Year 2000 drill

The US National Guard, in preparation for possible Year 2000 disruptions, will, for the first time, stage a nationwide communications drill to ensure they can keep in touch if phones, e-mail and faxes fail.

During the first week of May, National Guard commanders across the United States will assume it is New Year's Day 2000 and the phones are down.

These so-called weekend warriors will test high-frequency radios to make sure the Guard's Washington headquarters can communicate with headquarters in 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia.