COUNTY FINDS NO Y2K BUGS EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTERS DEACTIVATED NO REAL SAFETY WORRIES SURFACE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL.Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer Computers didn't crash and the world didn't come to an end. However, officials at public safety agencies in Ventura County, which prepared for the worse-case scenario, will stay on their toes through Monday just in case Y2K-related computer glitches surface on the first business day of the new millennium. ``Everything is quiet,'' Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. Police Sgt. Karl Becker said Saturday. ``There were no unusual calls and no major party calls at all.'' The much-hyped Y2K bug Y2K bug or Year 2000 bug or millennium bug Potential problem in computers and computer networks at the beginning of the year 2000. Until the 1990s, most computer programs used only the last two digits to designate the year, the first two digits being didn't bite Ventura County when the new year rolled in, prompting fire and law enforcement agencies A law enforcement agency (LEA) is a term used to describe any agency which enforces the law. This may be a local or state police, federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). to deactivate de·ac·ti·vate tr.v. de·ac·ti·vat·ed, de·ac·ti·vat·ing, de·ac·ti·vates 1. To render inactive or ineffective. 2. To inhibit, block, or disrupt the action of (an enzyme or other biological agent). 3. their emergency operation centers and send extra personnel home by early Saturday morning. Agencies reported routine calls including complaints of people using fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to or shooting guns into the air. The California Highway Patrol highway patrol n. A state law enforcement organization whose police officers patrol the public highways. reported 26 people were arrested for drinking and driving in Ventura County and the sheriff's department reported 12 DUIs. ``I think it was exciting in the sense of the uncertainly of what Y2K See Y2K problem and Y2K compliant. Y2K - Year 2000 would bring to Ventura County,'' said Joe Luna, Ventura County Fire spokesman, on Saturday. ``The only thing for certain was after midnight we would be into the new millennium.'' Luna said the department's operations center The facility or location on an installation, base, or facility used by the commander to command, control, and coordinate all crisis activities. See also base defense operations center; command center. disbanded about 2 a.m. but was on a half-hour recall notification should an emergency break. ``We were prepared to activate and deploy extra resources - that didn't happen, which was good,'' Luna said. ``It did provide a good learning curve and good training opportunity for us to deal with uncertainty.'' Luna said when TV news coverage showed no glitches in Europe and the East Coast, they kept their fingers crossed, ``hoping no one would ruin it'' for Ventura County when it came time to test its Y2K readiness. The Sheriff's Department closed its emergency-operations center at 8 a.m. Saturday and will reactive with minimal staff Monday but could reopen during the remainder of the weekend if need be, said Sgt. Steve Bourke. It was all quiet on the streets at a half-hour past midnight at the East County station. Moderate calls were received about loud parties, fireworks and juveniles disturbing the peace, officials said. ``We are actually surprised at how quite it has been,'' said senior deputy Harold Hanley of the station in Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. . ``We were very happy and very surprised.'' Administration offices at the station were turned into an operations center with televisions tuned into news stations. At one point, 40 patrol cars were out in the Conejo Valley The Conejo Valley is a region spanning both Southeastern Ventura County and Northwest Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States. It was discovered in 1542 by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, and eventually became part of the Rancho El Conejo land grant by , Moorpark and Oak Park, keeping an eye out especially at ATMs and stores that sold alcohol, Hanley said. A minimum of two deputies staffed each vehicle. Although calls for service are normally dispatched out of Ventura, computers were set up at the station allowing for dispatch ability from both ends of the county. At one point a call was made to a police station in Pennsylvania that had the same emergency equipment as the station's and when it reported no Y2K problems, that helped to settle concerns, Hanley said. In the conference room, giant boards such as one made out for ``damage assessment,'' were barren, evident of the calm. Two Thousand Oaks City Hall employees at the station to monitor events left before 1 a.m., when it was certain everything was under control. By 3 a.m., the operations center was demobilized and half of the staff sent home. ``We were prepared for the worse all along,'' Hanley said. ``We were not worried but curious at the strike of twelve. We heard so many doomsday stories.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Dick Hoolihan uses an ATM machine (Automatic Teller Machine machine) A banking terminal that accepts deposits and dispenses cash. ATMs are activated by inserting a cash or credit card that contains the user's account number and PIN on a magnetic stripe. on Saturday in Simi Valley. Safety officials reported no Y2K problems in the area. Lilly Barrett/Special to the Daily News |
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