New Year’s celebrations usually provide more work for officers — vandalism, parties and the occasional breaking and entering — but that doesn’t usually include threats of power outages and computer crashes.

This year, the Salisbury Police Department will be in its “emergency preparedness status” Chief Chris Herring said.

“In essence, it will be like a storm or hurricane plan,” Herring said.

The department will double its normal holiday staff and all other employees will be on stand-by. They are also being asked to monitor their radios from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. in case telephone systems fail.

“You’re going to see more officers on the streets,” Herring said “and 911 communications will be strengthened.”

The police department, like most agencies, has been preparing for the Y2K bug for some time now.

“It has taken a lot of money and a lot of time, but we should be prepared,”Herring said.

The computer system which dispatches officers to calls has been upgraded, as has the police record system which keeps the files. The new radio systems have also been tested and are Y2K compliant.

The Police Department also has back-up generators in case power fails.

“Just a reminder: Common sense and communication with the average citizen is the best bet. If you have heard any rumors, don’t take them for granted and let us know,” Herring said of any problems that may crop up during celebrations.

“Above all, enjoy yourself. We will have extra traffic enforcement, safety checkpoints, and we will be tightening up security a little more in the business district,” Herring said.

But most importantly, the chief wants citizens to remember, “Through all Y2K and domestic terrorist issues, the greatest threat this New Year is drunk driving.”

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Department is handling the New Year much like the police department.

“Deputies are working their off-duty jobs, but if we have to have them, we’ll pull them away from there,” Sheriff George Wilhelm said of his departments New Year’s plans.

The Special Response Team will be activated on Friday, the 31st, Wilhelm said, and the detention center’s Special Response Team will be on call.

“Extra officers will be on duty in the detention center also,” Wilhelm said. “For the past six months, all the electrical functions have been tested and have been OK’d.

“We are not expecting any problems with our systems. We will be checking schools and will do extra patrol and probably do license checks,” Wilhelm said.

Kannapolis Police Sgt. Rick Towell said that department has cancelled vacations and other leave time this weekend but has made no other special plans.