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Flashback: Massive Blackout Hit NYC 10 Years Ago Today
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 14, 2013
Modified Aug 14, 2013
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By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 14, 2013
Modified Aug 14, 2013
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On the afternoon of August 14, 2003, a massive power outage seized the East Coast and Midwest of the United States, as well as Ontario, Canada. Many New Yorkers' first fear was that it was terrorism, but the blackout actually started in Ohio.
According to Time, "As power lines became overloaded, they began sagging because of the high temperatures, until one line south of Cleveland touched an overgrown tree limb and short-circuited. What followed was a cascade of disaster due to a mix of human error and equipment failure, until by 4:10 p.m. E.T. that day more than 50 million people had lost power in parts of Ontario and eight U.S. states."
Power did come back about 30 hours later, during which time many New York residents were trapped in elevators and subways, unable to make cell phone calls (because lines were overloaded), walked home or stayed with friends, finished out whatever was in their or restaurants' fridges and maybe got a little busy, too (though there wasn't a blackout baby boom). Of course, it's unclear if our power grid is any more reliable today, which is why you keep your home fully stocked with flashlights, bottled water, and a crank radio, right?
These days, we look back at the blackout with fondness (and marvel at how Gothamist was such a simpler site back in the day)—impromptu BBQ parties in the streets, making new friends by giving them a ride—and we still love this quote a Brooklyn woman gave the Daily News, as she was throwing out 40 pounds of raw meat and potato salad, "I guess if I wanted to kill off my family, I could serve them this, but I kind of like the mopes."
Where were you doing the blackout? Tell us your stories below!
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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