Darkness Falls: Tales From the Blackout
Published August 15, 2003
It was about 4:15 when the power went off and I just assumed that the air conditioners were sucking the life out of our power, so I headed for the fuse box. Damn. Wasn't a fuse.
Within five minutes, all the neighbors were out, asking each other do you have power? We hung around outside complaining about the humidity and waiting for the buzz and hum of the return of power.
Nothing.
Several minutes later we heard sirens. And then again, coming from another direction. A stream of cars came down our side street, indicating an accident on the main road. Several minutes later and sirens again, coming from elsewhere.
Streetlights must be out, our neighor Rick said. Rick, a retired policeman, turned on his police scanner. He listened quietly on his front lawn for a few minutes and then came running over, breathless. Whole northeast! Even Detroit!
So, what would your first reaction be? Yes, terrorism. We took it in stride, however, and everyone went in to their respective houses to check for candles, batteries and all the necessities.
WABC 770 was the only station I could get on the car radio. Sean Hannity was on the air, taking phone calls from all over and getting on the spot reporting. He reiterated one very important fact over and over. This was not a terrorist attack. Something went wrong upstate, perhaps in Buffalo.
I listened to a stream of on-the-spot reporters detailing all the ways in which New Yorkers were helping each other: sharing cabs; giving rides to strangers; directing traffic and just being patient. Those who still had connections on their cell phones were lending the phones to strangers to make calls to loved ones.
The comparisons to the '77 blackout in NYC, rife with looting and danger, are inevitable. And so are the comparisons to 9/11. While some of you may cringe or roll your eyes the truth remains; we've learned a lot from 9/11.
The city appeared to be in a complete state of calm. People walked the bridges just as they did on 9/11, in massive throngs of strangers among strangers, sharing the misery of the day.
- Darkness Falls: Tales From the Blackout
- Published: August 15, 2003
- Type:
- Section: Culture
- Writer: Michele Catalano
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It's nice to hear your story. Even here in California, I was really worried about all the people I know in New York. I was hoping everyone was okay.
I've been sitting the dark and then sunshine sweating since yesterday afternoon here in Toronto. I'm fortunate that I came to the game prepared, with reserves of water, flashlights, candles, a propane camp stove and a hand-cranked radio.
Parts of the city have power back, and I've hopped on my bike to go to one of them obviously.
I've heard that I may not have power back until maybe Monday.
I may reconsider my attitude toward survivalists - stay confortable Jim.
Wow! I know blackouts stink. Went through a four-day one in Seattle when a transponder blew. But, there was normal life just a few miles away, so we could escape the darkness most of the time. To have an entire grid blow boggles the mind.
I called friends in NYC last night. Had more luck reaching them on their cell phones than regular ones because so many of us have electricity reliant units. (Me too.) This incident may be another boon for cell phone companies.
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Thanks for the report from the front lines Michele! Very positive attitude and perspective - we are still at the mercy of our fragile infrastructure.