The end may be near, and Cambridge officials are not that concerned.

After an extensive two-year long citywide effort in preparation for computer-related glitches that may arise when the year 2000 begins, city leaders say they are prepared to handle any complications that may arise with the much-hyped "Y2K problem."

"As far as we know...all of the city's mission critical electronic systems have been tested and are Y2K-compliant," says George L. Fosque, the city's emergency communications and 911 director.

"We don't expect any problems with our own major internal systems of any sort," Fosque adds.

The city has used inventory, testing, vendor-certification and other techniques to make sure that its "mission-critical" computer applications and computer-driven equipment--which play integral roles in the police, fire and management information systems departments, among others--are Y2K-compliant, according to the city's Web site.

And Emergency Management Director David O'Connor says electric and telephone companies have assured the city that "all systems will work smoothly" as the clock strikes midnight.

"If you can cope with a snowstorm, you can cope with anything Y2K is going to throw up," O'Connor says.

Just in Case