One good memory from the 2003 blackout in NYC

[SteveG]

With all the power out, two of us volunteered to stay at work to protect the rooms of computer gear.

Taking a break outside on Queens Boulevard at 3am or so (it was hot), we looked up and saw the planet Mars. Mars was at its closest in a long time and without the city glow, we could see what was clearly a small orange disk. If you look up nowadays, Mars has retreated to being just a bright star.

Standing there on the sidewalk we were awed that we could see what was obviously another planet.

[cbelt3]

That's very cool. Yes, the stars were amazing for those few nights. Lots of urbanites and suburbanites discovered the Milky Way for the first time in their lives.

We were working in the windowless factory in an area without emergency lighting when the power died. Fortunately I always carried a mini Mag-Lite, so I was able to escort everyone else out of the area safely.

Our computer system crashed a few hours later, when we learned that the electricial who had wired the generator had wired the automatic fuel transfer pump for the huge fuel tank to ... the mains. Ooops.

[Black]

I have to admit I don't remember anything about a blackout in 2003... so I looked it up:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Blackout_of_2003
Interesting bit about power lines sagging due to heating up under heavy load-- didn't know that.
My own power was out for 3 days around this time in 2008, but nobody cared...

[cbelt3]

Well, the faulure point cause happened about 5 miles from where I live. I drive by there every now and then. A few small communities in NE Ohio had maintained their 70+ year old municipal power plants. They isolated themselves from 'da grid' and hummed happily along. Local companies making and selling ice did a land-office business, etc... It was kind of weird driving along at night and all of a sudden there's this town with all the lights blazing and just humming along.

[ka jowct]

We were without power for 29 hours in my little part of NYC. It seemed like a very long time, especially when the lights came on across the street and ours still didn't. But what happened last fall due to Sandy puts that 29-hour stretch into perspective.

[DavidS]

I vaguely remember an episode of both Friends and Mad about You that involved the blackout, but maybe that was a different one.

[blooz]

So how many of you blackout people have 10 year old kids?miley12: