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De-bugging the millennium Region's service providers say they're prepared for Y2K By DANI DODGE Y2K hotline The state of Oregon has set up a Y2K hotline at 1-888-877-3044 ext. 4500. Callers will hear recorded messages about the state's readiness. Topics include state government, banking and financing, employment, human services, public utilities and transportation. The service is available through the Oregonian newspaper's Inside Line voice information service, and will be updated as needed. The Y2K message from local leaders and agency officials Wednesday night could be summed up easily: Feel secure, but be prepared. "We tested literally everything that has a chip in it," said Frank Young of Jackson County information services. "It was really nice to know the jail doors won't spring open on Jan. 1." Representatives of Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties and cities in each county gathered at Medford City Hall to discuss regional efforts to address potential Y2K problems. Wednesday's event, known as the Y2K Community Conversation, was one of many meetings taking place nationally this year as part of an effort initiated by the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion. The forums bring together business and government leaders to inform citizens about their efforts to tackle potential Y2K problems. Y2K refers to concerns that computers will fail to recognize the year 2000 and malfunction, causing disruptions in vital services. Wednesday's meeting was a live call-in show broadcast on community television. About three dozen people sat in the audience at the council chambers. The show's moderator, Scott Rayburn, took questions and addressed them to the assembled representatives. He said the phones were "ringing off the hooks" with people interested in getting questions answered. All the service providers Wednesday said that their systems had been updated and they were ready for Y2K. But they also said it would be wise to stock three days' worth of food and water -- just as any family should for any potential disaster. A representative of the American Red Cross said she always keeps a week's worth of goods in storage. Power company officials said they don't expect disruption, but power outages can happen anytime -- so it's best to be prepared. Health care officials said people can feel secure that hospitals will have open doors and working equipment. A representative of Klamath First Federal said she planned to have $200 cash in hand for the New Year's weekend. She pointed out if cash runs out, and in the unlikely event that debit cards don't work, people can always use checks as a sure way to buy goods. But she said ATM machines have been checked and should work just fine. Connie Saldana, a representative of the state's Senior and Disability Services, recommended that people who are dependent on others for care "buddy up" with someone in their neighborhood in case their caregiver can't get to them. Police officials said they were on alert for any kind of disasters that may occur -- but dispatch centers should be operational. Jackson County sheriff's Capt. Ed Mayer said his agency would monitor national events as well as local incidents to help predict problems before they hit in Jackson County. Talent Police Chief C.W. Smith said his agency is beefing up regular staff with community service officers and volunteers to ward off New Year's Day problems. "Criminal opportunists and people prone to panic are what we are most concerned about," he said. Ashland Fire Chief Keith Woodley said preparations for Y2K have strengthened the entire safety network. "Operations in the future will be more cohesive because Y2K has brought us together," he said. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA