two weeks beforehand is possible.

Hudson Pharmacy will stock up on some items that usually are among the lesser requested, since these otherwise might be depleted from shelves the fastest, he said. However, there are networks to which druggists can turn for supplies, including a regional cluster of pharmacies that can share items, as needed. A pharmacy can even depend on the backup of a third wholesaler if the first and second ones don't have an item, he said.

Mark Anderson of Micklesen Pharmacy says consumer stockpiling in regard to the year 2000 problem definitely is a concern of officials. Programs are in place where if systems would go down, wholesalers would automatically ship drugs based on past usage patterns, even if no order is received. Wholesalers will build up a stockpile of key drugs anyway.

"I've had people ask me about it, and when they hear there isn't going to be a problem, they decide not to do it (stockpile)," he said. These customers initially seemed quite concerned they might not be able to get medications after Dec. 31, he said.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers are hiking production this month to compensate for any increased demand brought on by customer stockpiling, officials said.

A stumbling block to hoarding might be 30-day maximums set by health insurance companies. People having this as a part of their policy still could hoard, but they'd have to foot the bill themselves. Other people who urgently need to follow a daily prescription regime, such as those who require insulin, might think it prudent to have some extra medicine available, as they would do for any holiday weekend.

Computer software for recordkeeping should not go down, he said. "Insurance company after insurance company are checking (our computers)," he said. "There are so many people checking each other that nothing will go wrong."

Businesses that sell fuel are being advised by their wholesalers to have tanks full late on Dec. 31 in case people want to "top off" their personal supplies.

Debbie Morales, coordinator for the Consolidated Energy Co-op convenience store in Burkhardt, cautions that the wholesalers giving the advice will have to fill the tanks of all their different customers. That means a large amount of fuel needs to be available to wholesalers all at once.

Still, Morales doesn't think there will be a problem. "I intend to go to bed and sleep very soundly on the 31st," she said, although other co-op officials will be available if her prediction turns out to be wrong.

The state Department of Administration says that "concern remains over possible fuel shortages caused by citizens either stockpiling fuel or topping off fuel tanks. ... Risks from unsafe fuel storage outweigh any supposed gains in Y2K preparedness. Stockpiling could also create shortages where none would have existed." Improper storage and use of fuels, especially by farmers, could be disastrous.

In a brochure the department has prepared called "The Prudent Badger," it offers this additional information about consumer behavior:

- If everyone in Wisconsin picks up their phone at 12:01 a.m. (on Dec. 31) just to "check," the system will overload and calls won't go through;

- Carefully follow operating instructions if you decide to buy a standby generator, and have it installed by trained professionals. Improper use of generators presents some of the greatest potential for harm as the result of Y2K; and

- Stock up on food essentials only as you would for any Wisconsin winter - enough for a few days in case of a blizzard. There may be temporary shortages of a few items, but grocers know that failure to have food available and to sell it efficiently will mean immediate - and probably permanent - loss of customers. Wholesalers and retailers have a great deal of experience serving customers during natural disasters and understand how to stock shelves for increased demand.