Have blankets, flashlights and extra batteries handy. Be prepared to use alternative cooking devices or to relocate to a shelter for warmth. However, while federal officials are generally positive about the state of Y2K preparedness in most sectors of the economy, they have to temper their optimism because of the often sketchy information on compliance from the private sector, especially from small businesses, local governments and utilities. Agencies are finding that no matter what they say or do, some people will conclude that things will be much worse than the government is letting on. It's important, officials say, to find the delicate balance between preventing unwarranted fear and leaving agencies vulnerable to criticism that they aren't providing enough details on how to deal with the problem.
Critics say agencies have simply been too quiet about the millennium bug.
It just hasn't been happening. That is a bit disappointing. It's almost getting to the point where it's not going to be an issue, because we're getting so close to the deadline. But executive branch officials argue that the public wasn't much interested in the year 2000 until 1999 rolled around. For example, through last year, the Federal Information Center the government's primary point of contact for general inquiries from the public received only 20 to 30 calls a month on the subject.