Biggest black out ever

[Stuart]

[color=purple][size=1][b]For anyone who hasnt read or heard about this take a look[/b]



Outages ranged over an area with roughly 50 million people.


New Yorkers scrambled down endless stairways in skyscrapers where elevators stopped working, and some subway commuters were stuck for several hours underground. In the city that took the brunt of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, people filed into the streets with little fuss and looked for ways to get home.


"I'm trying to keep calm," said Aaron David, 27, who works at the United Nations (news - web sites). "But I was here for 9-11. This doesn't happen every day."


Traffic lights were out throughout downtown Cleveland and other major cities, creating havoc at the beginning of rush hour. Cleveland officials said that without the power needed to pump water to 1.5 million people, water reserves were running low.


New York state lost 80 percent of its power, said Matthew Melewski, speaking for the New York Independent System Operator, which manages the state power grid. Both New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency.


As darkness fell, city dwellers turned to candles and flashlights as scattered parts of the electrical grid came back on. People gobbled ice cream from street vendors before it melted, and gathered around battery-operated radios for updates.


Su Rya, 69, in batik shirt and shorts, guarded a store on 125th Street in Harlem. But when asked about talk that looting might break out, he said, "That's barbershop talk. It's a different generation now."


Marveled another man, "You can actually see the stars in New York City."


There were outages in several Vermont towns and in northern New Jersey, where Gov. James E. McGreevey mobilized 700 National Guardsman and ordered 300 extra state troopers on duty. In Connecticut, Metro-North Railroad service was knocked out. Lights flickered at state government buildings in Hartford.


Broadway shut down. Night baseball, too.


The Mets were trickling out for batting practice in New York when the blackout hit and the game was canceled. Hours later, the visiting San Francisco Giants were still waiting in the parking lot for their bus. Some 500 miles west, the Toledo Mudhens' International League game with the Norfolk Tides was called off, too, to be made up as part of a doubleheader Friday night.





"We have been informed that lightning struck a power plant in the Niagara region on the U.S. side," said Jim Munson, speaking for Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

But Brian Warner of the New York Power Authority said its Niagara facilities were not hit by lightning and "at no time during this incident ceased to operate.

In San Diego, Bush said "slowly but surely we're coping with this massive, national problem," and added that he would order a review of "why the cascade was so significant."

Bush said he suspected that the nation's electrical grid would need to be modernized.

In Massachusetts, Kim Hicks of Baltic, Conn., was on the Cyclone roller coaster at a Six Flags amusement park in Agawam when the power stopped. "We sat there about 20 minutes and they finally came to walk us off," she said. The park regained power a short time later.

In Albany, N.Y., several people were trapped in elevators in Empire State Plaza, but most had been freed by 5 p.m. People in New York City lined up 10 deep or more at pay phones, with cell phone service disrupted in some areas. Times Square went dark

In Cleveland, Olga Kropko, a University Hospitals labor and delivery nurse, said the hospital was using its back-up generators and had limited power. "Everyone is very hot because the air conditioning is off," she said. "Our laboring moms are suffering."

John Meehan, 56, walked down 37 stories in the BP Tower in downtown Cleveland, wearing his suit and carrying a briefcase. "It makes you wonder, was this terrorism or what?" he asked.

The FBI (news - web sites) and Homeland Security Department both said the outages appeared to be a natural occurrence and not the result of terrorism.

Police in Mansfield, Ohio, spread into the streets to keep traffic flowing. "A lot of officers are out there trying to make sure nobody gets hurt, to try to cut down on the accidents," said jail officer Randi Allen.

The blackouts easily surpassed those in the West on Aug. 11, 1996, in terms of people affected. Then, heat, sagging power lines and unusually high demand for electricity caused an outage for 4 million customers in nine states.

An outage in New York City in 1977 left 9 million people without electricity for up to 25 hours. In 1965, about 25 million people across New York state and most of New England lost electricity for a day.

On Thursday, Amtrak suspended passenger rail service between New Haven, Conn., and Newark. Some northbound trains from Washington ? a city that did not lose power ? turned around at Newark.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg asked the city's more than 8 million people to be calm, go home, open windows and drink water.

"Be sure you don't make an inconvenience into a tragedy," he said.

As for the cause, he said: "It was probably a natural occurrence which disrupted the power system up there and it apparently for reasons we don't know cascaded down through New York state over into Connecticut, as far south as New Jersey and as far west as Ohio."

Nine nuclear power reactors ? six in New York and one each in New Jersey, Ohio and Michigan ? reported they were shut down because of the loss of offsite power, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Bethesda, Md.

Flights at six airports ? Kennedy, LaGuardia, Newark, Cleveland, Toronto and Ottawa ? were grounded, according to the U.S. Transportation Department.

In Times Square, Giovanna Leonardo, 26, was waiting in a line of 200 people for a bus to Staten Island.

"I'm scared," she said. "It's that unknown `what's going on' feeling. Everyone's panicking. The city's shutting down."

The blackout closed the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, which 27,000 vehicles use daily, and silenced the gambling machines at Detroit's Greektown Casino. Patrons filed into the afternoon heat carrying cups of tokens.


-[b]Yahoo news[/b][/color][/size]

[Ayokano]

Yah...I have heard about this all day..Man that must really be bad....I wonder who or what did it?????[size=1]now that would be easy:p[/size]

You know Raven,I was about to post this......Ohh well.

This is also happening in Canada(sp?),I didn't read all of what you were posting,but I just wanted to tell people.

[Roxie Faye]

[color=#9933ff][font=Comic Sans MS]Okay okay. This post is cpoied from the thread I made about this without seeing this one. So sorry if it sounds a bit wierd. O.o

If some of you (especially in other countries), might be wondering why some of your American Otaku friends aren't on like they are every single night, it could be because of the power outage.

Some details are sketchy, but it looks like lighting hit a power plant in Canada (NYC Mayor Bloomberg is saying Quebec, and most radio stations say Ottowa. We'll know by tomorrow.) and then they tried to handle it, and there's something about a plant going down on the U.S. side near Niagra, and since some power grids rely on eachother, a TON went down!

They say that power went out as far down as Baltimore, as far north as going into Ontario and Ottowa Canada, east along the seaboard, and as west as Cleveland (sp?)[when I heard Ohio, ALL I could think was: NERDSEY. Am I nuts or what? O_o]. There was some radio report about a couple outages in Oklahoma. Can anyone verify this? Even my uncle Gary in Houston called us because he saw it one the news.

There were pockets with power, some without, some with generators, some with their own power supply, sometimes just flickers, sometimes for hours. Bergen county in NJ (where I live) was out from 4:00 P.M. about, until 9:00 P.M. We were one of FIVE counties in NJ to get this. 1/4 of NJ gets this power outage, and IT'S US! Figures.

NYC was out bad, and many were evacuating buildings and Manhattan in general, walking across bridges to get home, hitching rides with strangers, you should have SEEN the images I just saw on TV (my power is back now, duh. I wouldn't be on the net if it wasn't). The Weehawken ferry station was abouslutely FULL, the lines for it backing all the way into the city. Some said it reminded them a bit of 9/11, with everyone evactuating. This was a bad blackout, but not as horrible as it could have been. There wasn't too much fire, or looting like the last time in the 70's when it happened. And my mom can remember singing religious songs, and Kumbayah, at my age, in the 65 one.

But speaking of 9/11, the CIA and Washington D.C. were calming eveyrone, telling them this was the result, like I said, of lighting, and NOT of terrorism or anything.

Some power is back now in NYC, like 10% - 15% of it, and they hope to have it all up and running tomorrow.

Truly, if you weren't there, or weren't out for a long period of time, you can't truly understand it. However, everyone who went through the black out, I would hope you would oblige to share your story with all of OtakuBoards in this thread. And by the way, I'm going to save each and every relevant post on this, for any one of you who care. ^_~[/font][/color]

[Shy]

[size=1]Since I don't live in or near any of those cities, I really don't see what the big deal is. California had to deal with rolling blackouts for months, and nobody ever acted like the world was going to end. This is only a temporary problem, and should be treated as such. I don't think this is an amazing news story, but the worst stories always seem to get the largest headlines.

-Shy[/size]

[Stuart]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Shy [/i]
[B][size=1]Since I don't live in or near any of those cities, I really don't see what the big deal is. California had to deal with rolling blackouts for months, and nobody ever acted like the world was going to end. This is only a temporary problem, and should be treated as such. I don't think this is an amazing news story, but the worst stories always seem to get the largest headlines.

-Shy[/size] [/B][/QUOTE]


[color=purple][size=1]Havent you seen the pictures. The streets are packed with people, even the highways are flooded, and all buildings were cleared out and the subways are down so people ethier have to get around by bus or walk, I think its a really big deal[/color][/size]

[Sara]

[size=1]*glances at Shy* You sound bitter. /

"[i]Flights at six airports - Kennedy, LaGuardia, Newark, Cleveland, Toronto and Ottawa - were grounded, according to the U.S. Transportation Department. [/i]"

That's quite the chunk of of land to be out of power at once, eh. That was the first thing my dad said: "I wonder what's going on with the airports." Silly. I guess working with planes for twenty years has that effect on people, though.

"[i]Along several blocks near midtown Manhattan, deli owners brought their suddenly unrefrigerated food out on tables, iced in buckets. ``Half price on everything,'' read one sign.[/i]"

I bet that was negotiable. ^_~[/size]

[Burori]

well I live in quebec so it isn't affecting us. but yah I heard of that. incredible isn't it?

[Shy]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Sara [/i]
[B][size=1]*glances at Shy* You sound bitter.[/size] [/B][/QUOTE]
[size=1]I'm kinda in a bad mood, which is never the best time for me to post.

Anyway, I don't understand [i]why[/i] people are being panicked. When the power goes off in my city (which is rarely did before rolling blackouts, but still) there wasn't any widespread paranoia. It's kind of sad to see millions of people freaking out because the power has been shut off for a day or so.

Does anyone else see what I'm tyring to say here? X_X

-Shy[/size]

[Ayokano]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Shy [/i]
[B][size=1]I'm kinda in a bad mood, which is never the best time for me to post.

Anyway, I don't understand [i]why[/i] people are being panicked. When the power goes off in my city (which is rarely did before rolling blackouts, but still) there wasn't any widespread paranoia. It's kind of sad to see millions of people freaking out because the power has been shut off for a day or so.

Does anyone else see what I'm tyring to say here? X_X

-Shy[/size] [/B][/QUOTE]

Yep....Kinnda like the same thing.....But really larger.But of course when it turns dark a humen tends to get scared,because we can't see in it good.

Also(if this has not already been mention)the power is comming back.Oh....I was joking about the whole "I wonder who did it" ^_~

Got your back Shy.

[Roxie Faye]

[color=#9933ff][font=Comic Sans MS]No, not really, Shy. Don't post then. Silly. ^_~ (please notice that WINKING smiley face, shy))

But seriously, you have to understand, the last time this happened to NYC was in the 70's, and when that power went out, there was looting EVERYWHERE, when the Police went to warn everyone not to loot, after they left, people would go back in and steal whatever hadn't already been taken, there were more than 1700 false fire alarms, the fire department responded the over 100 real ones. This was the perfect reminder of how bad the financial situation was back then.

Naturally, some expected the same to happen, and then the CIA and D.C. had to keep affirming that this wasn't another terror attack, because there were people hwo thought it was that, too. And truly, it's scary when you can't find out what's going on because, whoops, your TV's out. I was really scouring my house to see where any radios that worked on batteries were, so I could find out what was happening.

Really, when one of the largest cities in the US, and a major city in the world goes down without power, that's big. Since most of us are Japan and Anime freaks, imagine if Tokyo went down without power. Yeah. It would be like that.

Shy, you obviously haven't seen pictures of people standing, STANDING for [i]miles[/i]backed up from the Weehawken Ferry trying to get home in Jersey. It's insanely apparent you didn't see the PEDESTRIAN [b]TRAFFIC JAMS[/b] on the Brooklyn Bridge.

And maybe for you it's not a big deal because you're used to the power going out once in a while. You're used to black and brown outs some times. But this hasn't happened to us in 30 years for goodness sakes, and this is the first time when I was alive. So it's really big for us.[/font][/color]

[WW2]

Ha, Its really not a big deal, that is until the looters come out, and the riots start.. I actually find it kind of ironic.

Most of the people over in Iraq have been complaining because they have been stuck without power pretty much ever since the war broke out.
Now its New York and all these other big cities who are complaining about not having any power.

Am I the only one who notices this irony?

[Transtic Nerve]

Did you make that whole large post and not even bother to quote who you copied it from? This may be a discussion board, but plagerism is still plagerism. You should at least site your source.

Anyway, yeah. My aunt lives up in Rochester, NY so I'm sure she's experiencing it.

I kind of think in line with Shy. It's a temporary problem. Problems get solved.

[Harry]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Shy [/i]
[B][size=1]I'm kinda in a bad mood, which is never the best time for me to post.

Anyway, I don't understand [i]why[/i] people are being panicked. When the power goes off in my city (which is rarely did before rolling blackouts, but still) there wasn't any widespread paranoia. It's kind of sad to see millions of people freaking out because the power has been shut off for a day or so.

Does anyone else see what I'm tyring to say here? X_X

-Shy[/size] [/B][/QUOTE]
Well it's just not New York, it's more like a huge power grid. The blackouts in California just didn't mysteriously happen all of a sudden. Finally, I doubt your city had a huge hub like JFK airport.

[Stuart]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Transtic Nerve [/i]
[B]Did you make that whole large post and not even bother to quote who you copied it from? This may be a discussion board, but plagerism is still plagerism. You should at least site your source.
[/B][/QUOTE]

[color=purple][size=1]Whoops yeah I just edited that in, I copied it off from yahoo news or whatever[/color][/size]

[TheShinje]

[size=1] I find it funny that our television networks cut away from this mornings tv line up, for a blackout [b]half the world away![/b]

Something told me that it must be more than mere blacjkouts like it is over here, and lo and behold, people for miles crowding the streets! People being rescued from subway lines, that was the first image of it I saw, and immediately though "oh God, not another terror attack"

Fortunately it wasn't. I'm sure they'll sort the crisis out soon. And i don't think it will get to the point of looting like it did in the 1970's [/size]

[Vegitto4]

Meh, I actually heard about this from somebody ordering pizza from me tonight. I thought it kinda sucked for the, but since we still had power, I wasn't worried.

[Manic Webb]

Ah, the big West Coast blackout of 1996. The entire Western part of the United States was without power for like a day or two. This reminds me a lot of that.

Which is why I can say "tough it out!" You'll get my sympathy when the riots start! Hahaha!!

j/k :p

Seriously, I can see why NY is so upset. I mean, 30 years. That's a long time. In California, we're lucky to go one year without a brownout happening somewhere. I hope this problem gets fixed and all turns out well in all of the effected states and cities.

[Sara]

[size=1]What's the difference between a "black out" and a "brown out"?[/size]

[Baron Samedi]

Yah Shy. I see your point. But empathise with them. It is probably the first time in their little, mindless hive lives that it has happened. One person cracks, and all of a sudden, everyone is crying and screaming. PAck instincts. I get powercuts, and it doesn't bother me. It is a part of life, and i suppose it just doesnt happen very often to most of them, especially the main of New York.

[Semjaza]

Was the September 11th descriptor at the beginning of the article really necessary? What the hell does that have to do with anything? Of course their first quote is based off that too.

I feel like everything I read or hear about New York has to make reference to it. As if anyone left in this country doesn't know about it.

[SpikeSpiegel]

i have to agree wit Shy(got ur back homie). this aint really a big freakin deal. yeah thousands of people were crossing the GW(a big main bridge in NY) but thats only natural. they wanted to leave so they huffed it. but everyone is actin like osama went over to a electric plant an blew it up or somethin. its no biggy. its happened before. s**t Con Ed can never get power running through the summer in the city with out blackouts all the time so many are used to it. i think it cause of all the 9-11 paranoia. too many people outside NY are afraid an when something like this happens they jump all over it. my dads still stuck at work in the city. he cant get home cause of it but hes like" hey *****, it happens sometimes." so too me its just another day with no power. light a candle, an go to sleep. oh yeah an as u can tell my area has power.

[SaiyanPrincessX]

I agree, people did get really paranoid. When the power went out I had no clue it had untill my brother came in and told me. I was occuying myself with my cd player while drawing. My mom works at Cleveland Clinic so when the power went out everyone piled into the streets. She said it was like a movie, people were honking horns, yelling at each other, ect. Thats not something you normally see in Ohio. The worst park was that my mom's truck is kind of old so she had to turn the air off to avoid over heating her truck. Luckily she got home safely.

My dad and brother went out to get some ice in Brunswick where the power was still on and they were gone for two hours. They said the traffic was horrible and the gas stations were litrally packed, there was a mile long line waiting to get gas. oO

It was kind of funny though. I was sitting in our dinning room drawing by candle for 2 hours listening to my cd player.

I'm not sure when our power came back on but I'm glad it did. My brother probebly would have gotten annoying without his video games. -_-

[IwakuraLain]

yayyy i got my electricity back!! i live in queens, nyc and my neighborhood just got our power on half n hour ago. [quote]It is probably the first time in their little, mindless hive lives that it has happened. One person cracks, and all of a sudden, everyone is crying and screaming. PAck instincts. I get powercuts, and it doesn't bother me. It is a part of life, and i suppose it just doesnt happen very often to most of them, especially the main of New York.[/quote] um, true this is the 1st time that i remember this happening, but nobody i saw was crying or screaming.i believe that a better generalization of a typical new yorker would never include that kind of behavior. actually, all the people that i saw were mad pissd to have to climb out of trains, walk along the tracks and across bridges and highways with hundreds of other people for miles in 90+ degree weather like my parents had to do. As bad as that sounds, everybody thought still thought it was pretty cool and exciting because tons of people were on the streets dancing and partying with music blasting out from cars all night. Restaurants were giving out free beer and ice cream all over the place and some people set up barbeques in the middle of the city. Yes, i guess it is just a part of life but there is no need to decry or make such generalizations about the character of New Yorkers, Baron Samedi, and i'm assuming you dont live here. I know i'm probably overreacting and i know that i'll eventually feel really guilty about what i said because it isn't something I'd normally do or say but i cant help but feel a little offended.

[Heaven's Cloud]

[color=indigo]The power outage missed me by about thirty miles. So last night I payed homage to those without power by consuming as much electricity as possible. While I simultaneously basked in the cool breeze of my a/c unit and the warm glow of every light in my house, I played my electric guitar to loud abusive music on my CD played while watching cartoon images on my TV and frequently checking the washer, and dryer which were laundering my clothes.

Yep, Americans like me have a motto: "waste not want not"
...and I want a whole boatload of crap...[/color]

[stardust]

I leave near cleveland,and we got hit hard. No power for hours,and we JUST got our water back,it's still not safe to drink. They've been trucking in water.

A radio station caught on radar a strange pulse like a bomb. Someone also called into this station and said at the time of the blackout,the digital clock connected to the CAR BATTERY went out. Why would that be unless there was some strange signal or something? Maybe a government conspiricy?All I know is that it wasn't a freakin bolt of lightning like the canadians are saying. I have no clue,all I know it's back.