Washington D.C. has now officially started their campaign to inform/encourage their citizens to start preparing for Y2K. Wonder when other cities/states will start doing the same?
Last month it was, prepare like you would for the "usual" winter snowstorm - now they upped it to a "bad" winter snowstorm. Before it was have "at least a half a tank of gas" - now it's "fill up your tank".
==============================================================
PREPARE FOR Y2K, BUT DON'T PANIC, OFFICIALS SAY
WASHINGTON POST - Saturday, March 27, 1999; Page B01
Prepare for New Year's Day 2000 as if a BAD winter snowstorm were going to hit Washington, federal and local officials advised D.C. area residents yesterday.
Stock up on groceries, fill the gasoline tank and take out some extra cash from the bank, the officials said at a day-long conference on the year 2000 computer problem, or Y2K.
"And don't wait until the last minute," said Janet Abrams, executive director of the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion. "Prepare." ...
Koskinen told the conference, "We think we can be increasingly confident we're not going to have a national catastrophe."
But a telecommunications industry executive told the conference that he has found at least two instances of an unnamed major Northeast utility company and an Internet service provider claiming to have repaired all of their computers when tests showed they hadn't. If that pattern holds, there could be significant problems, the executive said ...
"We're used to dealing with one incident at a time," said Rita Calvan, regional director of the FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. "What we could have here is a series of several small incidents. If we're all busy, I'm not sure we'll have the resources to respond."
washingtonpost.com
As both [Red Cross & FEMA] officials made clear - if the nation has disruptions going on from coast-to-coast, there is no way that individual communities can hope to expect the emergency relief agencies to be able to deal with them all. It was made abundantly clear that communities need to be prepared to deal with situations on their own. The more that we can be prepared as communities the less likely the need for the government to move in and handle the situation ...
Message 8300659
REMEMBER THIS WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE FROM FEB 19?
The city will launch a campaign next month aimed at informing residents about ways to deal with potential difficulties ... 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 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 ... “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 4-weeks worth of water [and food], put $100 in your pocket and make sure you are safe in your home.”
washingtonpost.com
Y2KNEWSWIRE Editorial on above article
y2knewswire.com
Currently, only 17% of 911 centers & 35% of fire departments are prepared.
WASHINGTON, D.C. March 22, 1999 -- Americans may experience some disruption in state and local emergency services because they lag in preparation for the year 2000 computer problem, emergency officials told lawmakers on Monday.
techweb.com
Federal Government Figures Project Y2K Water Crisis
More than thirty million people in the United States are likely to be without water after January 2000. Nearly two thirds of those affected will be in the big cities ... This bleak assessment was delivered during an American-Canadian meeting held on February 22, 1999 to discuss "Cross-Border Y2K Issues." At the meeting it was revealed that ten percent of large urban water suppliers in the United States are not expected to be Y2K compliant when the Year 2000 date transition occurs.
y2ktimebomb.com
WASHINGTON, January 6, 1999 -- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are urging the emergency management, fire and emergency services communities and the public ... to get ready NOW for Y2K.
Message 7154305
FEMA BULLETIN: BE PREPARED [From February '99]
fema.com
The President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion says the transition to Y2K is not a cause for you to disrupt your life ... John Koskinen, chairman of the President's Council [says] Personal preparedness for transition to the Year 2000 is no different from ways you prepare for the USUAL winter storm. As always, you should have batteries for flashlights and radios, a three day supply of water and non-perishable goods, and at least a half tank of gas.
NOTE: Y2K is now referred to as a BIG winter snowstorm & you should fill up your tank. Wonder how soon they'll be upping that "three day" supply of water and non-perishable goods - to something more reasonable and realistic?
Yesterday's Washington Post article must be a result of this past week's "Washington D.C. Emergency Management Hearing & Workshops" on March 22 & 23
Message 8428849
And, the Washington D.C. National Cathedral Meeting March 11 '99
Message 8300659
==============================================================
START TO PREPARE NOW, SO YOU DON'T BECOME A PART OF THE PROBLEM LATER.
"Actions that individually look logical ... like filling up your gas tank on December 31, taking $1000 out of the bank, buying twice as many prescription drugs as you usually do, taking 20-30 percent of your IRA money out of the market --
A couple hundred million Americans all do that at one time, you've got yourself a major problem,'' Koskinen said ...
dailynews.yahoo.com
Public Panic Seen A Top Y2K Risk - March 11, 1999
==============================================================
Wonder how soon D.C., and other states/cities, will start distributing booklets like this EXCELLENT one from California?
"Y2K - WHAT2DO" (CA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE - EMERGENCY SERVICES)
EXCELLENT basic & specific preparation advice. Only 4-pages.
oes.ca.gov
Need Adobe Acrobat Reader - FREE dowload in link below
adobe.com
I have put this post together, not to "fear monger", but rather to encourage people to take this seriously and start making reasonable & realistic, individual preparation now. You buy insurance as a precaution. Not because your "panicked" that some disaster will befall you. This is the same deal. It's a precaution.
I have printed this post out for my family & friends, along with a copy of "Y2K - What2Do" from the California governors office. If you have friends or family that still aren't taking this seriously, I suggest you do the same.
Cheryl
|
