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"Fear of unknown consequences laces citizens eq p ns at the risk of either overreacting or not reacting at all,"said a House subcommittee chairman. Greatest fear from Y2K is fear itself, ex erts s p say , Associated Press computer problem. "There is no billions to fix computers,the fed- FEMA has published its own need to hoard,there is no need to eral government and the large manual for local emergency WASHINGTON, D.C. — The take money out of banks,there is service industries can say there managers that outlines how to greatest danger from the Year no need to head for the hills,"he will be no major infrastructure avoid Y2K problems and handle 2000 (Y2K) computer problem- told the House Government problems on Jan.1. any problems that do occur. may be panic among Americans Reform Committee's government But there has been misinfor- Among the many areas of con- convinced there will be major dis- management panel. mation and hype, much on the cern cited:911 services could go ruptions,emergency experts told "Fear of unknown conse- Internet, that has some people down, street lights and railroad a House hearing Monday. quences places citizens at the risk girding for catastrophe. "There crossing signals might fail,prob- The panelists did, however, of either overreacting or not are those who will panic," said lems might occur with jails or caution people to be ready for reacting at all,"said the subcom- Rep.Jim Turner of Texas,the sub- prisons,leading to escapes. minor breakdowns in basic ser- mittee's chairman, Rep. Steve committee's top Democrat- He Former Health and Human vices.The International Associa- Horn,R-Calif. said his father was talking about Services Secretary Margaret tion of Emergency Managers The Y2K problem arises out of spending more than$2,000 for an -Heckler said that large hospitals (IAEM)said communities should the ability of many computers to electric generator. generally have fixed their com- prepare as if for a storm,includ- read only the last two digits in As a guideline,the IAEM is rec- puters, which monitor crucial ing aftereffects, lasting about dates. Those computers would ommending that people have on health records and medical seven days. read 2000,or 00,as 1900,causing hand enough food and water for a equipment, but "municipal and "It is important to say the sky is computers to malfunction or seven-day storm. They should county hospitals lag far behind." not falling because of Y2K,"said break down,possibly threatening have a 30-day supply of medica- She urged the government to Mike Walker of the Federal Emer- services ranging from electricity tion,have full gas tanks and should set up a"super health care Web Management Agency to food supplies. make copies of car,mortgage and site"to help health care provid- ( ), which is helping local Walker joined other experts in credit card payments in case of ers avoid what could be life- emergency systems deal with the concluding that after spending problems with bank computers. threatening situations.