Perhaps this will be useful for those of us trying to wake folks up. Or perhaps they'll just write it off. It's hard to tell if 60 Minutes is going to be constructive or just stir up the hive. -- Tom

LET US ALL REMEBER THE TONE OF THIS REPORT ABOUT THE 60 MINUTES PROGRAM IS FROM THE DRUDGE REPORT...JEAN WASP

>From the DRUDGE REPORT THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1999 23:44:09 UTC

http://www.drudgereport.com

'60 MINS' PLANNING NEW Y2K SCARE STORY; WATER, ELECTRICITY MAY BE CUT, SAYS MAG

Y2chaos on CBS-TV this weekend! Despite the billions being spent to deal with the Y2K computer bug, many cities in America are uncertain they'll be able to continue to provide basic services like water and electricity on Jan. 1, 2000, reports 60 MINUTES in a new shock story being readied for Sunday.

CBS' Steve Kroft is putting the finishing touches on his controversial report, according to network sources.

Mary Ellen Hanley, a computer systems specialist hired by the District of Columbia, tells wide-eyed Kroft that she believes Washington will continue to function on Jan. 1, 2000, but it must be prepared for what many cities could face.

"We think there will be some disruptions... localized in many cases if the supply chain works," Hanley tells the cameras.

"If power works, if gas works, if Bell Atlantic works... all of those are big ifs."

Hanley explains to Kroft that contingency programs, such as centers where city workers would manually verify taxes or write welfare checks, are being planned by her office. And even though she believes the city's water system can run without computers, rationing could be necessary if a power outage for as long as a week or two -- slows down water distribution.

Sen. Robert Bennet, R-Utah, who chairs a special Y2K Technology, scares the stopwatch and explains: "If, for example, there is a municipality that is unable to distribute welfare checks, there could be some civil unrest that could come out of that. If, if there was a disruption in the food supply, and food didn't get in, in a distributive kind of way. That it was concentrated in one part of the city but not in another, that could be a situation that could create some civil unrest."

-- Jean Wasp (jean@sonic.net), May 21, 1999