But there are no guarantees. Banks have reported little, if any, increased demand for cash among consumers worried that computer problems will make it hard to obtain money after Jan. 1. This is going to be more a nonevent than an event,'' predicted Bill Serpico, Year 2000 program manager at Huntington Bancshares. Still, many people might succumb to Y2K worries before the year is out. By Jan. 1, more than half of Americans plan to withdraw enough cash for two to six weeks, according to a September study by Gartner Group, a Stamford, Conn., consulting company.
Grocers see little evidence of hoarding.
Though they say they're ready for increased demand, they don't expect it. December is a big time for the supermarkets, with all the entertaining,'' said Mark Jampole, a spokesman for Big Bear. Gary Rhodes, a spokesman for Cincinnati-based Kroger, said predicting consumer reaction is always difficult. Keeping in touch Columbus and Franklin County safety forces have backup power generators and upgraded communications systems. Some telephone executives have predicted record traffic on their systems after midnight Dec. 31, congestion that could delay or obstruct 911 emergency service.