"Trust But Verify": Prepare Your Community for Y2K

With less than 150 days left before the new year, how many states are Y2K-bug free? A new General Accounting Office (GAO) report paints a less-than-idyllic portrait: only three states—Iowa, Nebraska and North Dakota—have completely tested their computer systems and are Y2K-compliant. In July, the GAO reported that nearly half of the nation’s 21 largest cities would not eradicate the Y2K computer bug until the end of the year.

Even with a "97 percent Y2K-compliant" rating, there will be some system failures. Now is the time to "trust but verify" to be sure adequate supplies of food, water, medicine and natural gas can be maintained no matter what.

We are all dependent on a fragile and complex national electric utility grid. Because of its very complexity, there is no way to thoroughly test readiness. Critical Y2K information is often not shared between utilities because of inherent constraints on corporate information sharing. Production of the crucial commodities of food, medicine and fuel has increased only marginally. Finally, while at least minimal steps have been taken to safeguard U.S. operations, in this age of global interconnectedness many operations in the developing world have not been upgraded.

With that in mind, what can legislators do to protect the most vulnerable from Y2K glitches?

• Require reliable, verifiable and accessible information for citizens on the important infrastructure systems of electricity, natural gas, water, telephone, food, medicine and banking services. Reliable information shared widely will prevent irrational panic and public anger.

• Improve the flow of good information. Insist on independent auditing of key infrastructure providers. Connecticut is independently auditing its nine major utilities, and California is assessing the risks of its oil and chemical facilities. Hold public hearings to allow a full dialogue between the public, experts and state agencies, companies and local officials and assure media attention.

• Push for local risk assessment and contingency planning for potential Y2K disruptions affecting public health and safety. States may want to consider stockpiling critical goods and services. A bill introduced in the Maine legislature would mandate the state to use part of its budget surplus for emergency food supplies. Bills in Connecticut and Georgia would mandate that Health Maintenance Organizations allow patients to buy prescriptions for up to three months, instead of the current one month maximum.
• Ask some commonsense "where is it?" questions, such as "where does our state’s natural gas come from?" Or, "how do essential medicines reach our communities from the national and international pipeline?" "Where will the `warming centers’ be for vulnerable people in the community in case of power failure?" "How will state welfare and unemployment checks be handled?" "How prepared are the hospitals and clinics in the community?"

January 1, 2000 will be here before we know it. Leadership is needed to prepare communities reasonably and carefully for Y2K problems.

Check the following websites for information on how to help your state deal with the Y2K bug.

• The Center for Y2K & Society (www.y2kcenter.org) works with nonprofit organizations and foundations to respond to health, environmental and community impacts of Y2K problems.
• NASIRE (www.amrinc.net/nasire/y2k) provides information and fosters the exchange of Y2K best practices to assist federal, state and local governments.
• National Governors Association (www.nga.org/CBP/Activities/Y2K.asp)’s Center for Best Practices has convened two summits for state and federal information technology executives on the Y2K problem.
• The President’s Council on Year 2000 Conversion (www.y2k.gov) website describes the federal government’s preparation efforts and links to information on Y2K compliance for critical sectors of the economy.
• The National League of Cities (www.usmayors.org/uscm/y2k/y2kfindings.html) surveyed U.S. cities on the potential impact of Y2K computer problems on their operations, and on the status of their preparation efforts.