Report: Southfield Y2K Community Action Awareness Group

- "Community Conversation"

Date: Thursday, September 16, 1999 (7-8:45 PM)

By: Robert Mangus < rmangus1@yahoo.com >

PROGRAM FOR SEPTEMBER 16, 1999

7 PM: Moderator's Welcome

David Scott, News Anchor -

WKBD UPN 50 - Detroit

PRESENTATIONS

SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN CHAPTER

OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS

Chuck Grahl, Disaster Specialist

BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD OF

MICHIGAN

Allan G. O'Dacre, Vice President - Systems

Development

PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL

Steve Maney, Year 2000 Project Manager

INTERMISSION

OAKLAND COUNTY EMERGENCY

MANAGEMENT

Gail A. Novak, Chief of Oakland County

Emergency Management under the Oakland

Information Technology Department of the

Oakland County Executive

MICHIGAN STATE POLICE EMERGENCY

MANAGEMENT

Lt. Mark A. Martinez, Emergency

Management District Coordinator for Oakland,

Macomb, and St. Clair Counties

 

Supporters: Law Offices of Mooney and Condino, P.C.; Providence Hospital; Specs Howard School of Broadcasting Arts, Inc.; Southfield Downtown Development Authority; and Southfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

Author's Observations

Attendees:

Panelists: 7

Audio/Visual Technicians: 2

Audience: 25

Program Note:

INTERMISSION was eliminated for expediency and in consideration of the light turn-out.

Subjective Presentation Notes:

I missed the obligatory Koskinesque "Year 2000" video played for the audience at the beginning; I was tied up in an interview with a print reporter.

The speakers and presentations were amateurish; some speaker voices quivered during their presentations. Responses to "carded" questions from the audience were halting; in most cases non-responsive.

It's disgusting to sit through presentations that were transparent lackey regurgitations by government agency and corporate shills.

All presenters puked the "3-to-7 Day Storm" scenario. All endorsed the American Red Cross pamphlet re disaster preparations.

No presenter addressed contingency disaster plans for disruptions beyond 3-7 days. This is an unthinkable scenario. The Michigan State Police representative said (they) have been "assured" by utility industries that they will have adequate staff available to deal with any disruptions. [Hmmm! What about SOFTWARE/HARDWARE availability?] {There! Are you satisfied? Assurances--like compliant software/hardware--deliverable or not deliverable--are good enough for our paid defenders of public health and safety. It should be for us, too!?}

Errors of Commission:

Michigan State Police:

Stated: The Michigan legislature allocated $55,000,000 in 1996 for state Y2K remediation efforts.

Actual: The Michigan Y2K remediation funds were allocated in August 1998.

Some Useful Information:

Oakland County Emergency Management:

Y2K Emergency Radio Broadcasting--assuming radio stations are functional--is expected to be available in the region from WWJ-AM 950 and WJR-AM 760.

American Red Cross:

TV and radio outlets will announce--if warranted--public shelter locations in the immediate days before the Y2K roll-over.

Michigan State Police:

Operation "Follow-The-Sun" will monitor global Y2K roll-over "events" to correspondingly adjust staffing requirements and/or levels of responder actions.

-- Robert Mangus (rmangus1@yahoo.com), September 16, 1999

Answers

Robert:

Wrong thread, but I believe you had mentioned somewhere that the Michigan State Police had some concern over 9/9/99?

Any word one way or another?

-- Jon Williamson (pssomerville@sprintmail.com), September 16, 1999.