Y2K: Still Waiting

By Harriet Barovick, Daniel S. Levy, Lina Lofaro, Michele Orecklin, David Spitz, Flora Tartakovsky and Chris Taylor

Never mind computers going screwy when Jan. 1, 2000, comes. Prognosticators started malfunctioning a long time ago. Last week alone, a government report warned us to stockpile food and prepare for the worst while a U.N. agency claimed everything is rosy. Below, some of the more confusing conflicts in Y2K advice, all given by respected Y2K figures. (What the loonies say would fill several volumes.)

EVEYTHING'S ROSY

TELEPHONE: The millennium bug will not disrupt world phone service (International Telecommunications Union)

FOOD: There's no need to go around stockpiling and buying large quantities of food (Senator Christopher Dodd on PBS's Newshour)

DURATION: 90% of Y2K problems will be solved within 72 hours (Gartner Group)

AIR TRAVEL: Thorough testing indicates there will be no impact on Jan. 1 (Federal Aviation Authority)

OUTTA HERE? Only 1% of people concerned about Y2K will relocate from the cities; most would have done it already (Edward Yourdon, co-author of Timebomb 2000)

THE SKY IS FALLING

TELEPHONE: There's a 50% to 60% chance each major carrier will suffer at least one failure of a mission-critical system (Gartner Group, premier Y2K consultants)

FOOD: Stockpiling extra food and water may be advisable (Y2K report co-authored by Dodd)

DURATION: Be prepared for three months of electrical outages, food shortages (programmer Scott Olmstead)

AIR TRAVEL: Flight rationing is "highly possible" (Senate report)

OUTTA HERE? Cities may be paralyzed by balky security systems, elevators, heaters, traffic lights and commuter trains. This could lead to a mass exodus to the countryside (Computerworld)