By Lewis Loflin
Lewis Loflin here. This 1999 *Kingsport Times-News* piece captures Sullivan County’s Y2K prep, driven by religious groups fearing tech collapse—a hype I’ve long doubted, as in Beware of Environmental Hysteria. Back then, community pressure had officials on edge, mirroring broader cultural panics I’ve tracked. Looking back from 2025, it’s a relic of misplaced worry.
Published December 1, 1999, Kingsport Times-News
BLOUNTVILLE — As midnight ushers in January 1, 2000, Sullivan County’s emergency teams will stand ready, bracing for Y2K glitches. “We’ll be there if something happens,” said Jerry Fleenor, Emergency Management Agency Director, at a Wednesday briefing. The county’s plan targets power and phone outages—key concerns amid Y2K fears.
Paramedics, firefighters, police, and radio operators will stage at strategic spots across Kingsport, Bristol, and Sullivan County, equipped to aid residents if systems fail. “We’ve got key locations covered,” Fleenor noted. Kingsport’s Assistant Police Chief Gale Osborne, Bristol 911 Director Virginia Smelser, and Bristol Fire Deputy Chief Gary Maiden pledged full readiness, hoping to wrap up by 1 a.m.
Smelser assured 911 would work if phone lines hold. Maiden cautioned against panic and stockpiling flammables, citing fire risks. “We’re prepared for any event,” Fleenor added, “but we hope it’s uneventful.”
Acknowledgment: Thanks to Grok, an AI by xAI, for aiding this draft. Final edits are mine.
