POLL-Y2K worries shrink, but U.S. stockpiling more

By Deborah Zabarenko

WASHINGTON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Americans are less worried than they used to be that the Y2K computer glitch will cause big problems, but more of them plan to stockpile gasoline and food as precautions, a poll showed on Wednesday.

Only 3 percent of those surveyed expected major problems from the so-called Y2K bug, in which computers might react as if it were 1900 instead of 2000 when the new year arrives, according to a nationwide poll conducted for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and USA Today. That was down from the 7 percent who had major problems with Y2K glitch in a similar poll conducted in August for the same group.

But 55 percent said they would avoid traveling on or around Jan. 1, an increase from 43 percent in August. Forty percent of respondents, up from 36 percent in the August survey, said they would stockpile food and water, while 28 percent said they would stock up on gasoline, compared with 21 percent in August.

Fewer Americans -- 38 percent -- believe banking and accounting systems will fail, a percentage that has fallen from 63 percent in a similar poll in December 1998. Even so, 58 percent of them said they would get special confirmation or documentation of bank balances and other financial records, an increase from 51 percent in August.

George Strawn, NSF's computer networking director, gave the news media credit for educating the public, which helped them prepare for any Y2K problems without panicking.

"I think the press has done its job and has gotten information to the public," Strawn said in a telephone interview. "Our view is an educated or knowledgeable public has a better chance of being a prepared public, and the news has been good enough, in terms of readiness and the like that confidence is increasing."

In fact, he said, confidence in preparations for Y2K has increased to the point where computer experts are already pondering what caused the problem in the first place and how it might have been avoided.

Noting that one government estimate put the cost for fixing potential Y2K problems at $100 billion, Strawn said computer scientists in the 1960s did not adequately consider the standards they were setting when they established the six-digit date for computer transactions, which is the root of the problem.

The six-digit date only provides for the use of the last two digits in each year -- 99, for example -- without specifying the century.

The nationwide telephone poll surveyed 1,010 adults Nov. 18-21 and has a margin of error of 3 percent.

The poll numbers show a moderation in how individuals are preparing for Y2K, Strawn said, with most taking the same precautions as they would if a major winter storm were predicted.

"Is it absolutely necessary? Probably not," Strawn said. "Does it hurt that much? No. It takes the bread off the shelf (at the grocery store)."

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Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), November 24, 1999

Answers

"Y2K worries shrink, but U.S. stockpiling more" because the prepared who have stockpiled have little reason to worry, and the rest are sheeple. What will move the herd?

-- ng (cantprovideemail@none.com), November 24, 1999.

The last week of the year will move this herd!!! Then watch out for the stampede...

-- y2k dave (xsdaa111@hotmail.com), November 24, 1999.