Feds Stand Ready for Disaster

Updated 6:36 PM ET December 29, 1999

By BRIGITTE GREENBERG, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal officials preparing for any conceivable Y2K emergency over the last 18 months have rehearsed what-if scenarios ranging from power outages to nuclear disaster.

But even while hunting for last-minute glitches Wednesday, officials said they didn't expect any serious problems.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has established 10 regional centers to monitor potential catastrophes in the United States and its territories. Beginning Thursday, FEMA will have its emergency support team in full gear 24 hours a day through Jan. 2. More than 800 personnel will be working through the weekend.

The agency can draw on resources from as many as 26 federal agencies and the Red Cross if Y2K emergencies arise.

"FEMA is confident that nothing serious will happen, but we are prepared to respond just like we would for any other natural disaster or any other emergency situation," said Robert Adamcik, associate director for FEMA response and recovery.

President Clinton's top Y2K expert, John Koskinen, said Wednesday that the enhanced 911 emergency system for the city of Charlotte, N.C., was experiencing some difficulties, but later in the day, a city spokesperson reported the problem had been solved.

The International Bottled Water Association has reported stores appear to be fully equipped if people wish to stock up for parties or a long midwinter weekend, Koskinen said.

At the federal courthouse in Boston, visitors and courthouse employees were asked to produce photo identification to enter the building.

Officials emphasized that they had not received any specific threats, but extra security measures were introduced at federal buildings across the country this week, said Bob Dunfey, the regional administrator of the General Services Administration in New England.

In Scranton, Pa., officials told visitors to the federal courthouse to park in nearby lots rather than on the street outside the building, allowing the building "to have a buffer," said Dave Branham, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals.

Even if a significant disaster arises that is not related to Y2K, such as an unexpected weather phenomenon, FEMA would respond, Adamcik said. However, certain emergencies - cyber terrorism, local civil disturbances, a national security emergency or long-term economic recovery - would fall under the purview of other agencies.

FEMA officials said they will constantly gather information from state and local governments throughout the weekend, monitoring them with an automated system that assigns a green light to communities that are OK, a yellow light to those where an emergency is suspected but information is incomplete, and a red light for a confirmed disaster.

FEMA would be called in only after a state's governor called on President Clinton to declare a federal disaster area.

The agency is prepared to provide a range of things from mass care to food and transportation should those be needed by state and local governments, officials said.

FEMA spokesman Marc Wolfson said the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, and the Department of Defense have gas masks and antidotes in the case of chemical or biological terrorism.

Although a coalition of antinuclear groups warned Wednesday that nuclear power plants may be at risk, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said there was no threat.

The Treasury Department's key computer systems used for, among other things, IRS filings, and to clear cargo and passengers passing through Customs, are ready for Y2K, according to senior Treasury officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. Nevertheless, the department plans increased surveillance of its Web site over the weekend and will shut down the site if hackers strike, one official said.

At the Library of Congress, the world's biggest collection, a crew of 85 to 125 employees will be working shifts to keep the library's contents safe until Capitol Police give them the "all-clear."

Some major satellite companies say they plan to monitor their ground operations with a little extra vigilance but feel comfortable that the equipment used to link information from the satellites are ready.

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Ah yes, 2 days from liftoff and we begin to hear about disaster!!

Ray Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), December 29, 1999