WASHINGTON (AP) -- The greatest danger from the Year 2000 computer problem may be panic among Americans convinced there will be major disruptions, emergency experts told a House hearing Monday.
The panelists did, however, caution people to be ready for minor breakdowns in basic services. The International Association of Emergency Managers said communities should prepare as if for a storm, including aftereffects, lasting about seven days."It is important to say the sky is not falling because of Y2K," said Mike Walker of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is helping local emergency systems deal with the computer problem. "There is no need to hoard, there is no need to take money out of banks, there is no need to head for the hills," he told the House Government Reform Committee's government management panel.
"Fear of unknown consequences places citizens at the risk of either overreacting or not reacting at all," said the subcommittee's chairman, Rep. Stephen Horn, R-Calif.
The Y2K problem arises out of the ability of many computers to read only the last two digits in dates. Those computers would read the year 2000, or "00," as 1900, causing computers to malfunction or break down, possibly threatening services ranging from electricity to food supplies.
Walker joined other experts in concluding that, after spending billions to fix computers, the federal government and the large service industries can say there will be no major infrastructure problems on Jan. 1.
But there has also been disinformation and hype, much on the Internet, that has some people girding for catastrophic events. "There are those who will panic," said Rep. Jim Turner of Texas, the subcommittee's top Democrat. He said his own father was talking about spending more than $2,000 for an electric generator.
Phyllis Mann of Kitsap County, Wash., president-elect of the International Association of Emergency Managers, said it was crucial to give people reliable and consistent information to counterbalance the "alarmists."
As a guideline, the IAEM is recommending that people have on hand enough food and water for a seven-day storm. They should have a 30-day supply of medication and should make copies of car, mortgage and credit card payments in case of problems with bank computers. They should also keep their gas tanks full.
FEMA has published its own manual for local emergency managers that outlines how to avoid Y2K problems and handle any problems that do occur. Among the many areas of concern cited: 911 services could go down, street lights and railroad crossing signals might fail, problems might occur with jails or prisons, leading to escapes.
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Margaret Heckler said that while large hospitals have generally fixed their computers, which monitor crucial health records and medical equipment, "municipal and county hospitals lag far behind."
She urged the government to set up a "super health-care Web site" to help health-care providers avoid what could be life-threatening situations.