Y2K Computer Glitch Year 2000 Consumers and Millennium Bug the Year 2000 (Y2K) Y2K Computer

Glitch Year 2000 Millennium Bug Y2K Computer Glitch Year 2000 Millennium Bug Y2K Computer Glitch Year 2000

College of Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension

2000

Y2K

Year 2000 Millennium Bug Y2K Computer Glitch Year 2000 Millennium Bug Y2K Computer Glitch Year 2000 Millennium Bug Y2K Computer Glitch Year 2000 Millennium Bug

What Is Y2Kand Why Should You Be Concerned About It?

Youve probably heard people talking about Y2K, the Millennium Bug, or the Y2K Computer Glitch and wondered what they meant. Y2K is a short way of saying the Year 2000. The terms Y2K, millennium bug, or Y2K computer glitch often are used when people talk about the Year 2000 computer problem.

2000

January 1, 2000 arrives. Government agencies, financial institutions, companies, and organizations that feel the Y2K bug will affect their operations have been taking steps to make corrections. When the necessary corrections have been made and tested successfully, an agency or organization is described as Y2K-compliant or Y2K-ready. Despite intensive efforts to make business operations Y2K-ready, no one knows exactly what will happen on January 1, 2000. The best alternative in light of this uncertainty is to prepare for what might happen. This publication contains steps consumers can take to prepare for emergencies. Whether you believe Y2K glitches will be dramatic or nonexistent, most of these steps should be taken to prepare for any unknown or natural disaster. In such an emergency, these preparations can help you manage until some normalcy returns. Being prepared is the best defense you can have. In fact, many of the suggestions here are good practices for any year. If electricity, gas, water, or sewer services failed, how could you and your family adapt to the loss of these services for a week or two? If your family enjoys camping, you may already have some idea of how to survive without all of the modern conveniences.

unbiased sources before making any major purchase. Checking with three different sources before buying is a good way to protect yourself from fraud. Also, many so-called Y2K survivalists advocate stockpiling months of water, food, and medicine to prepare for potential emergencies in the year 2000. If people follow this advice, it wont matter if our systems fail. People, not computers, will create a great catastrophe in 2000 by causing shortages that seriously disrupt our food supply system. The American Red Cross suggests preparing as you would for a severe winter stormby keeping a one- to two-week supply of essential food, water, and medicine. If we act responsibly as citizens and consumers, we can all be ready for Y2K and other potential emergencies.

Why is there concern? In the 1950s, 1960s and 1970swhen computers were first builtcomputer programmers used two numbers instead of four to indicate the year. For example, 1963 was abbreviated as 63 and 1991 as 91. Early programmers did this to save computer space and money. Out of habit, many computer programmers continued to use two numbers instead of four into the 1990s. When the year 2000 arrives, this programming shortcut might cause some computers to perform as if 00 means 1900 instead of 2000. Some people believe that since they dont own a computer, the Y2K issue will not affect them. The truth is that computers affect our lives daily, whether we realize it or not. Small computers, called microprocessors or computer chips, run machines such as elevators, VCRs, and common household appliances. Companies that supply services such as water and electricity also rely on computers. If computers arent programmed to distinguish between 1900 and 2000, a disruption in services and other things we take for granted could occur when

Things To Do When Preparing for Emergencies

Food 1. Gather food items that your family likes to eat, that need minimal preparation, and that do not need refrigeration. Canned and dried foods are good choices. Determine the amount you need for a two-week period by looking at past purchases. Grocery receipts from one to two weeks can help you decide how much to buy for emergency purposes. Ask family members to help by developing menus based on the following emergency foods or the foods you store.

Caution! Caution! Caution!

Con artists, people out to make a fast buck, and unprincipled business owners may try to take advantage of uninformed consumers or prey on the fear of the unknown. Do not be talked into buying a service or product that is supposed to remedy mishaps caused by the Y2K computer bug. Instead, seek information from reliable,

2. Rotate food items by eating from the emergency supply and replacing what you use immediately. This will keep your emergency food supply fresh. Food Items to Consider
CANNED

METHODS TO HEAT FOOD

K K K K K K

Propane or kerosene stove with fuel Outdoor charcoal or propane grill Candle warmers Non-electric chafing dishes Fondue pots Sterno

K K K K K K K K K

Fruits Vegetables Juices Milk Soup Meat (beef, pork) Fish Poultry Prepared foods that need only to be heated (items with a 6- to 12month shelf life are good choices.)

WATER

DRIED

K K K K K K K K K K K K K K

Sugar Flour Baking mix Muffin mix Powdered milk Salt, pepper, and frequently used spices Ready-to-eat cereal Uncooked instant cereal Pasta Rice Nuts Crackers Cookies Fruit (raisins, apricots, prunes)

Expect to use at least one gallon of water per person per day, and store a three-day to two-week supply for each family member. Water can be stored in thoroughly washed plastic, glass, fiberglass, or enamel-lined metal containers. Clean plastic soft drink containers are good choices and are readily available in most areas.

Basic Items K Paper cups, plates, and bowls (no dishwashing conserves water) K Plastic utensils K Flashlights with batteries K Non-electric can opener K Matches in a waterproof container K Aluminum foil (to line cooking pans) K Plastic storage containers K Needles, thread, and scissors K Shut-off wrench to turn off household gas and water K Candles, lamps, and lamp oil K Battery-operated smoke alarm K Tarps or plastic sheeting Safety K Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (replace batteries each October) K Fire extinguishers K Generators (If you use one, make sure it is in a well-ventilated area away from indoor air intakes.) Sanitation/Personal Care K Toilet paper K Paper towels K Contact lenses and solutions K Extra eyeglasses K Plastic garbage bags and ties in various sizes K Disinfectant K Household chlorine bleach K Feminine hygiene supplies Pets K Food (canned or dry) K Toys K Litter K Bedding K Other routinely needed items (medicine)

Heating and Cooling How can you stay warm or cool if your primary system fails?

Consider the Needs of All Family Members

When gathering supplies to prepare for an emergency, be sure to think about the needs of all members of your family. Some of them may have additional requirements. Elderly family members may need special foods, medical items, or specialized products such as denture care products. Babies probably will require special foods or care needs such as disposable bottle liners, disposable diapers, toys, and medication measuring spoons. Anyone with an ongoing health problem that requires daily maintenance will need to have medicines on hand, such as inhalers for asthma patients or insulin for diabetics.

OTHER

K K K K K

Peanut butter Jelly Canned beverages Candy (hard) Vegetable oil

FOOD STORAGE CONSIDERATIONS

Prepackaged foods store best and usually wont spoil until opened. Buy items in one- or two-use sizes so you dont have to store opened food. Use food-grade storage containers such as glass jars, plastic bags with sturdy closures, and vacuum-sealed containers.

Entertainment Without electricity, some common forms of entertainment, such as television, will be unavailable. Be sure to store items that can provide enjoyment and ease boredom, but dont require electricity. Possibilities include: K Craft supplies and directions K Board games K Jigsaw puzzles K Cards K Books

Medical Considerations
Other things to consider or do: 1. Have a two-week supply of any maintenance drugs (those used every day). 2. Get or update copies of your medical and dental records. 3. Get or update vaccines for tetanus, flu, and pneumonia. 4. Register with your local emergency management office if you are on a life-support system that requires electricity, such as dialysis or pumps for intravenous drips. 5. Have a printed copy of key medical information on each family member, such as immunization records, any major surgeries, allergies, usual medications, doctors names, and phone numbers.

free numbers. If the manuals cannot be located, check with telephone directory assistance for company numbers. Ask for the consumer information department. Local reference librarians also may help you locate company addresses and phone numbers.

Personal Computers
Personal computers can be affected by the Y2K bug just like larger mainframe systems. There are three major areas of concern: your hardware, your software, and the filesspreadsheets, databases, documents, and other datathat you created with your software. Make a list of your computer software and files and assess their Y2K-readiness status. The first thing to do is check your BIOS chipthe circuit board that sets the date on your personal computer. BIOS stands for basic input/ output system. To find out about your BIOS chip, check the owners manual, talk to the manufacturer, or test it. It may need to be replaced. Software also may need to be replaced or upgraded. If you dont feel confident with the information you get from the manual, call or write the manufacturer or supplier. Many have toll-free numbers. You also could check the manufacturers Web site. Some Web sites offer free software to test your personal computer. Many of these are listed on Pennsylvanias Web site for product compliance, http:// www.pa2k.org/html/compliant. In addition to your hardware and software applications, its important to make sure that your files are Y2Kready. When upgrading your files, use a four digit year: mm/dd/yyyy. If you dont feel confident in making software changes or date format changes, consult a professional.

First Aid Kit Take a first aid and/or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course or refresher. You can buy a first aid kit and manual from your local American Red Cross chapter. You also can put together a basic first aid kit. Be sure to include: K Adhesive bandages in assorted sizes K Two- and four-inch sterile gauze pads (46) K Hypoallergenic adhesive tape K Triangular bandages (3) K Two- and three-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls) K Scissors K Tweezers K Needle K Moistened towelettes (baby wipes) K Antiseptic (peroxide) K Thermometer K Tongue depressors (2) K Petroleum jelly or other lubricant K Assorted sizes of safety pins K Cleansing agent/soap K Latex gloves (2 pairs) K Sunscreen K Nonprescription drugs (aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever) K Anti-diarrhea medication K Antacid (for stomach upset) K Syrup of ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center) K Laxative K Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)

Communication
K Radio with plenty of batteries K Walkie-talkies K Cellular phone

Home Appliances/Home Office Equipment

The date feature on most household appliances is not critical to its functioning. In most cases, the date is an extra. Appliances that display only a time of day and/or day of the week are not likely to be affected by the Y2K computer glitch, but those with a month/day/year calendar function may malfunction. If you are concerned about the operation of an appliance, contact the manufacturer for more information. Before calling, make sure you have the product name and model number handy for easy reference. Check your owners manual for toll-

Financial Matters
Keep printed copies of all bank statements, canceled checks, mortgage payments, car payments, and other financial transactions that you may need for proof of payment for a few months before and after the arrival of the year 2000 or until you are satisfied that there are no problems with the accounting systems of your financial institutions. Get a copy of your credit report from one of the major credit bureaus before and after January 1, 2000. A report costs about $8.00. Experian: (888) 397-3742 http://www.experian.com Equifax: (800) 685-1111 http://www.equifax.com Transunion: (800) 888-4213 http://www.tuc.com For installment loans (those with fixed monthly payments), get statements from your creditors that list your payments toward principal, interest, and other charges. Get a payment schedule showing your loan balance after each monthly payment is made until the loan is repaid. Contact Social Security for a recent personal earnings and benefit estimate statement before 1999 ends and sometime in early 2000 to check records. You can call Social Security at (800) 772-1213, or visit the Web site at http://www.ssa.gov. Do not give your credit card numbers or bank account numbers to anyone who calls you. If you do, they can access your accounts. If you have questions about banking and the Year 2000, call the FDICs (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) toll-free consumer assistance line at (877) FDIC-Y2K or (877) 334-2925. Information specialists will answer calls during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. Recorded information is available 24 hours a day.

Transportation
Make sure you have at least a half a tank of gas in your car or truck.

Penn State Cooperative Extension County Offices

ADAMS .............................. (717) 334-6271 ALLEGHENY ...................... (412) 473-2540 ARMSTRONG .................... (724) 548-3447 BEAVER ............................. (724) 774-3003 BEDFORD .......................... (814) 623-4800 BERKS ............................... (610) 378-1327 BLAIR ................................ (814) 693-3265 BRADFORD ........................ (570) 265-2896 BUCKS ............................... (215) 345-3283 BUTLER ............................. (724) 287-4761 CAMBRIA .......................... (814) 472-7986 CAMERON ......................... (814) 486-3350 CARBON ............................ (570) 325-2788 CENTRE ............................. (814) 355-4897 CHESTER ........................... (610) 696-3500 CLARION ........................... (814) 782-0033 CLEARFIELD ...................... (814) 765-7878 CLINTON ........................... (570) 726-0022 COLUMBIA ........................ (570) 784-6660 CRAWFORD ....................... (814) 333-7460 CUMBERLAND .................. (717) 240-6500 DAUPHIN ........................... (717) 921-8803 DELAWARE ........................ (610) 690-2655 ELK .................................... (814) 776-5331 ERIE .................................. (814) 825-0900 FAYETTE ............................ (724) 438-0111 FOREST ............................. (814) 755-3544 FRANKLIN ......................... (717) 263-9226 FULTON ............................. (717) 485-4111 GREENE ............................. (724) 627-3745 HUNTINGDON ................... (814) 643-1660 INDIANA ............................ (724) 465-3880 JEFFERSON ....................... (814) 849-7361 JUNIATA ............................ (717) 436-7744 LACKAWANNA ................... (570) 963-6842 LANCASTER ...................... (717) 394-6851 LAWRENCE ....................... (724) 654-8370 LEBANON .......................... (717) 270-4391 LEHIGH .............................. (610) 391-9840 LUZERNE ........................... (570) 825-1701 LYCOMING ........................ (570) 327-2350 McKEAN ............................ (814) 887-5613 MERCER ............................ (724) 662-3141 MIFFLIN ............................. (717) 248-9618 MONROE ........................... (570) 421-6430 MONTGOMERY ................. (610) 489-4315 MONTOUR ......................... (570) 275-3731 NORTHAMPTON ................ (610) 746-1970 NORTHUMBERLAND ......... (570) 644-4455 PERRY ............................... (717) 582-5150 PHILADELPHIA .................. (215) 471-2200 PIKE .................................. (570) 296-3400 POTTER ............................. (814) 274-8540 SCHUYLKILL ..................... (570) 622-4225 SNYDER ............................ (570) 837-4252 SOMERSET ........................ (814) 445-8911 SULLIVAN ......................... (570) 928-8941 SUSQUEHANNA ................ (570) 278-1158 TIOGA ................................ (570) 724-9120 UNION ............................... (570) 524-8721 VENANGO .......................... (814) 437-7607 WARREN ........................... (814) 563-9388 WASHINGTON ................... (724) 228-6881 WAYNE ................ (570) 253-5970, ext 239 WESTMORELAND ............. (724) 837-1402 WYOMING ......................... (570) 836-3196 YORK ................................. (717) 840-7408

Beyond Your Household

Get involved locally by attending public meetings in your community. Contact the local emergency management office to find out what preparations are being made. Hold a neighborhood meeting to update neighbors on Y2K preparations.

911
Remember... 911 is for emergency use ONLY. Please do not call just to see if it works. Nonemergency calls could prevent or delay someone with a real emergency from getting help. Call ONLY if you have an emergency and need assistance.

Final Note
The suggestions listed in this booklet will get you started preparing for emergencies. However, each family's situation is different. Give additional thought to ways you can prepare your household. For instance, clothing needs are important in cold climates and persons who use gas to cook might store slightly different foods than someone who uses electricity.

References
The Web sites listed were used as resources for this publication. CSREES-Y2K Community Outreach The Cassandra Project Presidents Council on Year 2000 Conversion U.S. Consumer Gateway

For More Information About Y2K, Contact:

Your local Penn State Cooperative Extension office. The telephone number usually is listed under the county government offices as Cooperative Extension or Penn State Cooperative Extension. See county directory on previous page. PA 2K: Pennsylvanians Working Together http://www.pa2k.org (877) Pa2K-NOW (1-877-722-5669) CSREES-Y2K Community Outreach The USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service http://www.reeusda.gov/y2ktalk.htm The Presidents Council on the Year 2000 Conversion (888) USA-4-Y2K (1-888-872-4925) This toll-free number was created by The Presidents Council on the Year 2000 Conversion. It contains prerecorded information on concerns related to the federal governments preparation for Y2K; banking, personal computers, small business, air travel, and airports; and telecommunications, electricity, and food supply. Callers can talk to information specialists if they have questions about other Y2K issues. American Red Cross For local offices, check your phone directory under American Red Cross. http://www.redcross.org Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association 2500 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, VA 22201-3834 Telephone: 703-907-7600 Search within this site using Y2K as the keyword. http://www.cemacity.org Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Center Plaza 500 C. Street S.W. Washington, D.C. 20472 http://www.fema.gov Individual Preparation for Y2K Paloma ORiley The Cassandra Project PO Box 8 Louisville, CO 80027-0008 http://CassandraProject.org/home.htm The Small Business Administration http://www.sba.gov/y2k For local offices, check under United States Government listings in your local telephone directory. U.S. Consumer GatewayYear 2000 Issues This web site contains links to federal government agencies sources of Y2K information. http://www.consumer.gov/year2000.htm Y2K Consumer Action Guide http://www.utne.com/y2k/individual.html Web users can find additional articles and information by entering the keyword Y2K into any Internet search engine, such as AltaVista, Yahoo, Lycos, or Excite.

Prepared by Cathy Faulcon Bowen, assistant professor and extension specialist, consumer issues programs, Department of Agricultural and Extension Education Reviewers: Marilyn Corbin, Robin Kuleck, Fred Loomis, Barbara Miller

P enn State College of Agricultural Sciences research, extension, and resident education programs are funded in part by Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
This publication is available from the Publications Distribution Center, The Pennsylvania State University, 112 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802. For information telephone (814) 865-6713. Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by Penn State Cooperative Extension is implied. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of Congress May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Legislature. T. R. Alter, Director of Cooperative Extension, The Pennsylvania State University.

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