That doesn t include federal funding for states that support federal programs. Counties are spending millions of dollars to come up with fixes for their systems. Winifred Lyday, director of NACO s Department of Information and Technology, says, NACO is urging counties to focus on those systems that may affect life, health and safety. Responding to reports accusing half the nation s counties of having no Y2K strategy, Lyday says that even counties lacking formalized plans may be working to become Y2K compliant. Besides, Lyday adds, we have counties out there that don t even have computers.
Some counties only have one stoplight.
The key to defeating Y2K effects on emergency services, she says, is for communities to remain vigilant in understanding how to marshal their resources. To minimize Y2K disruptions, Kolodney says, We need to respond as a community like we have in other emergencies. To quell the concerns of citizens across the nation, Gribben says the Federal Trade Commission has established a toll-free number that offers general information updating the government s status on the Y2K issue.