How seriously Y2K effects you depends on how intent you are in your personal contingency planning. Regarding Y2K, the same goes for the utterances of bank managers, electric company heads, stock brokers and CEOs of major corporations. Meanwhile they make their own Y2K disaster plans very thoroughly and very quietly. So I'll translate the jivespeak of Deputy Director Walker for you in terms of your own self interest, not his. This is not good, boys and girls.
Hoarders clean out the stores as and after disaster hits.
Stockpiling is an ethical and pragmatic safeguard that is as old as civilization itself. By the way, FEMA's Walker is directly contradicting the advise of the American Red Cross with his foolish and dangerous blather. The longer you wait, the more likely you will be one of those in line when the bank doors close. You won't have caused the bank run. A bank run would have been impossible if we didn't have this fraudulent, ponzi scheme, system that has plundered the wealth of Americans since the Federal Reserve Act of 1913.