Y2K NEWS RELEASE Y2K PROFESSIONALS ARE PESSIMISTIC ABOUT YEAR 2000! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 9, 1999 Contact: Russ Kelly In a poll of more than 1000 visitors to the website of technology veteran and Year 2000 consultant Russ Kelly, a significant majority expect serious consequences as a result of the "millennium bug." What makes this poll different from other recent polls is that "these are in the trenches types, the one's that are doing the repairs" according to Kelly. He added that "32% classified themselves as computer or engineering professionals. 68% of the 1008 persons polled this summer live in moderately or heavily populated areas." According to Kelly's poll at www.russkelly.com, the results produced the following results: On a scale of 0 to 10 with 0 being no problem to 10 being catastrophic, 46% believe Y2K problems will be a level 7 or 8, with an additional 16% believing it ranks as a level 9 or 10 sized problem. A shocking 62% of those taking the poll believe the seriousness ranks at 7 or greater on a scale of 0 to 10. 61% believe there will be a grid wide electric power failure of five or more days. 71% expect serious water and or waste treatment problems. 76% are expecting a run on the banks. 66% believe we will experience a serious recession or a depression. And 61% are stocking food and water to last longer than one month.