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Y2K risks remain, despite statements to contrary

KEITH BURTON THE SUN HERALD

BILOXI - Almost every sector of government and business is reporting that the year 2000 computer problem has been resolved and the public can expect few Y2K-related problems in the United States, but if you look past the rosy words of public relations departments, the Y2K picture remains incomplete.

While the federal government is telling the public everything is OK, officials in Washington will be monitoring Y2K events from a recently constructed bunker. Many cities are also operating their Civil Defense Emergency Operation Centers.

Recently, Harrison County supervisors didn't see any reason to open the county's EOC since they felt Y2K was not an emergency. But supervisors reversed their decision a week later when they learned the EOC was needed to allow reports to be made to the state.

Computer experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recommend that people avoid using the Internet or e-mail during the century date change. MIT recommends that people turn off their computers Dec. 30 and leave them off until Jan. 2 to avoid possible Y2K viruses and problems from the Internet.

All these precautions are coming from the same agencies that are telling us everything is OK.

The fear of the unknown is at the heart of Y2K preparations by the government and industry.

Chief among the unknowns about Y2K are embedded chips. The microcomputers have been built into a wide variety of products to control processes such as the opening and closing of valves on pipelines and chemical plants or a toy doll's ability to talk. Y2K experts estimate that only 1 percent to 3 percent of embedded chips might have a Y2K problem, but billions are in use.

The American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have recommended that people prepare like they would for a hurricane or winter storm, and have at least three days of food and water stored. But the official recommendations haven't meant much to people who normally have that much food and drink in their pantries.

Many people, on the other hand, are simply tired of hearing about Y2K. It is a complex issue in which the answers given by experts are often contradictory, or filled with speculation. How severe it will turn out to be will be answered in the weeks and months ahead.

-- Homer Beanfang (Bats@inbellfy.com), December 29, 1999

Answers

Homer,

As Bill murray said in the movie Stripes---

"I wanna party with you cowboy""!!

-- d----- (dciinc@aol.com), December 29, 1999.

Homer,

Official on the news stated people should have at least one WEEK's worth of supplies as you know winter storms around here can be very nasty.

-- y2k dave (xsdaa111@hotmail.com), December 29, 1999.

The microcomputers have been built into a wide variety of products to control processes such as the opening and closing of valves on pipelines and chemical plants or a toy doll's ability to talk.

Picture that cute little Furby starting to talk like Howard Stern. If that wouldn't make a "believer" out of you, nothing would.

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), December 29, 1999.