Firms say they're prepared for Y2K

At a seminar sponsored by the county's Emergency Management Office, area businesses give details of what they have done to get ready for the year 2000.

By JORGE SANCHEZ

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 2, 1999

A bug that costs billions Y2K may lead to why not sue Coaxing computers to comply with 2000 For economy, Y2K bug is contagious As Y2K work wanes, companies search for new niches Buy a bug Preparedness progress report Their Y2K motto: Be prepared Calm, not calamity, in local forecast for Y2K Firms say they're prepared for Y2K

The year 2000 is 243 days away, and local businesses are reaching the final steps in plans for surviving any problems caused by the dreaded Y2K situation.

Citrus Memorial Hospital, Brannen Banks and Florida Power Corp., among others, gave updated reports on their progress to make sure that on Jan. 1, 2000, their computers don't wreak havoc on their customers. The firms explained their Y2K plans at a seminar sponsored by the Citrus County Emergency Management Office on Thursday night.

The forum was held so residents could hear what steps major businesses are taking to ensure that the year 2000 crisis will not have any disastrous effects locally. Most businesses have been studying the Y2K situation and testing their systems for compliance over the past year.

Emergency management officials said they feel the public should be informed about the year 2000 plans to avoid over-reaction to fears that computers will not be able to distinguish the year 2000 from the year 1900. Emergency Management Office spokeswoman Rusty Harry said the office was focusing on public safety.

"This is not a sky-is-falling situation," she said. "I believe most of the compliance work has been done."

Echoing her statements, officials from Citrus Memorial, Brannen Banks and Florida Power gave detailed explanations of what they had accomplished to prepare for the year 2000.

Bill Richel, director of information systems at Citrus Memorial, said the hospital has been working on Y2K compliance since March 1998. Over 3,000 electrical devices were selected for year 2000 compliance. Some devices were tested, while many others were certified Y2K compliant by the vendors. The testing is scheduled for completion in June, and the goal for replacing the non-compliant equipment is September. Richel said about 8 percent of the 3,000 items are not compliant with Y2K and will be replaced.

Brannen Banks senior vice president Alfred Romagnolo said the bank began evaluating and upgrading its equipment for the year 2000 in December 1996. It completed its Y2K verification in March. He said the bank ran various transactions on 15 dates selected by federal regulators, and all systems passed the testing.

Likewise, Florida Power Corp. spokesman Tim DeBoy said the utility was nearly finished with its Y2K compliance testing.

It was mandated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Public Service Commission, he said. The utility finished its inventory testing in January and was 99 percent complete with its assessment of the testing results, he said.

The county is planning to host another Y2K compliance seminar Oct. 14 at Curtis Peterson Auditorium in Lecanto, Harry said.