<And, of the "millions of words spoken on Y2K", very few are useful or valuable. Don't be another sheep following the herd. Form your own opinions. Talk to a few municipalities, utilities, factories. I have. The situation ain't that bad.>
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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." ...
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.
Message 7914844
AFTER RELEASE OF THE REPORT
The Clinton administration said yesterday it is planning to give the District at least $60 million in emergency funds to tackle year 2000 computer problems, a move aimed at avoiding a potential breakdown in the delivery of local services.
Because of a late start, the District has fallen behind in addressing year 2000 computer glitches that could disrupt public safety, schools, health care, transportation and other core services, according to Jack L. Brock Jr., a computer expert with the federal General Accounting Office. Brock described the District's situation as "bleak" and said the city won't even test most of its systems until the latter part of this year, creating an array of potential difficulties.
"They are still a year behind, maybe more," Brock said during a House subcommittee hearing. "They are on a razor's edge."
washingtonpost.com |
