HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0070.004 1998-2000 WILLIAM C. JENNINGS
PO BOX 11458
HILO, HAWAH 96721
(808) 935-5794 (W)
(808) 899-1800 (PGR)
January 15, 1999
RECFJVED
(Ime..~__......._ By~
Hawaii County Council Oate_____' ~ rl_
c/o County Clerk's Office Canty Cwncl?F N'~r
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
RE: Y2K - HS&EDC COMMS. 70, 70.01, 70.02, AMD 70.03
Deaz Council Members:
I am on active duty in the US Army, with 18 years of service, and address you
today in my private capacity as a concerned citizen of Hilo.
Y2K is such an important issue that I am compelled, for the first time ever, to
come before you to request you take immediately steps toward preparation for what could
be ominous consequences.
I have studied this problem in-depth and am convinced that Y2K may be
devastating to a very large percentage of our population.
There is a serious potential for loss of food, water, power, communications,
employment, and other various trickle-down adverse affects.
Human nature being as it is, I believe it is a dangerous mistake to rely on
pronouncements of utilities, business and government about their Y2K compliance status.
There is a tendency to put a pretty picture on Y2K remediation and compliance efforts.
The only pronouncements that should be considered credible are those that have been
thoroughly tested by independent sources.
Recently, it was announced with great fan-faze that the Social Security
Administration was one-hundred percent Y2K compliant. What was not covered was the
issue of the Treasury Department's readiness which is responsible for electronic and
check payments to recipients. What is their contingency plan if there is no power or
communication for fund transfers? What of the individual recipients' banks? Will they
be compliant?
Comm. No. •
File No. F ~ N
Ref. To: Presented lijSEOL
Ref. Date ~ 1 5 1999
Locally, what will become of our fellow citizens who rely on electronic swipe
cards for food purchases? What will those on public assistance do if there cards don't
work? How many days inventory do our local food stores have if their cazds do work?
What do we all do if water pumps do not work? How long will the generators last
before their gas supply runs out? Will service stations be able to supply gas if their
pumps' embedded chips fail or if there is no electricity?
What is the local police and fire department's contingency plans for possible
unrest and emergency services? What about our hospitals?
I request that you form a committee immediately to come up with some creative
contingency plans for worst case scenarios focusing on the most rudimentary needs:
food, water, and shelter. (As an example, allow the local food stores to build up an
inventory and to store it for free at some governrnental building location that does not
cost the taxpayers any additional expense; find an alternate source for accessing potable
water other than our current system...water storage?, etc.)
The welfare and safety of the people is the most basic and first responsibility of
government. I have confidence that you will respond accordingly.
Mahalo.
Respectfully Submitted,
Wj~liam ennings