[Archived] Alexandria Successfully Completes Y2K Exercise


News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:	Wednesday, September 1, 1999
Contact:	Angelita Plemmer, City Manager's Office, (703) 838-4300; Fire Chief Thomas Hawkins, Alexandria Fire-EMS Department, (703) 838-4600

Alexandria Successfully Completes Y2K Exercise
Systems Test Succeeds --- Preparations Continue for December 31st

The City of Alexandria successfully completed the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' (COG) Year 2000 Exercise on September 1, with its emergency response capabilities meeting the challenges of the COG test. In addition, the City successfully Y2K tested three major computer systems by rolling the dates on traffic signals, permit plans and its accounting systems.

The exercise, which was held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., allowed the City to test its ability to respond to simulated disasters created by hypothetical external and internal Y2K failures, weather-related problems and other emergencies. The City, which had fully staffed its Emergency Operations Center with staff members from public safety, social services and other key City departments, responded to 131 different scenarios, including a helicopter crash involving the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, power outages, traffic signal disruptions and looting.

"During the exercise, we found that the City's prior planning experience, and including those preparations critical for the public's safety as well as essential to internal operations, enabled the City to respond well," said Alexandria City Manager Vola Lawson. "However, every exercise is a learning opportunity and will continue to improve our preparations for the new millennium with contingency plans in place and staffing of our Emergency Operations Center on December 31.

"While our best judgement is that no major malfunctions in utilities and other public services will occur, it is always best to be prepared," Lawson said.

During the exercise, the City also successfully tested contingency plans for its payroll, Computer-aided Dispatch and traffic signal systems. The City also activated individual departmental contingency plans.

"We are taking the appropriate steps to guarantee that if something does unexpectedly malfunction, we have the ability to perform that task manually," said Alexandria Fire Chief Thomas Hawkins.

The City, which began its Y2K remediation efforts in 1997, has been testing many of the City's computer systems since April. The City's traffic control signal system, which has been replaced and is Y2K compliant, has been operational for several months. Final testing for the traffic control signal system was completed successfully on August 24. Repeated testing also has been conducted successfully on hundreds of City systems in the public safety, finance, human services and infrastructure areas.

The Alexandria Commission on Information Technology will sponsor a community forum to discuss Y2K and other related issues on October 28, at 7:30 p.m., at the Minnie Howard Ninth Grade Center, located at 3801 Braddock Road.