Gary North's Y2K Links and Forums

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=105&STORY=/www/story/12-17-1999/0001099437

This sounds idiotic, but it's standard y2k fare. In fact, this is the universal view in the United States of y2k's effects:

1. Nobody knows what will happen.

2. Prepare for a 72-hour storm.

They tell us to hope for the best (nothing happens) and plan for the best (72 hours of disruptions).

So far, most people are planning for the best.

This is from PRNEWSWIRE (Dec. 17).

* * * * * * * * * *

Mayor Dennis Archer today said that the City of Detroit is prepared to deal with emergencies that could occur as a result of the Y2K rollover.

Mayor Archer was joined by officials from a number of city departments as he outlined the city's plans for handling the Y2K rollover at a news conference at the City's Emergency Operations Center.

"Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our employees, I believe that the City is prepared to handle problems which may occur as we roll over into the year 2000," said Mayor Archer. "While we cannot predict what, if anything, will happen, I know we will be ready.

"In the event that something should happen, our Emergency Operations Center will be in operation and staffed by representatives of our key service providing departments. This will allow us to quickly and efficiently address any situation that may endanger the health or welfare of our city's residents."

The City began working on the Y2K challenge in the early 1990s by requiring that all new computer applications use a four-digit date to indicate the year.

The city has taken a number of steps to prepare for Y2K including:

* Analyzing and testing all of the city's computer information and embedded systems, hardware and networks to ensure that they are Y2K compliant.

* The development of a contingency plan for each city department, which was reviewed by the city's Information Technology Services Department, the Office of Emergency Management and the Mayor's Office.

* Designating warming centers and emergency food locations throughout the city. Increasing staffing levels for critical departments such as Police, Fire, Water and Sewerage, and Public Lighting.

* The purchase of generators to power water pumping stations, police precincts and fire stations in the event of power outages.

* Formation of four Year 2000 committees -- the Year 2000 Oversight Committee, Year 2000 Public Safety Committee, Communications and Community Awareness Committee, and the Community Services Commission Y2K Task Force.

Throughout the year, the city has coordinated Y2K preparation and contingency planning with various other local, state, and federal organizations. In addition five City of Detroit agencies including, Water and Sewerage, Public Lighting, Fire Department/Office of Emergency Management, Police and Information Technology Services -- participated on the Southeast Michigan Y2K Utility Forum. Other Forum members include Detroit Edison, MichCon, Michigan State Police -- Emergency Management Division, SEMCO Energy, Michigan Gas Utilities, Consumers Energy, Ameritech and Wayne County. Forum members agreed to work together to provide vital services to southeastern Michigan communities; share information so that key services can be provided to critical locations; and to communicate directly with each other during critical time around the millennium event/rollover.

While the Mayor believes that Y2K problems will be minimal, he stressed the importance of Detroit residents being prepared for potential disruptions, just as they should be prepared for any emergency.

"We do not anticipate major problems, but no one is certain about the impact of Y2K," the Mayor said. "I would advise Detroit residents to have on hand some extra food, water, flashlights, a battery-operated radio, and blankets."

The Year 2000 or Y2K problem is often called the "millennium bug." It stems from the time when computer programmers decided to use only a year's final two digits in programming -- for example, 1975 became "75." Though it was done to save computer space, which was expensive at the time, programmers did not foresee that systems would remain in place long enough to read "00" as 1900, not 2000.

At the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2000, many systems could fail unless timely corrections are made -- and because today's computer systems touch citizens' daily lives in so many ways, the impact could be considerable.

Y2K brochures and other informational materials are available to residents at various Neighborhood City Halls, recreation centers, police precincts and fire stations. The city's Y2K hotline at 313-596-2955 also will provide residents with information on preparedness.

THIS IS A YEAR 2000 READINESS DISCLOSURE. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=105&STORY=/www/story/12-17-1999/0001099437

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), December 20, 1999

Answers

This from the mayor who couldn't get the snow cleared off the streets during the storm that hit last New Year's. Their plows were so messed up that they ended up having to borrow snow removel equipment from the county, and the city itself basically shut down for nearly a week.

I don't know what it is about that area, but their neighbors in Troy are now infamous for all those burlap-covered stop signs they've erected: at least they admit that they already know there will be problems.

I'm so glad that we don't live in Michigan, anymore (apologies to anyone who lives north of Grayling).

-- (ladybuckeye_59@yahoo.com), December 20, 1999.

"they already know there will be problems"

They know nothing of the sort. Please try to curb the hyperbole. It's not a good time for it.

-- Servant (public_service@yahoo.com), December 20, 1999.

Got a holiday phone call from my niece and family,in Detroit. Her husband works for Ameritech, the company that installs and services '911' systems. I asked if he was keeping pretty busy with all the y2k upgrades and testing. The answer was NO, he said the towns and cities that had taken care of business had already done so. The others wer'nt doing a thing. When I asked what the outlook was, his answer was short and sweet"their going to crash". Didnt nail him down to a list of towns, it should be interesting.

-- Capt Dennis (capden@hotmail.com), December 20, 1999.