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County plans Y2K staffing, just in case MILLENNIUM Y2K CHAOS OR CALM? Agencies train together to prepare for changeover By JESSICA SMITH County officials aren't predicting chaos when calendars everywhere turn the page to the year 2000, but they don't want to take any chances, either. "We fully expect that nothing is going to happen," said county Public Information Officer Brett Thomas. "But we're certainly responsible enough to know that we need to be prepared." For the better part of a year, government agencies and civilians have been talking about the potential havoc the 2000 calendar switch will impose on information, communication, distribution and transportation systems worldwide. The fear is that microchips used to control computerized systems will not recognize the Jan. 1, 2000, date and will cause malfunctions. For its part, the county plans to create an emergency operations center -- a management network of sorts -- that would track potential disruptions in the area. "Y2K really is an event where no one knows what will happen, but we all can agree that it's been an excellent opportunity for us to provide training for any disasters that might occur in Jackson County," Thomas said. On Tuesday, about 40 representatives from various county departments, the cities of Medford and Ashland, and local utility providers such as Avista Utilities, US West and AT&T, took part in a four-hour training session at the county courthouse. The idea is to bring these organizations together on New Year's Eve to ensure efficient response to needs in the community, Thomas said. Training participants Tuesday learned the specifics of the county's emergency operations center, discussed their roles in the project and devised strategies to several catastrophic scenarios. A command center for the emergency operations system will be run at the county courthouse from 7 p.m. on Dec. 31 into New Year's Day. Thomas said citizens are urged to make limited use of their telephones during that time to ensure that anyone with an emergency is able to get through to police. Emergency calls should be made to 911. Prank calls to 911 will be traced and police agencies have agreed to take aggressive action in such cases, Thomas said. He added that those who want information or have questions about conditions in the area are asked to call the volunteer-operated Citizen Hot Line at 776-7338. The hot line volunteers will take calls and provide assistance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 29-30 and then from 8 a.m. Dec. 31 as needed through the New Year weekend. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA