60 Minutes 5/23/1999 Partial Transcript: More to Come: (Either tonight or in the morning)

Since it will be days (if ever) for the transcript of this piece to be widely accessible via the World Wide Web, Im putting my reporter hat back on (audible, but perhaps worthwhile groan here), and transcribing some substantial nuggets that pertain not only to the municipalities featured in this report, but those throughout the country.

Understand that the spellings of names may not be correct. 60 Minutes, unlike our local newscasts, does not generally superimpose on the screen the names of those who are interviewed. That makes it difficult to get a correct spelling.

The following excerpts come from the conclusion of this piece: _______________________________

CBS Correspondent Steve Kroft narration:

KROFT:

One of the prime concerns for Washington and other communities throughout the country is drinking water. Computerized water and wastewater treatment facilities use embedded computer chips in their control systems. Some of the chips in those water systems have been tested for Y2K, and have failed. Mary Ellen Hanley (sp) believes that Washingtons water system can run without its computer controls, but she acknowledged she may have to develop contingency plans, for water rationing.

KROFT: WHAT WOULD CAUSE WATER TO BE RATIONED?

HANLEY (Washingtons year 2000 Program Manager:): If we lose power, through the power grid, as any other state or city around us, including Montgomery County, we will not be able to function normally, and will have to go to considerable slowdowns that will produce--could produce, uh, rationing, for example.

KROFT: Youre preparing contingency plans that there might be no power?

HANLEY: Yes.

KROFT: For how long?

HANLEY: Were looking roughly at what we would consider national averages, uh, one to two weeks.

KROFT: One to two weeks without power?

HANLEY: One to two weeks.

KROFT: Do you think thats possible?

HANLEY: Right now, we dont think its impossible.

CBS Correspondent Steve Kroft narration:

KROFT:

And apparently, neither does the American Red Cross.

(More to come. Keep in mind, I'm transcribing this word for word.)

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 23, 1999

Answers

Continuation of above transcript:

CBS Correspondent Steve Kroft narration:

The Red Cross Y2k Checklist suggests that Americans stock disaster supplies to last several days to a week, including non-perishable foods, stored water, and an ample supply of prescription and non-prescription medications. 

(More to come. Patience. Precise transcriptions are time consuming. Please don't post to this thread until I'm finished. )

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 23, 1999.

NATURAL SOUND--CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING

The committee will come to order.

CBS Correspondent Steve Kroft narration:

According to Senator Robert Bennett, Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on the Y2k problem, there is still a possibility of economic disruption that could lead to civil unrest. 

KROFT:

What does that mean?

BENNETT: 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, uh, if there was a disruption in the food supply, and food didnt get in in a uh, 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.

KROFT:

Do you have contingency plans for that? Does the Federal Government have contingency plans for that?

BENNETT:

We do not have an overall national federal program. Theres some people who, who suggest, Gee, this is going to be martial law, in an effort to try and put down that kind of thing, and theyre very scared about it. We simply dont have the machinery for martial law. If it gets to the point where there is that big of an emergency in a particular area, the governor would call out the National Guard and it would be handled at a state level, rather than a federal level.

(More to come)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 24, 1999.

CBS Correspondent Steve Kroft narration:

As for Washington, D.C., Senator Bennett feels that the district is taking a responsible approach with its contingency plans. A survey of county governments across the country, shows that 73 percent of them have no contingency plans at all for Y2k failures, and a report prepared for the U.S. Senates Y2k Committee says 66 percent of all cities and towns will experience at least one critical computer system failure.

Senator Bennett believes the country has made a lot of progress in the last six months, but he adds that the country is in uncharted waters, with no historic precedence.

BENNETT:

The dire predictions will probably be fulfilled, but on a sporadic basis, place by place. If youre in one of those places, the fact that the, uh, overall system works is not gonna be very comforting to you. But we would be irresponsible if we were to say, There are no problems, everythings under control, because theres still a lot of work to be done.

(More to come)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 24, 1999.

HANLEY (Washington D.C.s year 2000 Program Manager:):

We think there will be some disruptions, and we think they will be localized in many cases, uh, if the supply chain works--thats a big if--if power works, if gas works, if uh, uh--Bell Atlantic works, if people who supply groceries to the inner city work, if pharmaceutical companies make enough pharmaceuticals, if uh, people should hoard things, all of those are big ifs, but I havent yet seen, since I have been in this position and working with this project, that those groups are ignoring the kinds of concerns that you justifiably are raising that people have.

KROFT:

I want to read you some advice that somebody gave about Y2k. You can do the marauder approach and move to the mountains, and take everyone with you. . 

(INTERRUPTED BY HANLEY LAUGHTER)

KROFT CONTINUES:

. . .including your mother-in-law, and hole up for a year, or you can buy four weeks worth of water, put $100 in your pocket, and make sure youre safe in your own home.

HANLEY:

I know that quote. Uhmm. . .

KROFT:

Who said it?

HANLEY:

Actually, I said that.

KROFT:

Did the quote get you into trouble?

HANLEY:

(Mumbling, then)  I had several conversations with interested people concerning that quote. (HANLEY LAUGHTER)

KROFT:

How high up the food chain?

HANLEY:

Uh,. . .high enough for me. (HANLEY LAUGHTER)

KROFT:

Is it good advice? Is it legitimate advice?

HANLEY:

I believe its uh, . . .I believe the advice is that all of us do personal preparedness, as we would for any event that we know is coming, this event cant be legislated away, its gonna occur, uh, I think its wise to prepare, and I think its wise for us in city government to take all the necessary steps that we can, to serve our public, and you try to do that in the best way that you can.

(More to come)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 24, 1999.

CBS Correspondent Steve Kroft narration:

Earlier this Spring, the federal government gave Washington, D.C. 61 million dollars for its Y2k work. Most of that money has already been spent, paying outside contractors like IBM, whod been working for months without being paid. Washingtons government is now asking for an additional 50 million dollars to finish the job.

(END OF PIECE. SIXTY MINUTES CLOCK TICKS)

(More to come. . maybe. I'm going to listen again to the first part of this piece, and perhaps transcribe it as well. One way or another, I'll put what I have together (versus the above patchwork approach) and post it in a new thread.

One other item: I know folks have requested that I include descriptions of body language with this transcript (since I have the piece both on audio and video), but I don't feel comfortable doing that right now, because it would be MY interpretation of body language. Someone else might see it differently. . .

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 24, 1999.

Head's up. I'm biting the bullet and transcribing the entire piece.

You can cheer me on (tee hee)at:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000rbz

That is: IF you want to read it!

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 24, 1999.

Transcript is complete (the entire segment) and is now posted at a brand new thread:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000rkQ

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 24, 1999.

THANKYOU!!!!!! I will copy this and pass it around to everyone that missed the show. Especially those that were sure I heard wrong. You are a peach to do this and I really appreciate you.

-- JOYCEtryon (joycetryon@sensible-net.com), May 24, 1999.