The United States Fire Administration will monitor Millenium transition issues that involves fire and emergency servces. The Y2K Information Office will continue to collect and share information on lessons learned, planning and actions taken by providers throughout communities across the nation. Our mission of facilitating a network for problem solving and rumor control received support throughout 1999 by fire service individuals, departments, and organizations that contributed information to this project and directly to other providers. The strengths of this project are the partnerships and communications established between local, State, federal agencies, and fire service providers and organizations. The first opportunity of 2000 is to commend, recognize and thank all of the emergency service providers for their actions on the leading edge of community preparedness.
Federal agencies continue to take precautionary, prudent steps to prepare for any contingencies.
Often, the public does not heed our ongoing message that it pays to be prepared. With Y2K, though, people were paying attention. Director James L. Witt FEMA used the opportunity afforded by Y2K as if for a winter storm. Specifics about storing canned goods, collecting battery-powered flashlights and storing water were distributed through a variety of publications and through State and local emergency managers. But I will say that there was a sliver lining in terms of public awareness about preparing for and preventing disasters.