What FEMA Is Doing About Y2K?

is part of the President's Council on Y2K Conversion, which is chaired by Presidential Advisor, John A. Koskinen. FEMA is the lead agency for the Emergency Services Sector working group. Other agencies on this working group include the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce (mainly the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration), Defense, Health and Human Services, Interior and Transportation. The American Red Cross participates as an honorary member.

FEMA and the other Emergency Services Sector members are responsible for increasing the awareness of emergency service providers about Y2K. FEMA is also encouraging these emergency service providers to evaluate their systems and fix any problems they find right away. FEMA wants to make sure that the nation's emergency services will not be affected when the clock turns to January 1, 2000. FEMA is monitoring the progress, holding meetings and providing communication.

U.S. Fire Administration has started a plan to raise awareness and check on readiness of the nation's fire departments.

FEMA's Preparedness, Training, and Exercises Directorate provides grants, guidance, training, and exercise assistance to state and local governments to help them to prepare for all types of emergencies. FEMA will be holding training and exercises about Y2K to help local and state governments be better prepared. FEMA is working in partnership with many emergency management organizations.

February 1999, FEMA Director James Lee Witt will address the National Governor's Association on the status of FEMA's Year 2000 outreach. He will also offer suggestions on what the governors can do to increase awareness and promote personal responsibility.

Finally, FEMA is prepared to implement the Federal Response Plan if necessary. The Federal Response Plan is implemented in any serious, federal disaster, such as an earthquake or hurricane. Under the plan, FEMA provides assistance to state and local governments in such areas as transportation, communications, public works and engineering, firefighting, information and planning, resource management, health and medical services and other areas.

one knows exactly what kinds of emergencies may be caused by the Y2K problem. John Koskinen, Chairman of the President's Council on Y2K Conversion, said he thinks the country's basic infrastructure will work and there will be no major nationwide disruptions. But he said there may be a need for federal response in some areas. A Y2K scenario, for example, could cause scattered disruptions in critical systems such as traffic control, communications, or power, which would complicate local, state and federal efforts to provide disaster response. FEMA is working now to be prepared and to help the whole country be prepared. Find out what you can do.