Ooops! Washington DC has a few problems-
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GAO: Y2K Could Bring D.C. to a Halt
By David A. Vise
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 19, 1999; Page B1
District residents face a "significant risk" that the city's computer problems
associated with the year 2000 will disrupt schools, the police department, the
delivery of health care services and a range of other programs, according to a
federal report slated for release today on Capitol Hill.
The study by the General Accounting Office warns that the District's late
start in addressing a maze of complex technology problems has left it lagging
behind other jurisdictions. It also warns that despite city officials'
efforts to address the potential problems in recent months, glitches created
by older computers that use only two digits to identify the year – and
therefore will read the year 2000 as "1900" – may cause havoc in the District
next year.
"The District may be unable to effectively ensure public safety, collect
revenue, educate students and provide health care services," the GAO study
says. "As a result, the District faces a significant risk that vital services
will be disrupted."
In contrast to Maryland, Virginia and area county governments that began
their year 2000, or Y2K, computer repair efforts a few years ago, the
District did not focus on the issue until last summer. City officials, who
agree with the study's gloomy assessment, said yesterday they have budgeted
$31 million to address computer issues this year and requested an additional
$111.5 million in emergency technology aid from the Clinton administration.
Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.), who will oversee a congressional hearing on
the District's Y2K computer problems today, said the federal government needs
to provide additional support to the city. Davis also said there is no way to
avoid at least some disruptions in D.C. operations, given the city's late
start in dealing with the computer problems.
"They are going to be mailing checks out to people and stuff will be all
screwed up," said Davis, chairman of the House Government Oversight
subcommittee on the District. "It is hard to find a city that is this far
behind at this stage. One of the reasons you hold these hearings is to let
everyone know what may be coming.
"We are going to have to step in very quickly to turn this around, and it is
going to have to be moved up the priority list. Federal aid is going to have
to be brought to bear."
Davis said he wants public safety, utilities and other key areas addressed,
even if some conspicuous computer problems remain.
"The way they process parking tickets may not be fixed," Davis quipped. "That
is fine with me."
Mary Ellen Hanley, the District's Y2K program manager, said yesterday that the
federal assessment of the city's potential computer problems is accurate. She
said the city's primary emphasis is on developing plans to prevent a breakdown
in the delivery of services to residents.
Hanley said that by next month, the District will have more than 300 IBM
consultants working on the issue. However, she said, the District has not
budgeted enough money to pay the consultants for the duration of this year and
needs federal assistance.
The city's contingency plans focus on 16 critical agencies, including those
affecting public safety, health and social services, education and finances.
For example, if computers malfunction and are unable to process unemployment
checks, Hanley said, the city will hire an outside vendor to do the job or use
a manual system to type the checks.
"Our number-one strategy for all agencies and services for the citizens is
contingency planning," Hanley said. "We know we are at risk, and we always
were, so we had to do something‚. ... We will walk each agency through a
test."
Hanley characterized the GAO analysis of the city's potential computer
problems as having the "proper amount of risk in it, especially given the
late start."
The District's inspector general warned in a letter to Davis and others late
last month that D.C. police computer systems are at risk of failing to share
information accurately with FBI data systems, and that the lack of an
automated contracting system could cause problems in delivering unemployment
benefits.
The letter also said that D.C. General Hospital is working closely with the
Y2K program office to try to ensure that plans are in place to avoid a
disruption in medical services.
The city will launch a campaign next month aimed at informing residents about
ways to deal with potential difficulties, Hanley said.
"You can do the marauder approach and move to the mountains and take everyone,
including your mother-in-law, and hole up for a year," she said. "Or you can
buy four weeks' worth of water, put $100 in your pocket and make sure you are
safe in your home."
(Did she really say that? Up to four weeks now?)
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