DGAC's 30 Greatest Accomplishments

#7 The World Trembles During Y2K

Where were you when Y2K happened? If your answer was "Y2what?" you're not alone. Most Americans have successfully managed to forget the hysteria that accompanied the changeover from 1999 to 2000, termed Y2K. Unlike other tales of Armageddon, the fear of what would happen during Y2K was palpable across all sections of industry and government.

This week, take a moment with us to recall the years of preparation for Y2K, to revisit some of the hysteria, and to reflect on what was possibly one of the government's most concentrated outreach efforts of all time.

DGAC was actively involved in keeping its members abreast of the preparations, even going so far as to publish a pamphlet entitled "A Summary of Government and Industry Preparedness and How it May Affect Transportation of Hazardous Materials on 1 January 2000" (pictured at left).

The over-arching theme of the DGAC booklet was that industry had spent considerable time and money on preparation and testing for Y2K, and anticipated little to no problems on January 1, 2000.

Despite the calm projected by the government and industry groups, the media and the general public were rife with tales of destruction and disaster. The video to the right is a 1999 ESPN Sportscenter commercial poking fun at the hysteria.

Despite the humor, it is estimated that over $300 billion was spent on readying for the Y2K crisis. In addition to DGAC's efforts, many other industry associations were working hard to ensure all of their members were informed and prepared.

Read the National Paint and Coatings Association's (NPCA) Internet Report of March 1999 discussing Y2K. The American Petroleum Institute held a one-day conference in May 1999 to discuss Communication Strategies for the oil & gas industries. Notable quotes from their flier include:

"It's the biggest business problem in human history;"
"It's the bug that finally gives lawyers the opportunity to rule the world;" and
"While I don't know where anyone else wants to be (on New Year's), let me suggest three places you don't want to be: In an elevator, in an airplane, or in a hospital" (Senator Chris Dodd).

FEMA and the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion published a 32 page booklet (pictured left) that included a checklist of items to ready for Y2K. FEMA also developed a web site, no longer available, for young children to help them prepare and cope with Y2K.

The Department of Transportation published a comprehensive booklet entitled "Are You Ready? Managing Transportation Resources Through the Y2K Weekend." Click here to read the entire booklet, which includes some notable predictions and quotations that truly capture the aura of concern in the late-1990's.

Below, the cover of the DOT booklet is pictured:

News Stories

CNN's Special Y2K section with stories & discussions
BBC News Story on the Y2K bug
President Clinton Addresses the Y2K Computer Problem