Report: State has little to worry about from Y2K

Statewire

ST. PAUL (AP) -- Planners from 72 of Minnesota' s 87 counties as well as more than five dozen cities are predicting few problems with year 2000 readiness, according to a report.

The report, which was released today, surveyed officials from around the state. It listed only 56 possible hot spots where services might be interrupted when clocks tick into the year 2000.

Critical functions asked about in the survey included emergency services, health care, utilities and water.

" We' ve gone on some fishing expeditions, trying to dig up reasons for concern, " said Tony Schramel, the state' s emergency management division Y2K planner who compiled the survey. " We' re not trying to diminish the importance of this issue because it' s still very significant and a real potential problem, but ... of all the digging we' ve done plus the hundreds of people around the state who are digging, it' s hard to find many things to be concerned about."

Survey responses range from detailed explanations by Duluth planners on all they' ve done and all they' ve planned to a single, puzzled sentence from New Trier officials.

Mayor Kathy Fritz wrote, " Our city does not have any computer systems, so this survey is a ? to us."

The expected scope of the year 2000 problem has been the source of wide debate, with some expecting only minor snafus and others predicting a range of doomsday scenarios involving large-scale power failures and major societal disruptions.

Potential problems stem from the way most computers were programmed in years past. Until recently, most programs used only two-digit dates for years, so 1999 is " 99" in computer language. When 2000 rolls around, those computers will read " 00" and set their internal clocks to 1900, potentially causing problems.

The biggest concern among municipalities was with their 911 dispatch systems, a complicated web of technology that must come together to function properly.

The second biggest concern was the readiness of local phone companies, which are expecting an overload from New Year' s Eve well-wishers and people who pick up the phone simply to see if it works.

Some officials also reported potential problems at both nursing homes and community clinics that do not have backup generators in case the power goes out.

-- Norm (nwo@hotmail.com), May 28, 1999

Answers

Gee, "only 56 possible hot spots where services might be interrupted"?

And the mayor of Duluth (pop. near 100,000, I believe) thinks "Our city does not have any computer systems"?

This survey only reveals ignorance of the issue by those in charge. I don't find much to feel good about in its content, but most "Gophers" will read it, and continue not to prepare. I imagine it achieved its desired effect on the masses. Truly sad reporting.

-- regular (zzz@z.z), May 28, 1999.

Come on guys READ the post. Duluth made a detailed responce, New Trier said they had no computer systems ( that one I do find hard to believe!)

-- kozak (kozak@formerusaf.guv), May 28, 1999.

I stand corrected.

Nevertheless, this story has so few details and so many red flags. Why not list the "56 possible hot spots" or provide a link to the report, and why the obviously biased headline? After the recent Senate hearing, I thought I might see the quality of reporting increase. Sadly, that is not the case here.

-- regular (zzz@z.z), May 28, 1999.

Norm,

Could you provide a link. I am can't find this story on AP or in the Minnesota papers I have checked? Thanks.

-- Lilly (homesteader145@yahoo.com), May 28, 1999.

On April 14, 1999, Peter de Jager (the guru that got most people to really think about Y2K) gave his answer to the question of whether or not he thought that people should be preparing for Y2K problems. The answer was that people should really prepare for the bump in the road. Whether or not he's on an airplane on New Year's Eve, Peter de Jager has not revised his April answer and recommendations. If you agree to de Jager's recommendations, you might want to add to it additional preparations as necessary. The after math may require it.

"If your level of preparation is sufficient to cope with a 2 - 3 week disruption of services equivalent to what happened in Montreal during the Ice Storm, then I would state youve a sufficient level of preparation to cope with anything Y2K might throw at you in the proactive countries such as Canada, USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, the Nordic Countries, Israel, Belgium, Holland, Ireland, and even South America to a certain degree." (Peter de Jager, "How Bad, How Long, How Likely?", April 14. 1999)

Most people might not know much about this little Montreal Ice Storm, but it's impact was not insignificant. As CNEWS reported: "It (the Montreal Ice Storm) brought Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec to its knees." Six months after the storm, insurance claims had reached a staggering $1.1 billion and continued to climb.

The Eastern Ontario Disaster Relief Committee, which handled claims for damages not covered by insurance received claims exceeding hundreds of millions. Many of the storm survivors never received appropriate assistance in the aftermath. Businesses failed, food production was crippled, and industries were battered.

According to CNEWS, "Nearly 10 percent of Canada's population was without power at some point. Between one quarter and third of Canada's total dairy production was within the affected region, and some 13.5 million litres of milk were dumped during the storm and its cleanup. Nearly a fifth of all the country's hogs are farmed in the region. One of the hardest hit sectors was Canada's $120-million a year maple syrup industry." An estimated 60 to 70 per cent of Canada's producing maple bush was affected by the storm and it would take 20 years for the maple canopy to recover to the growth that existed prior to the storm.

According to CNEWS' coverage at the time... "More than 1,000 power transmission towers and 30,000 wooden utility poles (were damaged), for starters. Close to 1.4 million people in Quebec and 230,000 in Ontario without electricity. In many municipalities, power not fully restored for at least a week." Some complained civil servants did not act fast enough waiting for the end of the storm to provide needed supplies and assistance to the survivors.

Six months after the storm, there were still problems as CNEWS reported. "It has been six months since the Ice Storm of the century challenged the resources, the stamina and the will of people in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. Victims are still rebuilding farms, yards and lives. For some, that may take years... Today, many victims are growing increasingly frustrated with the stalled pace of financial compensation they need to move on."

IMHO, de Jager's comparisons of potential Y2K problems to the Montreal Ice Storm is somewhat disturbing. Many people will have no idea what really happened during and after the Montreal Ice Storm and they may think it was something like what happened this year on the East Coast. That's not the case. I don't see the Montreal Ice storm as a bump in the road. If Y2K is comparable at all... it may be comparable to what happens in each state or county. One month of preps may not be enough.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), May 28, 1999.

These people are not lying! They have been on a fishing expedition. I see them sitting around the lakes all the time. Have they told you about the one that got away?

-- Gia (Laureltree7@hotmail.com), May 28, 1999.