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	Poll: Americans Are Nervous By Declan McCullagh March 17, 1999 Polling the public is fast becoming the media's favorite way of keeping tabs on that scary thing called Y2K. A recent ABC News poll found that nearly a third of all Americans have been infected with Y2K jitters. They're going to stockpile food, water, money, and personal financial records. A Time Magazine/CNN poll early this year learned a full one-quarter of Americans won't fly during New Year's Eve. A January 1999 poll by the Freedom Forum, on the other hand, found that Americans are sick and tired of lurid tales of survivalists stockpiling creamed corn. Instead, readers want to know how prepared local hospitals and power plants will be. Now the US National Science Foundation is trying its hand. For an undisclosed amount of our tax dollars, the government has reported back with... well, pretty much what we knew already. Here's how the agency described its poll: Specifically, we are seeking input and comments from all interested persons on their views of the value of computer technology in their lives, and their familiarity with and level of comfort when using computers and their familiarity with problems that may result from year 2000 computer conversion issues. In an effort to obtain the public's input and useful information, the National Science Foundation has developed the questions that follow. Responses from the public will be used only in the aggregate, and only to help NSF in its efforts to better explain itself and its activities to the American public. The unsurprising result? The NSF found, in the poll jointly conducted with USA Today, that people are more likely than ever before to say they're stockpiling food and water. They also believe corporations are better prepared than government agencies -- probably a safe bet. The details follow. RESULTS ARE BASED ON TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH -- 1,021 -- NATIONAL ADULTS, AGED 18+, CONDUCTED MARCH 5-7, 1999. FOR RESULTS BASED ON THE TOTAL SAMPLE OF NATIONAL ADULTS, ONE CAN SAY WITH 95% CONFIDENCE THAT THE MARGIN OF SAMPLING ERROR IS +or- 3 PERCENTAGE POINTS. 1. As you may know, most computer systems around the world have to be reprogrammed so that they can accurately recognize the date once we reach the Year 2000. Do you think that computer mistakes due to the Year-2000 issue will cause major problems, minor problems, or no problems at all? Major problems Minor problems No problems at all No opinion 99 Mar 5-7 21 65 12 2 98 Dec 9-13 34 51 10 5 2. Do you think that computer mistakes due to the Year-2000 issue will cause major problems, minor problems or no problems at all for you personally? Major problems Minor problems No problems at all No opinion 99 Mar 5-7 9 56 32 3 98 Dec 9-13 14 53 30 3 3. How much have you seen or heard about the Year 2000 computer bug problem, sometimes called the Millennium Bug or the Y-2-K bug, before now -- a great deal, some, not much, or nothing at all? A great deal Some Not much Nothing at all No Opinion 99 Mar 5-7 56 30 11 3 * 98 Dec 9-13 39 40 13 8 * 4. To the extent Y2K computer problems occur, how long do you think they will last -- [ROTATE 1-4/4-1]? 99 Mar 5-7 98 Dec 9-13 23 15 For only a few days around January 1, 2000 30 30 For several weeks (or) 37 38 For several months to a year (or) 7 11 For more than a year 3 6 No opinion 100 100 5. Do you or your household plan to take any steps to prepare or protect yourself from problems that might result from the Y2K computer problem? IF YES: What specific actions or precautions are you planning to take as January 1, 2000 approaches? BASED ON FORM A: N = 516; MARGIN OF SAMPLING ERROR = +/- 5 PCT. PTS. 22 Stocking up on food 12 Stocking up on water 11 Having more cash on hand 9 Keeping better financial records/closer monitoring of financial records 6 Stocking up on household supplies (candles, radio, firewood, etc.) 5 Stocking up on gasoline 4 Purchase a generator/heater 4 Updating computer 4 Withdrawing cash from various accounts 2 Saving more money 1 Making sure everything is Y2K compliant 1 No air travel 7 Other (miscellaneous) 44 No, do not plan to take any steps 7 No opinion 139% Percentages add to more than 100% due to multiple responses 6. For each of the following, please say whether that is something you probably will or will not do in order to protect yourself against problems associated with the Y2K computer bug. First, ... Next, ... ROTATE A-F BASED ON FORM B: N = 505; MARGIN OF SAMPLING ERROR = +/- 5 PCT. PTS.   Yes No No opinion a. Obtain special confirmation or documentation of your bank account balances, retirement funds, or other financial records 99 Mar 5-7 66 33 1 99 Dec 9-13 65 33 2 b. Stockpile food and water 99 Mar 5-7 39 60 1 99 Dec 9-13 26 72 2 c. Buy a generator or wood stove 99 Mar 5-7 24 75 1 99 Dec 9-13 17 81 2 d. Withdraw all your money from the bank 99 Mar 5-7 15 84 1 99 Dec 9-13 16 82 2 e. Withdraw and set aside a large amount of cash 99 Mar 5-7 30 70 * 99 Dec 9-13 31 66 3 f. Avoid travelling on airplanes on or around January 1, 2000 99 Mar 5-7 54 44 2 99 Dec 9-13 47 50 3 7. Next I'm going to read some specific problems. As I read each one, please say whether you think it likely or unlikely to occur as a result of Y2K.First, ... Next, ... ROTATE A-F:   Likely Unlikely No opinion a. Air traffic control systems will fail, putting air travel in jeopardy 99 Mar 5-7 43 55 2 99 Dec 9-13 46 52 2 b. Banking and accounting systems will fail, possibly causing errors in employee paychecks, government payments, and other automated financial transactions 99 Mar 5-7 55 43 2 99 Dec 9-13 63 36 1 c. Food and retail distribution systems will fail, possibly causing grocery and other store shortages 99 Mar 5-7 40 58 2 99 Dec 9-13 37 61 2 d. Hospital equipment and services will fail, putting patients at risk 99 Mar 5-7 32 66 2 99 Dec 9-13 33 65 2 e. City or county emergency "911" communication systems will fail, putting citizens at risk 99 Mar 5-7 32 66 2 99 Dec 9-13 36 62 2 f. Nuclear power or defense systems could fail, causing a major accident 99 Mar 5-7 27 69 4 99 Dec 9-13 30 67 3 8. As you may know, efforts are currently underway throughout the country to upgrade computer systems in order to correct the Y2K computer problem. We'd like to know whether you are generally confident or NOT confident that each of the following levels government and business will have upgraded their computer systems before any Y2K problems can occur. ROTATE A-G Yes, confident No, not confident No opinion a. The U.S. government, including all federal offices and agencies 99 Mar 5-7 73 26 1 99 Dec 9-13 68 29 3 b. Your state government 99 Mar 5-7 77 21 2 99 Dec 9-13 73 25 2 c. Your local government 99 Mar 5-7 71 27 2 99 Dec 9-13 68 30 2 d. U.S. corporations and large businesses 99 Mar 5-7 85 13 2 99 Dec 9-13 82 16 2 e. Small U.S. businesses 99 Mar 5-7 54 43 3 99 Dec 9-13 56 41 3 f. Foreign governments of other developed and industrialized countries 99 Mar 5-7 44 51 5 99 Dec 9-13 48 46 6 g. Foreign governments of Third World and other less developed countries 99 Mar 5-7 15 81 4 99 Dec 9-13 18 76 6		FEATURES Book Reviews Y2K already has spawned its own genre. We tell you what books are worth buying. Chip 'n Little Cartoons Chip 'n Little goes on TV Chip 'n Little visits John Koskinen Chip 'n Little saves the world Warning: This cartoon has been called "foolish and tasteless." Y2K from A to Z Y2K Haiku Traditionalists may be shocked. Mad Cow Culture What does Y2K have in common with today's Mad Cow Culture? Answer: Everything. Declan McCullagh's Y2K articles Psychology of Y2K LATEST NEWS As of December 31, 1999 Get Your T-Shirt Quick Bill Gates Does Y2K Reader Feedback A Sarcastic Calendar Cooking After the Apocalypse A Real Y2K Disaster Hitchhiker's Guide Meets Y2K