City Kicks Off Y2K Preparedness Campaign

Worried about the year 2000 and possible computer chaos?

Don’t panic; be prepared. That’s the advice from the city of Los Angeles, which kicked off a public information campaign Wednesday to help educate residents.

Mayor Richard Riordan and Councilman Alex Padilla, who heads the council’s Information Technology and General Services Committee, said its For You 2 Know (For Y2K) campaign includes a list of Top 10 tips that will help Angelenos overcome potential problems.

City officials have long said they do not anticipate any major disruptions or problems, but they encourage residents to be prepared for the change to the year 2000 just as they would for earthquakes, fires or floods.

The city’s Y2K Web site page (www.cityofla.org/year2k) includes a snazzy countdown clock that lists the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the year 2000.

The Web site also lists tips including:

* Keep hard-copy records of all important financial information such as bank / investment records, insurance policies and bill receipts.

* Check manufacturers of all computer and electronic equipment (fire and security alarms, programmable thermostats, appliances, garage door openers, electronic locks) to see if an “embedded chip” may control their operation.

* Keep extra cash on hand in advance of Dec. 31.

* Keep your car’s gasoline tank filled.

City officials said Los Angeles successfully handled the potential 9 / 9 / 99 computer issue with no problems and is in the final preparations for the change to the year 2000.

TV and radio ads, posters, brochures, cable TV programs and community meetings will be part of the For You 2 Know campaign. The campaign will be in both Spanish and English.

The potential Y2K problem may arise in older computers where the year 2000 will show up as 00, which some computers may process as 1900.