Y2K contingency plans are proceeding in Mower County.

Wednesday, December 22, 1999

Y2K contingency plans are proceeding in Mower County.

Both the city of Austin and greater Mower County is preparing for any communications emergencies that may occur, when 1999 becomes year 2000 10 days from now.

Mower County Sheriff Barry J. Simonson and Austin Fire Chief Dan Wilson held a press conference today to ensure proper Y2K precautions are being taken.

"We do not anticipate any loss of the emergency 911 telephone service on New Year’s Eve," said Wilson.

Bob Nelson, the Austin/Mower County emergency planning director, will coordinate activities at the law enforcement center’s communications center Dec. 31.

For the city of Austin, the plan is to have Austin Amateur Radio Club volunteers with battery-powered radios inside school bus vehicles at Banfield, Southgate, Sumner, Neveln and Woodson elementary schools.

If an Austin resident has a problem and needs emergency services, they will have to drive to the school nearest their residence, where the Radio Club volunteers will relay the request for assistance to the LEC.

No additional fire or police personnel other than the normal shift workers will be on duty, but extra communications center dispatchers and clerks, plus Mower County Sheriff’s Department deputies and Nelson will be there.

Also, Wilson said Austin Utilities will have both the northeast and downtown power plants in operation New Year’s Eve to ensure no loss of power to residents. The utility supplies electricity, natural gas and water to Austin residents.

KAUS AM radio has auxiliary power and has been designated the emergency broadcasting service if problems occur and residents must be notified.

The most anticipated emergency situation is that telephone customers will lose dial tones, when a massive calling takes place around the nation New Year’s Eve.

US West Communications has assured its customers it is prepared for that contingency.

Wilson urged residents not to pick up the telephone on New Year’s Eve "just to see if you have dial tone," because, he said, "That could create problems, too."

However, all the attention to this possibility has created another situation.

"What if everyone picks up their telephone on New Year’s Eve just to see if they have a dial tone and this creates a system overload?" asked County Sheriff Barry J. Simonson.

The out-county communities have their own plans in place, according to the sheriff.

"We feel confident we will have no problem if we have to page out any emergency service unit anywhere in the county," Simonson said.

Residents of rural areas and municipalities outside Austin will have to drive to the nearest fire service headquarters, if their telephone systems fail, and emergency services personnel will request assistance as needed.

According to Simonson, some municipalities have obtained special Y2K emergency insurance coverage for the end of the millennium.

"I think people in service agencies, such as Austin Utilities, have spent a lot of time and money and effort to ensure nothing will go wrong," Wilson said. "Some people may not have paid as much attention to Y2K. If we, in emergency services have done our job correctly, they won’t have to."