FEMA Y2K Page Y2K Course Menu Y2K Tool Kit The Challenge Assessing Readiness Contingency Plans Public Awareness Exercising Y2K Glossary Y2K Links Calendar of Y2K Awareness Messages and Events This calendar contains suggested events and activities to help you take advantage of media interest and other opportunities to educate the public about Y2K preparedness. The objectives of these activities are to quell rumors and to encourage preparedness, not hysteria.

Click on a month to view the recommended messages and events. May June July August September October November December

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- May 1999

Message of the Month: Strengthening local partnerships to become a better prepared community.

Key Message Point:

Local government, business, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public work together to ensure that the public receives clear messages and that all organizations speak with one voice. Activities and Events:

Y2K training for local emergency managers continues. Identify key players/partners active in Y2K public information effort (examples include public information officers representing local elected officials, local government agencies, the media, local chamber of commerce or major businesses, hospitals and clinics, local institutions of higher learning, utilities, and civic groups). Convene a meeting with local partners to discuss educating the public about emergency preparedness for Y2K contingencies, defining roles, and developing strategies. Also discuss their participation in a Joint Information Center. Issue News Release (NR) #1-Government Sources Answer Questions About Y2K, with status report on local preparedness efforts by government, business, and health care facilities. Give newsletter article on Questions and Answers About Y2K to local government agencies and businesses for placement in their employee newsletters. Note: May 16-22 is EMS Week.

May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 1999

Message of the Month: Be prepared for hurricanes and other emergencies.

Key Message Points:

Preparedness can save lives and protect property. Preparedness is easy; it is just common sense. Being prepared reduces your risks from natural disasters and technological concerns such as the Y2K problem. Government cannot do it all; individuals must take responsibility for assessing their own vulnerability to Y2K problems and seeking solutions. Government and business can help by providing information. It is not too late to get prepare for Y2K. Activities and Events:

FEMA national Y2K consequence management exercise (Washington, DC). June is the official start of hurricane season and most likely you will be issuing a reminder about hurricane preparedness. Incorporate the Y2K preparedness message into your hurricane preparedness message. Issue NR#2  Are You Personally Safe from Y2K Problems?; and Public Service Announcement (PSA) #1 on home computers and Y2K. Contact the schools in your community before the end of the school year to discuss the possibility of including a "How To Prepare for Emergencies" unit as part of the fall curriculum. The course should include basic information on home and family preparedness with an emphasis on Y2K. It would be best suited to middle or high school. Hint: The local department of education's public information officer could take the lead on this request. Note: June is Red Cross National Safety Month; this may increase interest in emergency preparedness.

May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 1999

Message of the Month: Being prepared always makes good sense.

Key Message Points:

Natural disasters can happen at any time. Emergency preparedness is important year-round, not just on January 1. Activities and Events:

Have local board of supervisors or elected official issue a resolution recognizing July as Emergency Preparedness Month. Host an Open House at the local emergency operations center or emergency services office: local officials issue resolution, local business and civic leaders attest to importance of emergency preparedness, media and the public invited to view facility and pick up material on emergency preparedness. Ask a locally owned store (grocery, pharmacy, convenience store, etc.) to participate in Emergency Preparedness Month by stocking and advertising "emergency preparedness kit" of food, water, and supplies such as batteries available at their stores. Hint: The public affairs officer from the local chamber of commerce may be a good contact to pursue this request. Issue NR#3-Y2K is Helping Spread the Preparedness Message; and PSA#2 on emergency preparedness.

May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 1999

Message of the Month: Better safe than sorry: preparing for emergencies now and into the next century.

Key Message Points:

Family preparedness just makes good sense. Preparedness lessens your risk from natural disasters and technological problems. Activities and Events:

Take advantage of state and local fairs by having a display and materials available to educate the public on emergency preparedness with an emphasis on Y2K issues. Hint: Work through your state office of emergency services or your state association of emergency managers to develop a joint display for the state fair.

May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 1999

Message of the Month: Emergency preparedness begins in school.

Key Message Point:

Children can help teach their families about the need to be prepared for emergencies. Activities and Events:

If local schools have agreed to offer a course on emergency preparedness, provide them with information on family emergency preparedness. Hint: The media may be interested in covering this story as a different angle on Y2K.

May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 1999

Message of the Month: Reliable information on the Internet can help you prepare for Y2K.

Key Message Point:

Information to answer your Y2K questions is readily available from reliable government and business sources on the Internet. Activities and Events:

Issue NR#4 on Y2K Internet resources; Web sites that offer useful information on Y2K matters.

May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 1999

Message of the Month: Prepared communities are ready for Y2K.

Key Message Point:

Local government is prepared for Y2K contingencies; public health and safety will be protected. Activities and Events:

Host a news conference with presentations by local elected officials and emergency management, fire, health services, business, and civic leaders to update the media and answer questions on the community's state of readiness for Y2K.

May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- December 1999

Message of the Month: Welcome in the New Year by being prepared for Y2K.

Key Message Points:

Government is working; partners are prepared and ready to respond to Y2K problems that may occur. Activities and Events:

Set up the Joint Information Center in accordance with emergency operations plans.

May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

-- michelle (??@??.com), July 15, 1999

Answers

"Government is working; partners are prepared and ready to respond to Y2K problems that may occur."

Partners? Does that mean the National Guard, Red Cross, local law enforcement etc.?

Oh what a difference a year makes. Below is the reply FEMA sent me when I asked why Y2K was not addresses on their website:

Subject: Re: Comment from the FEMA WWW Server Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 10:08:24 -0400 (EDT) From: Emergency Information Media Affairs To: lwmb@psln.com

FEMA is an all-hazard agency that responds any disaster when the President so directs. The Federal Response Plan is the primary document used to coordinate these efforts. Using the FRP, FEMA is able to coordinate the operational support of 27 federal departments and agencies.

FEMA deals with the consequences of events. The agency is currently engaged in activities to insure all FEMA systems are Y2K compliant. Other than that internal work, there is no specific planning for "Y2K disasters". However, there is a great deal of federal activity underway related to Y2k.

In February, the President directed all departments and agencies to work their areas of interest such as DOE with utility companies and DOT with the transportation industry. The President established by Executive Order, the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion. In addition to ensuring that Federal agencies use resources effectively to make their own mission-critical systems year 2000 compliant, the Council is working with agencies to ensure that the Federal Government is reaching out, particularly to private sector organizations, to increase awareness to the year 2000 problem and to offer education, support, and possible solutions as they are identified.

FEMA does not respond to specific private sector equipment failures. The agency would respond only if the consequence of such a failure caused human suffering and property loss that exceeded the ability of the state and local government to handle.

FEMA is well experienced in dealing with consequence response and assisting in the initial recovery related to power and communications failures since these type of infrastructure disruptions are common to natural disasters.

On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 lwmb@psln.com wrote:

> > > The contents of the comment form are below: > > Email Address: > lwmb@psln.com > > Comments: > I am surprised there is no mention of Y2K, the Year 2000, problem on your site. Certainly if the electric grids fail.. if there could be bank runs.. if the trains don't run.. if the FAA and DOD and other Fed. agencies don't become Y2K compliant in time.. > if any one or a combination of the above happens it will be a nation-wide disaster. Aren't you addressing it??? Or are you hoping if you don't say anything it will just go away? Perhaps you should RAPIDLY expant your IMPACT community preparadeness program. > Permission: > Yes > > > > >

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Office of Emergency Information & Media Affairs --- Washington, D.C.

Information Available 24 hours a day . . . ... on the World Wide Web: http://www.fema.gov ... FEMA is also co-sponsor of Storm98: http://www.storm98.com ... via fax-on-demand: phone in the U.S.A. (202) 646-FEMA (646-3362) ... via digital audio for broadcasters & print: contact eipa@fema.gov and listen to the FEMA Radio Network on the FEMA Website using RealAudio

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), July 15, 1999.