Y2K Expert Warns of Minor Problems
By JIM ABRAMS
03:01 PM ET 08/29/99
WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House point-man on the Y2K computer glitch said
Sunday that Americans shouldn't worry about accidental nuclear launches or erased bank
records, but should prepare for some minor inconveniences. John Koskinen, head of the
White House panel on the year 2000 computer problem, emphasized that with four months left
before the new year, federal government computers were ready and the national
infrastructure was in good shape. People should know that it was safe to take planes or
trains on Jan. 1, he said.
He said a report due out next month would find that 95 percent of the federal
government's mission-critical computer systems were fixed. ``If there are any major
problems, it won't come from a failure of a federal system,'' Koskinen said on CNN's
``Late Edition.''
But he said he was still concerned about utilities and phone systems in some
communities and ``we are worried about some of the smaller or not so small educational
facilities, some health care facilities.''
Koskinen said his office is encouraging people across the country to engage in
conversations with local utilities and public services, to make sure they are taking
action to correct Y2K problems.
The concern is that many computers that use only two digits to read dates will
mistake the year 2000, or ``00,'' as 1900, causing computers to malfunction or break down.
Koskinen said that as a common-sense precaution Americans should have on hand at
least battery-powered radios and flashlights and a three-day supply of water and food.
``It's going to be a long weekend in the middle of winter.''
The administration is satisfied, he said, that nuclear weapons around the world
are safe because they can only be launched through human intervention.
The one concern with the Russians is a breakdown in their nuclear weapons early
warning system. ``If it goes down and they go blind in effect, then the level of anxiety
could increase so we are trying to make sure that doesn't happen.''
Koskinen said banks and financial firms are ready, and there is no chance of
bank accounts being lost, although people should keep paper copies of recent financial
transactions.
He also said that State Department, in future updates about the risks of
visiting foreign nations, would offer advice about possible Y2K problems. While developed
countries are generally making progress in fixing their computers, some developing
countries are not coping as well.
