With computers in check, hysteria is now the enemy, Y2K planners say

Richard Burnett of The Sentinel Staff

Published in The Orlando Sentinel on September 10, 1999.

Police surf the Internet looking for possible Y2K saboteurs. Hospitals get ready for New Year's Eve patient overload. Dispatchers prepare for a glut of 911 calls. And utilities practice running power plants manually.

It may all be moot when Jan. 1 arrives, just a lot of "what if" thinking, planning, paperwork and overtime hours.

But Florida's critical agencies and businesses say they are determined to be ready for whatever Y2K brings, whether it involves technical glitches or people problems.

Emergency managers and Y2K planners from across the state gathered Thursday in Orlando to share ideas about preparing for the potential year 2000 computer problem. More than 100 attended the governor's Y2K task force summit, which ends today.

Florida's banks, utilities and other crucial sectors report near 100 percent Y2K-readiness, state officials said.

The biggest concern now is that public perception will somehow be seized by Y2K jitters and a panic will ensue, said James Robinson, assistant secretary of the Florida Department of Community Affairs.

"That's why we need to report the facts, not rumors about our readiness for Y2K," he said. "There are people out there who would seek to profit and fan the flames of hysteria, but we must keep these people out of business."

Though confident the Y2K problem poses little threat to Florida, planners said they must have plans ready for emergencies.

"It may happen on, before or after New Year's Eve, or it may not happen at all," said Capt. W.H. Ricks of the Orange County Sheriff's Office. "But the sheriff has made it clear: We will not get caught with our shorts down."

On one hand, officials plan for disruptions such as bank runs, blackouts and crime. On the other hand, they expect Jan. 1 to be uneventful, much like Thursday, when the date changed to 9/9/99.

That date was a potential problem for older computers because "9999" was an ancient programming code that triggered systems to shut down.

It proved to be a non-event. Florida Power Corp. and Orlando Utilities Commission, which were involved in nationwide Y2K drills, reported no disruptions. Nor did Orlando International Airport.

"The lights didn't blink, the computers didn't flicker," said Ron Parkes OUC's Y2K project manager. "It was a pretty boring midnight. We expect it'll be just like that on Dec. 31, only we'll have a few more people working then."

[Posted 09/10/1999 0:24 AM EST]

http://www.duluthnews.com/today/dnt/local/late.htm

Bullshit, planners are the enemy!!!!

-- Homer Beanfang (Bats@inbellfry.com), September 16, 1999

Answers

Well, "perception management" and scapegoating seem to be today's spin theme.

Mike

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-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), September 16, 1999.

100% Ready. NOT 100% Compliant. I know they understand the difference. The trouble is, do the sheeple?

-- mar (derigueur2@aol.com), September 16, 1999.

Note the propaganda campaign against those who are preparing has already begun - this from a state where 3/4 of the utilities were "scheduled" to finish in Oct and Nov - at least that was their schedule until Washington told them to get done in July.

So, the utilities said they were done in July. No problem.

Notice that the "police are looking on the internet for terrorists" - again, the propaganda campaign has begun. They quoted also that "hysteria" is the enemy - soon (now ?) those who are preparing will be (are now) the cause of the hysteria.....

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 16, 1999.

The CODE is the Enemy!

Idiots

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), September 16, 1999.

Cyberterrorism is definately going to be blamed. They even had a two (?) hour show devoted to the subject on Discovery (or TLC)a few weeks ago. Apparently, cyberterriorism will effect all computer systems in the exact same way that y2k would have (you know, if we hadn't fixed it...whew...groan)

Viola! What a coincedience (sp?).

Writer from Finland on Seinfeld: There is no such thing as big coincediences and small coincediences, there are only coincediences...

-- mar (derigueur2@aol.com), September 16, 1999.

That date was a potential problem for older computers because "9999" was an ancient programming code that triggered systems to shut down.

"It proved to be a non-event. Florida Power Corp. and Orlando Utilities Commission, which were involved in nationwide Y2K drills, reported no disruptions. Nor did Orlando International Airport.

"The lights didn't blink, the computers didn't flicker," said Ron Parkes OUC's Y2K project manager. "It was a pretty boring midnight. We expect it'll be just like that on Dec. 31, only we'll have a few more people working then." ................................

This is obvious spin. No one ever thought there would be a problem except in really old code. It was a very minimal concern otherwise.

Why would the press screw up a grid wise test with the 9999 problem?

Either doing it on purpose or they don't know what they are talking about. On the other hand doomer press gets things screwed up to. Relying on the press for anything is wierd. In some sense if Y2K is a big problem I believe that they should be partially accountable for not providing relevant information.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), September 16, 1999.

Total and complete rubbish. The people who already have prepared aren't going to get hysterical, BECAUSE they have prepared.

The hysteria will come into play when the unprepared and lulled masses can't access their money, the lights and heat go out and the stores dry up of foods and other necessities. PERIOD.

If none of this happens because everything is fixed then there will be nothing to worry about.

Y2K PLANNERS, MY *SS.

-- OR (orwelliator@biosys.net), September 16, 1999.