Midday Shutdowns Disrupt Millions
By JAMES BARRON
A surge of electricity to western New York and Canada
touched off a series of power failures that left parts of
at least eight states in the Northeast and the Midwest
without electricity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/nyregion/15POWE.html?th

In Frustration, Humor and Greed, a Powerless New York
Endures
By DAVID BARSTOW
On a day of colossal disruption brought by an epic
blackout, New York City was filled with similar scenes of
stubborn resilience.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/nyregion/15YORK.html?th

Power Failure Reveals a Creaky System, Energy Experts
Believe
By DAVID FIRESTONE and RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA
While energy experts disagreed on the blackout's cause,
they agreed that the failure betrayed the transmission
system's age.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/nyregion/15GRID.html?th

Disruptions Big and Small in a Swath of the Midwest
By MONICA DAVEY and DANNY HAKIM
In cities and small towns along a long fat swath of land
near Lake Erie, the darkness that followed the extensive
blackout left its mark on an otherwise lazy summer evening.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/national/15NATI.html?th

Agency Quickly Concludes No Terrorists Were Involved
By PHILIP SHENON
The Department of Homeland Security said that it determined
within an hour that Thursday's widespread power failure had
not resulted from a terrorist attack.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/national/15HOME.html?th

Bush Doesn't Let Blackout Upset Lunch With Troops
By ELISABETH BUMILLER
President Bush was having lunch with troops at the Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station when he learned of the massive
blackout on the East Coast.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/national/15BUSH.html?th

Wall St. Shifts to Backups, but Much Commerce Halts
By PATRICK McGEEHAN and JOHN SCHWARTZ
Wall Street was shutting down for the day when the lights
went out this afternoon from lower Manhattan.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/business/15FINA.html?th

THE MEDIA
Caught Up in the Event, While Unraveling Its Cause
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK and JACQUES STEINBERG
Frantically calling across town and around the country to
find out the scope of the power failure, journalists were
trapped in a news event they were trying to cover.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/business/media/15MEDI.html?th

COMMUNICATIONS
When Wireless Phones Failed, Callers Turned to Land Lines
By MATT RICHTEL and SIMON ROMERO
The regular public telephone network generally kept working
after the power went out, but the cellular systems in
affected areas were often unable to cope.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/technology/15PHON.html?th

Internet Survives Power Failure
By NEWS.com
The Internet was for the most part performing normally,
despite the power failure, a tracking firm said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/14/technology/14POWE-NET.html?th

Power Failure Keeps the Mets and Other Sports Off the
Schedule
By RICHARD SANDOMIR
A power outage on Thursday forced the postponement of
events in several sports, including the Mets-San Francisco
Giants game at Shea Stadium.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/sports/15BASE.html?th

Thousands Stranded on Foot by Crippled Trains, Crawling
Buses and Traffic Gridlock
By RANDY KENNEDY
Except for ferries and feet, nearly all other forms of
transportation around the metropolitan region failed on
Thursday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/nyregion/15TRAN.html?th

The Blackouts of '65 and '77 Became Defining Moments in the
City's History
By MARTIN GOTTLIEB and JAMES GLANZ
There was, before Thursday, the good blackout and the bad
blackout: the 15-hour power of Nov. 9, 1965 and the 25-hour
one beginning on the sticky night of July 13, 1977.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/nyregion/15HIST.html?th

Delays and Disruptions at Airports
By KATE ZERNIKE with MICHELENE MAYNARD
Officials grounded planes in the New York area as well as a
half-dozen others in smaller cities without power.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/national/15AIRP.html?th

When the Lights Went Out
It was inevitable that the first question after the lights
went out was not when they would return, but whether
terrorism was involved.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/opinion/15FRI1.html?th

Blackouts cause North America chaos *
Millions remain without power in major cities after the most serious blackouts in decades.
Full story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/americas/3152985.stm

Cheers in New York City, but Subways Are Idle
By JAMES BARRON
Lights went on again in the most populous corner of the
nation, prompting cheers. Power was returned to all of
New York City by 9 p.m., officials said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/nyregion/16POWE.html?th

..................


Experts Asking Why Problems Spread So Far
By MATTHEW L. WALD, RICHARD PERÉZ-PEÑA and NEELA BANERJEE
The power collapse apparently began with a failure in the
Midwest that cascaded into Canada, power industry officials
said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/nyregion/16BLAC.html?th

..................


Detroit Sweats While It Waits for Electricity
By JODI WILGOREN and DANNY HAKIM
As power was restored throughout the Northeast, officials
in Detroit estimated that parts of the electrical system
would remain down through the weekend.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/national/16DETR.html?th

"I am embarrassed."
- MICHAEL GENT, president of the North American Electric Reliability
Council, established after the 1965 blackout to prevent
repetitions.


http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/nyregion/16BLAC.html?th

The Blackout of 2003
The Times's complete coverage of the power failures that left parts of at least eight states in the Northeast and the Midwest without electricity. Includes an audio slide show, an interactive graphic, slide shows and a map.
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/national/nationalspecial2/?th

Getting Off the Ground Remains a Big Challenge
By KATE ZERNIKE with JEFFREY GETTLEMAN
Airports from New York to Los Angeles turned into
campgrounds as passengers struggled to satisfy plans or
return home.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/national/nationalspecial3/16AIRP.html?th

In Cleveland, a Dead Day, Empty Streets and Games
By JAMES DAO
Though the empty streets and deserted parks seemed strange
on a weekday afternoon, Cleveland was returning to normal
on Friday after its worst blackout in memory.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/national/16CLEV.html?th

Which Party Gets the Blame? They Agree: It's the Other One
By DAVID M. HALBFINGER and KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
The blackout promised to heat up a political issue, energy
policy, that until now had seemed remote to many Americans.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/national/16DEMS.html?th

After 2 Years, Energy Bill Is Getting New Urgency in
Congress
By CARL HULSE
The blackout will give new urgency to an energy plan that
has languished in Congress for more than two years,
lawmakers said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/national/16CONG.html?th

The Greatest Cost, Ultimately, May Be Just Inconvenience
By LOUIS UCHITELLE
For all the inconvenience and disruption that the blackout
of 2003 inflicted, the damage to the national economy is
not likely to be any worse than damage from a bad snowstorm.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/business/16ECON.html?th

..................


Rumpled and Groggy, Wall Street Starts Trading Again
By PATRICK McGEEHAN and JONATHAN FUERBRINGER
On the morning after the blackout, hundreds of traders,
many unwashed and most of them groggy from lack of sleep,
staggered to their posts.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/business/16STOX.html?th

..................

BUSINESS LOSSES
Insurers Say Most Policies Do Not Cover Power Failure
By JOSEPH B. TREASTER
Insurance experts said there probably was no coverage for
most of the business losses resulting from the power
failure.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/business/16INSU.html?th

Good Day for Concerns That Help Save Data
By JOHN SCHWARTZ
On a day filled with darkness and frustration for many
businesses, disaster recovery companies are some of the
only ones having a good day.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/technology/16BACK.html?th

..................

COMMUNICATIONS
Cellphone Failures Cause Many to Question Systems
By ANDREW ROSS SORKIN and MATT RICHTEL
As cellular telephone carriers tried to restore service,
concern was raised about the continued fragility of the
nation's wireless networks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/business/16PHON.html?th

A Comatose Transit System Awakens, Slowly
By RANDY KENNEDY
In fits and starts, traffic lights picked up where they had
left off, cabbies switched their meters back on, and buses
filled in for subways.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/nyregion/16TRAN.html?th

Navigating Rails, Streets and the Air
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/nyregion/16SERV.html?th
Air travel and mass transit continue to be affected by the
blackout. Commuters can contact their local bus or transit
lines for updates on service.

Rippling Down the Grid
The grid clearly needs better protection against
catastrophic failures or, in an age of terrorism, against a
deliberate act of sabotage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/opinion/16SAT1.html?th

..................


A Little Night Music
The blackout on Thursday allowed New Yorkers to be whoever
they are, except more so.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/opinion/16SAT2.html?th

Blackouts, a Rite of New York
By FRANK MCCOURT
Every New Yorker knows what it is to be stuck in a tunnel
listening to the train conductor assuring you that you'll
be moving shortly.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/opinion/16MCCO.html?th

..................

OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR
Drunk on Power
By BILL RICHARDSON
As our demand for electricity has increased, our
infrastructure has not kept pace.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/opinion/16RICH.html?th

..................

OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR
We're All on the Grid Together
By ALBERT-LÁSZLÓ BARABÁSI
The magnitude of the blackout is rooted in an often ignored
aspect of our globalized world: vulnerability due to
interconnectivity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/opinion/16BARA.html?th

An Industry Trapped by a Theory
By ROBERT KUTTNER
In the search for the source of Thursday's blackout, the
underlying cause has been all but ignored: deregulation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/16/opinion/16KUTT.html?th

Inquiry hunts origin of blackouts *
The US and Canada set up a joint taskforce to find out what caused North America's worst-ever power cuts.
Full story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/americas/3155791.stm

* Police hunt 'hooligans' *
Police issue images of 10 England football fans they want to question about violent disturbances at a match in Liechtenstein.
Full story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/uk/3155821.stm

25 million people affected by biggest blackout in years
WASHINGTON - The crippling effects of a single overloaded power plant delivered a serious wake-up call yesterday to U.S. security authorities, underlining how vulnerable the country remains to potential terror attacks. 

Blackout paralyzes much of Eastern Canada and U.S.
WASHINGTON - The crippling effects of a single overloaded power plant delivered a serious wake-up call yesterday to U.S. security authorities, underlining how vulnerable the country remains to potential terror attacks. 

Residents scramble to buy flashlights, generators
TORONTO - Panicked Toronto residents flooded hardware and grocery stores stocking up on portable power generators, water, flashlights, batteries and candles when the power went down. 

Country's ability to deal with crisis tested
The power outage that grounded much of Ontario yesterday offered a test run of the country's ability to deal with crises, which was considerably stepped up since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. 

Exchanges see normal business
Traders in North American financial capitals were preparing for the worst in this morning's open of trading but still expecting the best, after a massive power outage paralyzed New York, Toronto and other eastern cities. 

Ontario slowly regaining electricity
Millions of Ontario residents woke Friday morning hoping for a steady supply of electricity the day after the biggest blackout in North American history.

TORONTO - The lights slowly began to come back on yesterday across Ontario and many parts of the eastern United States, but officials warned that North America's largest-ever power outage is still far from over. 

TORONTO - The lights slowly began to come back on yesterday across Ontario and many parts of the eastern United States, but officials warned that North America's largest-ever blackout is still far from over. 

Darkness fell on Thursday night. But the air was like velvet, warm and soft. The stars were never so visible, and the moon was almost full. 

http://www.canada.com/national/features/blackout/index.html#

http://mirror.canada.com/national/features/blackout/gallery/pophed.gif

http://mirror.canada.com/national/features/blackout/gallery/pic1.jpg

http://mirror.canada.com/national/features/blackout/gallery/pic2.jpg

FACTS

TORONTO - The lights slowly began to come back on yesterday across Ontario and many parts of the eastern United States, but officials warned that North America's largest-ever power outage is still far from over. 

TORONTO - The lights slowly began to come back on yesterday across Ontario and many parts of the eastern United States, but officials warned that North America's largest-ever blackout is still far from over. 

Darkness fell on Thursday night. But the air was like velvet, warm and soft. The stars were never so visible, and the moon was almost full. 

It could not have come at a much worse time. Just as Ontario was struggling to rebuild its battered economy after the SARS crisis, this week's history-making blackout has dealt another unexpected blow to the business community. 

Criminal activity, financial loss and rescue operations were among the many hurdles communities across Ontario faced during Thursday's blackout. 

Such is Ernie Eves' luck at the moment that if he fell into a bucket of cold beers, he'd come out sucking his thumb. 

Where were you when the lights went out?

Toronto stock market declares business as usual, but city transit struggles

Power returns for some
A massive power blackout retreated stubbornly Friday as power officials struggled to understand why the historic outage spread in minutes through the northeastern United States and southern Canada.

Ontario slowly regaining electricity
Millions of Ontario residents woke Friday morning hoping for a steady supply of electricity the day after the biggest blackout in North American history. As power was gradually restored to pockets of the province early Friday morning, Premier Ernie Eves called on everyone to do their part to conserve energy. Full Story

Outage affecting phone and mail service
The power outage has thrown a wrench into some Ontario telephone and mail operations. Bell Canada says all of its networks are working and approximately 99 percent of customers have service. But because of the increased traffic volume, Bell is encouraging customers to limit their phone use.

Blackout paralyses North American auto industry, at least 35 plants closed

TORONTO - The lights slowly began to come back on yesterday across Ontario and many parts of the eastern United States, but officials warned that North America's largest-ever power outage is still far from over. 

Blackout may cost billions
The largest blackout in North American history could cost billions of dollars in lost output but analysts expect the continent's economy to recover quickly and the long-term impact to be minimal. 

Resilient markets don't miss a beat
TORONTO - Thank goodness it happened after hours. Thank goodness it happened in the summer. Thank goodness the contingency plans developed over the past three years worked like clockwork. 

Outage another blow for Air Canada
Air Canada's horrible year got worse yesterday after the backup power system at its control centre in Mississauga, Ont., failed, forcing it to cancel hundreds of flights and stranding tens of thousands of travellers on day two of the biggest power outage in North American history. 

Toronto-Dominion buys 57 branches from Laurentian Bank for $112.5M
Toronto-Dominion Bank is spending about $112.5-million in cash to buy 57 branches in Ontario and Western Canada from Laurentian Bank of Canada, which is aiming to revive its flagging financial results by largely focusing on its home province of Quebec. 

Surge blocks cellphone circuits
As hydro service failed across Ontario during the past two days, people turned to their mobile phones for information. Unfortunately too many people used their phones during the blackout, leading to network overloads and intermittent service. 

Blackout fuel for alternate energy firms
With most of Toronto staying home yesterday, the markets were dead quiet. 

Markets close flat as traders stay home
TORONTO - Toronto stocks closed flat yesterday in super-thin trading after a massive power failure across Ontario and the northeastern U.S. left most market players at home. 

Outage disrupts schedules
Athletes, sports teams and facilities were among the millions of people and businesses disrupted by Thursday's massive power outage. While utility workers attempted to restore power to electricity-starved communities, the sports world re-jigged plans altered by the blackout. 

Argos coach enjoys time 'when life slows down'
MISSISSAUGA - He won, hours after the actual football game had been cancelled. Michael Clemons spent the first night of the blackout with his family, watching the stars from his front porch while the visiting Edmonton Eskimos were left to scavenge the darkened streets of Toronto for food. 

Stars, Mars and Moon Put On Rarely Seen Show For US and Canada
North East Americas - Aug 14, 2003 - With power blackouts across the US and Canada, 50 million people were afforded the rare opportunity to see the night sky ablaze with thousands of stars. The sun set over the New York area at 7.55pm, and 8.23pm in the Toronto area. Full darkness came around 9pm in New York and 9.30 in Toronto. The dark galactic rich vista faded as a near full moon rose at 9.37pm in New York and 10.01pm in Toronto. And throughout Mars shone like not seen in 60,000 years.

Blackout Closes NASA Center, Reveals More Stars above New York
http://www.space.com/news/blackout_nasa_030815.html
NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland Ohio is closed to all but essential personnel today due to the major power outage that struck parts of the eastern United States and Canada, SPACE.com has learned.

Understanding Electricity
It's pretty easy to recognize when you don't have power. The lights don't work. It's hot. Food spoils. Over 50 million people went through that this Friday. But it's not nearly as easy to understand the technology behind generating electricity and eventually getting it into your home.

Live From New York
Manhattan Guide Reginald James wraps up some of the post-blackout coverage. Posts include more information about power company Niagra Mohawk, a look at how well cell phones worked yesterday (they didn't), and much more.

Food Safety When There's No Fridge
I'm not sure I want to open my refrigerator. Sure, the power was only out for 13 hours -- everything powered up in my apartment around 5 a.m. -- but I have no idea how the milk, half & half and meat cooperated with our power situation.

Power cuts force closure of seven US nuclear plants
http://www.spacewar.com/2003/030814233019.fcr6s7rr.html
Washington (AFP) Aug 15, 2003 - US authorities shut down seven nuclear power plants Thursday because of major outages that hit the northeast United States, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced. An NRC statement said the closures were ordered because of "grid instabilities," but added that "all plants are in a safe condition, using their emergency diesel generators where appropriate."

'If in doubt, throw it out'
http://www.nationalpost.com/national/story.html?id=C883040B-CAAD-42DA-80F5-EAF27C93B334
The power failure that struck Ontario on Thursday lasted long enough to spoil meat inside a refrigerator, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. 

Electricity Milestones - Must Add One More

Power Returning to Canada

*~*
Understanding Electricity
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blelectric1.htm
It's pretty easy to recognize when you don't have power. The lights don't work. It's hot. Food spoils. Over 50 million people went through that this Friday. But it's not nearly as easy to understand the technology behind generating electricity and eventually getting it into your home.

*~*
Powering Up in Ontario
Power is gradually returning for about 50 million Canadians and Americans hit by a blackout on Thursday afternoon.
Ontario Premier Ernie Eves declared a state of emergency for the province of Ontario at about 10 pm Thursday night. He advised people not to go to work on Friday unless necessary. 
The Independent Electricity Market Operator (IMO - http://www.theimo.com/imoweb/news/media.asp), which is in charge of the electricity supply in Ontario, says that progress is being made in restoring the electricity grid, but it will be gradual. The IMO warns that it will take time to get all generation reconnected, likely several days.
The IMO says that when your power comes on, use it only for essential needs. Using less power will help get the grid fully operational. The IMO also says not to be alarmed if power is interrupted intermittently as they balance the power supply. 

*~*
FEMA Provides Disaster Preparedness Guide 
http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa122702a.htm
In response to a heightened demand for preparedness information since the terrorist attacks of 9-11, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released a new publication to help individuals prepare themselves and their families for disasters.

Be Prepared... To Walk
http://walking.about.com/cs/medfirstaid/a/prepared.htm
How walkers can prepare for emergencies
It can happen at any time - an emergency or disaster disrupts our day.  It may be the weather, an earthquake, a medical emergency, or an act of violence.  A few simple preparations can help you get through it.

Power Outages and Working at Home

Contingency Telecommuting Plans
http://telecommuting.about.com/library/weekly/aa021400a.htm
Have employees prepared to telecommute 

*~*
Being Prepared For A Power Outage in Winter or Year Round
http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/weekly/aa111898.htm
How to Keep Your Saltwater Aquarium Running

NEW YORK (CP) - Air conditioners were humming Saturday and lights blazed again across most of the Northeast following the worst blackout in U.S. history, although getting electricity back didn't help those in Cleveland enjoy clean tap water, and some regions were still experiencing rolling blackouts.

Investigation of blackout cause focuses on grid around Lake Erie

People in countries used to blackouts wonder what the fuss is about

TORONTO (CP) - Grocers threw out spoiled meat and frozen foods, gas stations struggled to operate, while automakers, steel plants and refineries stayed idle amid sporadic power outages Friday that followed the biggest blackout in North American history. Grocery stores, beer stores, banks, airlines, retailers, automakers, refineries, chemical and pulp and paper producers as well as other companies were either closed or operating only if electricity was back on.

Lack of market participants due to blackout leaves stocks flat
TORONTO (CP) - Stocks finished the session close to the unchanged mark Friday with trading directionless owing largely to a lack of market players as transportation systems suffered from the aftereffects of Thursday's power grid failure.  

Confusion lingers as travellers nationwide stuck at airports after blackout
TORONTO (CP) - Air Canada finally got some of its planes flying late Friday afternoon in the wake of a massive power blackout, but not before passengers from coast to coast endured a day of lengthy lineups, delays, headaches and frayed nerves.  

Experts ponder how society can reduce crippling dependence on electricity
MONTREAL (CP) - This week's dramatic power failures in Ontario and several northeastern U.S. states demonstrate once again how totally dependent society has become on that mysterious form of energy called electricity.  

A darkened New York City is visible just before dawn through power lines from Jersey City, N.J., shown in foreground, with some lights visible, Friday, Aug. 15, 2003. (AP Photo/George Widman)

Northeast Power Outage
Information for AP Members 8/15/2003

Energy policy has us stuck in the Iron Age
Thursday's blackout prevented me from watching one of my favourite television programs, the British reality show Surviving the Iron Age. The series is about a group of gloriously naive volunteers who agreed to live for an extended period in an Iron Age fort, eschewing modern fripperies such as electricity. Pretty much the thrust of Ontario energy policy. 


Politics of power
Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton might be forgiven for failing to grasp the scope of Ontario Hydro's woes. But not for ignoring his party's role in them 

Lame duck Chrétien might as well be Chicken Little
If only this week's power outage had blacked out the Prime Minister's Office. It might have kept the office from doing additional damage to U.S.-Canada relations. 

Why the lights went out
Last December, four U.S. scientists published a paper in the Journal Chaos entitled Critical points and transitions in an electric power transmission model for cascading failure blackouts. "Detailed analysis of large blackouts has shown that they involve cascading events in which a triggering failure produces a sequence of secondary failures that lead to blackout of a large area of the grid," the authors found.  

Letters
Re: 25 Million People Affected By Biggest Blackout In Years, Aug. 15. Ontario's provincial opposition parties are quick to blame the current government when our electricity supply fails. Yesterday, for example, Howard Hampton, the leader of the New Democratic Party, declared our government irresponsible and demanded it increase our power generation capacity. 

• What's open, what's not
• N.A. power update

Photo gallery
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/PhotoGalleryHTMLTemplate?cf=PhotoGallery/config&configFileLoc=PhotoGallery/PhotoGallery.prop&slug=0814power

Motorists line up at a gas station in Toronto on Friday. Photo: Paul Chiasson/CP

A commuter waits for a train at Penn Station in Newark, N.J., on Friday. New Jersey trains were operating on a reduced Saturday schedule. Photo: Mike Derer/AP

The sky lightens just before dawn behind the cooling towers of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant in Perry, Ohio, on Friday. Photo: Jamie-Andrea Yanak/AP

The sun rises over the skyline of the Upper West Side of Manhattan on Friday. Photo: Jacqueline Larma/AP

Brian Copello and Missy Phillips play cards on the sidewalk in New York’s Times Square early Friday morning. The two could not get into their hotel because of the power outage. Photo: Joe Kohen/AP

People stranded after they were not allowed into their hotel rooms, because the electronic key cards would not work, sleep on the sidewalk in New York. Photo: Joe Kohen/AP

The sun sets over the Manhattan skyline on Thursday during a major power outage that affected a large part of the north eastern United States and Canada. Photo: Robert Giroux/Getty Images

A pedestrian takes a drink from a hose at Village Park Retirement Residence in Toronto on Thursday. The hose was provided to aid those who were forced to walk home after Toronto streetcars shut down. Photo: Steve White/CP

People walk down Brooklyn Bridge during a massive blackout on Thursday. Photo: Jonathan Fickles/Getty Images

Pedestrians cross an intersection lit by road flares as auxillary police direct traffic in downtown New York on Thursday. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP

A couple enjoys a candlelight dinner at a downtown Toronto restaurant on Thursday. Photo: Paul Chiasson/CP

Ron Uitvlug directs traffic at Queen Street and Spadina Avenue in downtown Toronto on Thursday. Photo: Aaron Harris/CP

Readers tell their stories

• Quebec sends electricity
• Struggling Ottawans flood Gatineau
• Life slowly return to normal

8:29 PM | FULL STORY 

Hours of silence from Ontario's official voice 
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030816.umurr0816/BNStory/National/

With glowing hearts
Wedding sparks fly in the darkness

Why the lights went out

An electrical failure, but what else failed?
– There have been many astonishing moments during the Ontario and U.S. power blackout, but the most astonishing have come from the public's supposed leaders. The politicians and officials whose...

Blackout failed to black out the news

Electricity, life slowly return to normal

Random blackouts still roll across province

McCallum taking heat for incendiary remarks

Heat could make cool businesses cold

There's the light in the east: Take note, Ontario

Firms may foot bill for power cut damage

Ice storm left Eastern Ontario prepared

Conserve energy, Eves urges

Conserve energy, Eves urges

Official voice of Ontario silent for hours

Land lines and cells crack under pressure

Companies agree to reduce consumption

Lineups, prices frustrate drivers trying to buy gas

Smaller, local plants touted as future of power generation

Struggling Ottawans flood Gatineau

Power problems to have minimal effect on economy, analysts say

E-mail pager scores in crisis

Generators quickly fly off shelves in Toronto

People short of breath hard hit

Ottawa clarifies blackout confusion

Powered down

A chronology of blackouts in North America
– Nov. 9-10, 1965''Great Blackout''Area: Northeast U.S., CanadaDuration: More than 12 hours.People affected: 30 million (Canada and United States)July 13-14, 1977Area: New York City

Blackout and green

Political capital

The matrix of our troubles Build a brittle grid, and sooner or later it will seize

Ian Brown The history of lighting is the history of urban life itself

THE AFTERMATH
	Lights come back, outlook still dim
	Aug. 16, 2003. 09:33 AM
	The lights are coming back on but politicians and hydro officials are still in the dark about what caused the biggest power blackout in North American history. It could be months before they pinpoint the problem that affected 50 million people — and find a way to prevent it from happening again. Richard Brennan and Theresa Boyle report. [Full Story]  › Special page  › Voices: Your stories  › Prepare to share the hydro  › Photo gallery

`It's like a tidal wave in reverse'

Flirting with calamity in the silent city

Yonge-Eglinton area hit by fire in hydro cable vaults

Crowds keep their cool at packed Pearson

Bringing back power a slow, tricky process

Some illuminating ideas to help brighten the darkness

Don't rely on the old smell test

Crisis management lies in tatters

Eves feels heat over energy policy

Ottawa tries to repair crossed wires with U.S.

Critics attack vacationing Chrétien

>	Eves under gun over blackout
>	U.S., Canada blame each other

Power failure hits grocery stores, big business

>	Special page
>	Voices: Your stories
>	Prepare to share the hydro
>	Photo gallery
>	`Like a tidal wave in reverse'
>	Crowds keep their cool at packed Pearson
>	Bringing back power a slow, tricky process
>	Power returns, system fragile (Aug. 15)
>	City sparks BBQs and keeps going (Aug. 15)
>	Scientists' hydro warnings ignored (Aug. 15)

THE LATEST     Lights come back, outlook still dim     Aug. 16, 2003. 09:33 AM     The lights are coming back on but politicians and hydro officials are still in the dark about what caused the biggest power blackout in North American history. It could be months before they pinpoint the problem that affected 50 million people — and find a way to prevent it from happening again. Richard Brennan and Theresa Boyle report. [Full Story]  › Special page  › Voices: Your stories  › Prepare to share the hydro  › Photo gallery   Gas shortage fuels tempers Aug. 16, 2003. 09:33 AM At exactly 12.49 p.m. yesterday, Alex Fishman ran toward a line of vehicles backed all the way up Church St. toward Bloor St., waving his hands frantically. "No more gas," the manager of the Canadian Tire gas station at Yonge and Church Sts. shouted at disbelieving drivers, many of whom had been waiting patiently for more than an hour. Phinjo Gombu reports.   [Full Story] Eves feels heat over energy policy Aug. 16, 2003. 01:00 AM Premier Ernie Eves fended off criticism yesterday that his government's policies played a role in the blackout that struck Ontario and the U.S. northeast Thursday.   [Full Story] Americans `want some answers' Aug. 16, 2003. 01:00 AM Lights flickered back to life across much of New York City yesterday, but relief gave way to anger in the search for the cause behind the greatest North American power outage in history.   [Full Story]

	Blackout FYI
	Voices: Your blackout stories As the city faded into darkness, the barbeques came out, neighbours found time to chat and for many there was also a sense relief as they were forced to do nothing at all except sit in the dark and watch the stars. Click to read a sample of your comment. [Full Story]
	Blackout facts Scope: At its peak, the cascading blackout affected most of Ontario and eight states, an area with a population of roughly 50 million. It took nine seconds for the outage to spread across the region. [Full Story]
	U.S., Canada blame each other WASHINGTON (AP-CP) — The last thing the United States and Canada need is another feud. [Full Story]
	The Prime Minister speaks Text of a statement from Prime Minister Jean Chrétien on the Ontario blackout. [Full Story]
	Responses How areas affected by Thursday's blackout responded to the massive power outage on Friday. In Sudbury the blackout made for some pretty long coffee lineups. In Toronto, the lineups were for gas and grocery stores. [Full Story]

Blackout axes Iggy Pop reunion

Blackout shuts down auto industry

Our illusions
Stripped of a commodity as fleeting as electrical power, we are nearly reduced to a society held together by baling twine, aspiration and illusion.

Stock markets barely budge
Stock markets were close to the break-even point late Friday morning as many traders were unable to make it to work because of the ongoing rolling power outages in Canada and the U.S. that followed a major blackout after markets closed Thursday.

Outage hits businesses
Major Ontario businesses closed shop Friday or attempted to get operations back up amid rolling power outages following a major blackout Thursday that stopped plants and businesses in their tracks.

A bad week looms for T.O. Toronto could be plunged into and out of darkness until the end of next week as the province struggles to bring its nuclear power plants, the heart of the generating system, back to life. Rolling power outages through Toronto and the entire province are expected as demand for power is still far greater than supply, and officials are begging both individuals and corporations to continue to conserve energy this weekend in order to prevent another massive blackout. Complete story

U.S. residents struggle with effects of power outage

Continued conservation urged for Ontarians

U.S. residents struggle with effects of power outage
NEW YORK (CP) - Air conditioners were humming Saturday and lights blazed again across most of the Northeast following the worst blackout in U.S. history, although getting electricity back didn't help those in Cleveland enjoy clean tap water, and some regions were still experiencing rolling blackouts.

 

Ontarians cope calmly post-blackout

Power grid is like 'team of mountain climbers'

A dark day in history

Warnings of scientists, engineers, about U.S. power grid were ignored

Calgary: Worst is over
Edmonton: Blackout punted

Subway Starts Rolling and Power Is Restored to Midwest Cities
By JODI WILGOREN with DANNY HAKIM  1:32 PM ET
Cities today continued to recuperate from the blackout that hit the Northeast, the Midwest and parts of Canada, leaving millions of people in the dark for up to two days.
• Week in Review: The Grid Bites Back
• Complete Coverage: The Blackout of 2003

In Calm Blackout, Views of Remade City
By MARTIN GOTTLIEB  1:22 PM ET
New York is seen as a far different, and more orderly, place since the last major blackout in 1977.
• Blackout Tests Another Kind of Power

Experts Asking Why Problems Spread So Far
By MATTHEW L. WALD, RICHARD PERÉZ-PEÑA and NEELA BANERJEE
The power collapse apparently began with a failure in the Midwest that cascaded into Canada, power industry officials said.
• Interactive Graphic: Sequence of Failures
• Warnings Long Ignored on Aging System
• Restoring Lost Voltage Takes Time

New York City's return to a normal routine took a big leap forward early today when subway service was restored to all five boroughs.
Go to Article

Many Businesses Swallow Hard, Then Throw Out Food

Among Suffering Businesses, a Few Did Make Out

Which Party Gets the Blame? They Agree: It's the Other One

Editorial: Antiquated Grid
• Editorial: Night Music
• Frank McCourt: Dark Tales

N.Y. TRANSPORTATION
Air travel and mass transit continue to be affected by the blackout.

New York City Transit: Subway service has been restored to all lines, which are running on or close to schedule. There will be regular bus service citywide.

Airports: La Guardia and Kennedy Airports are running partly on emergency power, and delays are expected. Newark Airport is experiencing minor overcrowding.

Long Island Rail Road: Long Island Rail Road trains are expected to be running on a Saturday schedule.

Metro-North: Trains are expected to run on a Saturday schedule.

PATH: Trains are running on all stops.

New Jersey Transit: New Jersey Transit expects to operate on a Saturday schedule.

Amtrak: Trains will operate on a normal schedule.

Ferries: New York Waterway and New York Water Taxi will be running on normal weekend schedules.

Power Restored

Transportation Challenges

Lines for Bread and Water

A Day Without Electricity

Twilight fell on Manhattan, as electrical power was gradually restored on Friday night.

Many tourists and passers-by gazed upward on Friday night when Times Square was once again fully lighted after a night of eerie darkness on Thursday.

Les Goodson played his tenor sax after the lights of Times Square were restored on Friday night.

People went out for dinner on Columbus Avenue after power was restored on Friday night.

Earlier on Friday, people waited for tickets for the Broadway musical “The Lion King,” after power had been restored in some areas in New York City.

One of New York's simple pleasures re-emerged on Friday at 14th Street and Fifth Avenue: a working A.T.M.

By Friday afternoon, Fairway Market on the Upper West Side was open for business.

Richard A. Grasso, chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg rang the opening bell on Wall Street on Friday morning.



The Empire State building and the Hudson river seen from New Jersey on Thursday night during the East Coast blackout.

The blackout turned New York overnight into a huge, mandatory slumber party as people who had been stranded in the city spent the night on sidewalks and in the lobbies of office buildings.

Anne Claitt and her granddaughter Jasmine, 7, slept in their minivan on Thursday night.

The sun rose over a city still without lights on Friday morning.

Times Square on Friday was moving at a slower pace, more like a ballet than a Bob Fosse showstopper.

Iraqi Kurds Golzar Salih and daughter, Soone, 10, slept in Kennedy Airport after their connecting flight to Virginia was cancelled.

The city opened up fire hydrants to residents Stuyvesant Town in Manhattan who were without water.

Fire and looters destroyed group of stores on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn.

Commuters slept on the steps of the Post Office on 33rd Street and Eighth Avenue in New York on Friday.

Midtown Manhattan was blanketed with newspapers that many people had used as improvised bedding during the long, dark night on the sidewalk.

Brooklynites line up for bread in front of an Espiga de Oro Bakery truck outside an Associated supermarket on Manhattan Avenue. The market was closed due to the blackout.

A D'Agostino grocery sets up food for sale on the sidewalk in front of their closed store on Greenwich Street in the West Village.

Washington Heights meat market owner Jose Nuñez had to throw out his whole inventory, a loss of about 10,000 dollars.

Residents of the Mitchell Houses - a high-rise project in the South Bronx - gathered water from a playground sprinkler to carry back upstairs to their apartments.

The Stuyvesant Town apartment complex, near First Avenue, handed out drinking water to its residents. The city also opened fire hydrants a small amount in order to supply residents with water for flushing toilets.

A line of over a hundred waited for an opportunity to buy ice at a store on 149th Street in the Bronx. Much of the area still had no electricity 24 hours into the blackout.

At the Mitchell Senior Citizens Center - a 17-floor building in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx - people brought ice for elderly relatives stuck on the higher floors.

Grand Central Terminal was a humid hot box, as a Metro North official provided commuters with updated schedule information.

Commuters were stranded in Grand Central Terminal at 3 a.m.

Sophia Pabakis, from Athens, waiting outside Penn Station. She arrived in New York on Monday for a brief visit and was trying to get to Boston.

New York City police cadets prevented commuters from entering the 7th Avenue entrance of Penn Station.

Tourists attempted to hail cabs during the blackout.

New York City police officer Jeannine Ling directed traffic outside Grand Central Terminal.

Trainees received instructions from Traffic Officer Gerald Cobbs on how to direct traffic at intersections without working traffic lights.

Some of areas of the main terminal in LaGuardia Airport were operating on emergency lights after Thursday's power failure.

Rosalia Castro and her 2-year-old daughter, Janiz, waited for a flight to Puerto Rico at Kennedy Airport.

The Economy: The Greatest Cost, Ultimately, May Be Just Inconvenience

Rumpled and Groggy, Wall Street Starts Trading Again

Business Losses: Insurers Say Most Policies Do Not Cover Power Failure

Cheers in New York City, but Parts of Midwest Are Lagging

Getting Off the Ground Remains a Big Challenge

In Cleveland, a Dead Day, Empty Streets and Games

After 2 Years, Energy Bill Is Getting New Urgency in Congress

Aides Say Bush Waited for Facts Before Commenting on Blackout

Hospitals: Lessons Learned on 9/11 Help Hospitals Respond

Good Day for Concerns That Help Save Data

Communications: Cellphone Failures Cause Many to Question Systems

A Comatose Transit System Awakens, Slowly

Join a Discussion on the Northeast Power Failure Where were you? How did you get out? What improvements should be made to our energy systems? • Go to Readers' Opinions

Toronto: After a Hot and Bothered Night, a Trickle of Power and a Forecast of Fitful Service

Canada: Toronto Calmly Copes but Fears the Night

Blackout Pinned on 3 Failed Lines in Ohio
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The failure of three transmission lines in northern Ohio was the likely trigger of the nation's biggest power blackout, a leading investigator said Saturday.

Aides Say Bush Waited for Facts Before Commenting on Blackout
By ELISABETH BUMILLER
When news of the Northeast blackout hit the West Coast on Thursday, President Bush and his staff seemed to go into a blackout of their own.

By Ros Krasny

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Air travel across the United States and Canada started to unsnarl on Saturday after two days of chaos caused by the largest power blackout in U.S. history.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three electric power transmission lines in Ohio probably caused the worst blackout in North American history, a top investigator said on Saturday. More

US, Canada Investigate Blackout

Power Outage Lays Mountains of Food to Waste

By David Morgan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Life returned to normal on Saturday for millions caught in the worst blackout in North American history, but isolated outages stubbornly continued in communities from Michigan to Connecticut and Ontario, Canada.

City Battles Lovers' Padlocks

Mayor Predicts Baby Boom, Slams Candles

Newspaper headlines declare that electricity has been restored to New York City, but airline passengers at New York City's La Guardia Airport found long lines in the American Airlines terminal, August 16, 2003. The delays follow the biggest power outage in North American history, which blacked out New York and other major U.S. and Canadian cities for over 24 hours. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

A woman sits on a luggage cart with her suitcases as airline passengers at New York City's La Guardia Airport found delays and long lines in the Delta terminal, August 16, 2003 following the biggest power outage in North American history, which blacked out New York and other major U.S. and Canadian cities for over 24 hours. Despite the full restoration of power in New York City, delays persisted at La Guardia Airport. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Airline passengers at New York City's La Guardia Airport found long lines in the Delta terminal August 16, 2003, following the biggest power outage in North American history, which blacked out New York and other major U.S. and Canadian cities for over 24 hours. Despite the full restoration of power in New York City, delays persisted at La Guardia Airport.

Passenger ride the One line train on the subway system in New York City, August 16, 2003 as service retuned to normal after the biggest power outage in North American history blacked out New York City. Subway service was back on track Saturday for the over 4.6 million people who use the trains daily.

A long line of people wait to buy New York City subway tickets in the Times Square Station, August 16, 2003 as service retuned to normal after the biggest power outage in North American history blacked out New York City. Subway service was back on track Saturday for the over 4.6 million people who use the trains daily.

Volunteer Brain Alkerton, 17, who was stranded because of a power outage, directs traffic in Ottawa, August 14, 2003. The largest power outage in North American history left multitudes without electricity early on Friday, although power trickled back on for millions of people in the United States and Canada. Picture taken August 14, 2003.

Barbara Korso serves ice cream using a flashlight for a light source during a power outage in Ottawa, August 14, 2003. The biggest power outage in North American history effected most of Ontario, as well as the northeastern United States.

Will Hay, from Manhattan, sits on pole in the middle of Times Square around 3 a.m. in the morning as a power outage shut down the Eastern Seaboard August 15, 2003. In New York's Times Square on Friday, hundreds of tired, haggard-looking commuters left stranded by the blackout awoke from their makeshift beds, lumbering into the dim light of the rising sun.

People lay stranded outside the Times Square Marriot around 3 a.m. in the morning as a power outage shut down the Eastern Seaboard August 15, 2003. More than 12 hours after the biggest North American power outage in history left huge swaths of the Northeast in sweltering darkness, much of New York and its suburbs were still without electricity.

People lay stranded in the entrance to Grand Central Station around 3 a.m. in the morning during a power outage in New York August 15, 2003. More than 12 hours after the biggest North American power outage in history left huge swaths of the Northeast in sweltering darkness, much of New York and its suburbs were still without electricity.

Jeremy Duranczau (right) and Neil Holt, from Bowling Green, Kentucky sit stranded around 3 a.m. in the morning at Times Square as a power outage shut down the Eastern Seaboard August 15, 2003. Most train service was knocked out after the biggest power outage in North American history blacked out New York and other major U.S. and Canadian cities on August 14. The commuters shown here, many of whom spent last night in the city, were boarding busses that would take them to a connection with a deisel powered train outside the city.

People move around Times Square without the convenience of electricity during a massive power outage in New York on August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

People wait for busses to take them out of New York on August 15, 2003. Most train service was knocked out after the biggest power outage in North American history blacked out New York and other major U.S. and Canadian cities on August 14. The commuters shown here, many of whom spent last night in the city, were boarding busses that would take them to a connection with a deisel powered train outside the city.

A line of several hundred people wait for busses in New York on August 15, 2003. Most train service ws knocked out after the biggest power outage in North American history blacked out New York and other major U.S. and Canadian cities on August 14. The commuters shown here, many of whom spent last night in the city, were boarding busses that would take them to a connection with a deisel powered train outside the city.

A New York City subway station sits empty early August 15, 2003 after the biggest power outage in North American history blacked New York City and other major U.S. and Canadian cities. Subway service was not available for the 4.6 million riders who use the trains daily.

A woman sleeps on the floor of New York's Grand Central Terminal early August 15, 2003 after the biggest power outage in North American history blacked New York City and other major U.S. and Canadian cities. The clock shows the time the power went out in New York City as 4:10 PM on August 14. Thousands of people waited for trains that could not run due to the outage.

People sleep on the floor of New York's Grand Central Terminal early August 15, 2003 after the biggest power outage in North American history blacked New York City and other major U.S. and Canadian cities. Thousands of people waited for trains that could not run due to the outage.

A woman reads a newspaper outside of New York's Grand Central Station early August 15, 2003 after the biggest power outage in North American history blacked New York and other major U.S. and Canadian cities. Millions of people were left in the dark and thousands of commuters were stranded.

A pedestrian is silhouetted as he walks across a darkened hallway during a power outage in Ottawa, August 14, 2003. Millions of people in the United States and Canada rose on Friday from a sticky sleep after the largest power outage in North American history blacked out New York and other major Canadian and U.S. cities.

The main concourse at Pennsylvania Station, normally bustling with morning train commuters, is nearly deserted on August 15, 2003, the day after a power outage in North American blacked out New York and other major U.S. and Canadian cities. After the biggest power outage in U.S. history struck late Thursday afternoon, many people were stranded without lodging and forced to make beds of newspaper, cardboard or clothing and camp out on sidewalks, office building foyers, parking garages and church pews

People sit under candlelight in Queens park after New York power outage in August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

Oakland County Sheriff Deputy R. Timko keeps order in a metro Detroit gas station August 14, 2003 as long lines of cars wait up to 45 minutes for gas. Many gas stations were closed due to the massive power outage. Detroit does not have much public transportation aside from buses and a lightly used downtown monorail, so when the power went out in the city, people went straight for their cars.

A man who passed out after overheating is tended to by police next to Grand Central Terminal as people move around without the convenience of electricity during a blackout in New York on August 14, 2003. After the biggest power outage in U.S. history struck late Thursday afternoon, many people were stranded without lodging and forced to make beds of newspaper, cardboard or clothing and camp out on sidewalks, office building foyers, parking garages and church pews.

People move around without the convenience of electricity during a blackout in New York on August 14, 2003. After the biggest power outage in U.S. history struck late Thursday afternoon, many people were stranded without lodging and forced to make beds of newspaper, cardboard or clothing and camp out on sidewalks, office building foyers, parking garages and church pews amid the clawing humidity.

A man sits on the sidewalk in Times Square in New York early August 15, 2003 after the biggest power outage in North American history blacked out New York and other major U.S. and Canadian cities. Millions of people were left in the dark and thousands of commuters were stranded.

People gather on the sidewalk in Times Square in New York early August 15, 2003 after the biggest power outage in North American history blacked New York and other major U.S. and Canadian cities. Millions of people were left in the dark and thousands of commuters were stranded.

People gather on the sidewalk in Times Square in New York early August 15, 2003 after the biggest power outage in North American history blacked out New York and other major U.S. and Canadian cities. Millions of people were left in the dark and thousands of commuters were stranded.

Surrounded by darkness from the blackout a restaurant on Woodward avenue north of Detroit is packed with hungry patrons as it uses a generator to stay open late August 14, 2003. Detroit and surrounding suburbs loss power and water in a massive power outage and does not expect power to be on before possibly Sunday.

Detroit resident Richard Kik uses candles for light as he sits on his back porch trying to listen to his battery powered radio for updates on the blackout in Detroit, August 14, 2003. Detroit loss power in a massive power outage that left the city without power or water and does not expect power to be on before possibly Sunday.

Pedestrians and traffic trying to leave New York City exit the Brooklyn Bridge approach as police block the inbound lanes to Manhattan after the city suffered an electrical blackout August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout that covered the much of the Northeast part of the country and stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

Man tries to fill up gas in taxi during a massive power outage in New York on August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

New York Manhattan skyline sits unlit as a result of a massive power outage in New York on August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

People and motor traffic leave New York's Manhattan Island over the Brooklyn Bridge, as the city suffered a massive power outage, August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

Patrolmen in Williamsville, New York direct an NFTA bus through a busy intersection as the largest power outage to hit the United States and Canada rolled across the Northeast on August 14, 2003.

People and motor traffic leave New York's Manhattan Island over the Brooklyn Bridge, as the city suffered a massive power outage, August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

People walk over the Brooklyn Bridge in lower Manhattan in New York during a massive power outage August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

People move around Times Square without the convenience of electricity during a massive power outage in New York on August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

People pay $2-3 for a $1 hotdog as they move around without the convenience of electricity during a massive power outage in New York on August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

People try to buy ice cream from a vendor who raised his price from $2 to $5 in mid line for an ice cream sandwich as they are without the convenience of electricity during a massive power outage in New York on August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

People buy goods under candle and flashlight without the convenience of electricity during a massive power outage in New York on August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

The Empire State Building is without light as people move around without the convenience of electricity during a massive power outage in New York on August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

A man sits in the dark eating a hot dog on Yonge Street in Toronto August 14, 2003. A blackout brought much of Ontario to a standstill, turning off power to as many as 10 million people as a massive outage hit eastern North America.

People cross the street at the corner of Yonge Street and Dundas in Toronto, August 14, 2003. A blackout brought much of Ontario to a standstill, turning off power to as many as 10 million people as a massive outage hit eastern North America.

Seen from Jersey City, New Jersey, the lights of a New York Waterways ferry streak across the water in front of the darkened New York Manhattan skyline which was the result of a massive power outage in New York on August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

People flock over the Brooklyn Bridge during a massive power outage in New York on August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

People flock over the Brooklyn Bridge during a massive power outage in New York on August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

People flock over the Brooklyn Bridge during a massive power outage in New York on August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

Brake lights can be seen as hundreds of vehicles sit in a traffic jam on New York's Lexington Avenue, after the city suffered a massive power outage, August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks. New Yorkers said despite the assurances, the power cut was nerve-racking after the attacks on the World Trade Center two years ago next month.

Aerial view of New York's Manhattan Island, over the Brooklyn Bridge as the sun sets, during a massive power outage, August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks.

People and motor traffic leave New York's Manhattan Island across the Manhattan Bridge, after the city was plunged into darkness in a massive power outage, August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks. New Yorkers said despite the assurances, the power cut was nerve-racking after the attacks on the World Trade Center two years ago next month.

Aerial view of New York's Manhattan Island, over the Brooklyn Bridge (L) and Manhattan Bridge (R), as the sun sets, during a massive power outage, August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks. New Yorkers said despite the assurances, the power cut was nerve-racking after the attacks on the World Trade Center two years ago next month.

City traffic is seen jammed on New York's Seventh Avenue, as commuters try to make their way through the city during a massive power outage, August 14, 2003. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks. New Yorkers said despite the assurances, the power cut was nerve-racking after the attacks on the World Trade Center two years ago next month.

People stand under darked signs at Times Square in New York, August 14, 2003, during a massive power outage. Sweltering New Yorkers were hit by a giant power blackout on Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters, trapped subway riders underground and evoked fearful memories of the September 11 attacks. New Yorkers said despite the assurances, the power cut was nerve-racking after the attacks on the World Trade Center two years ago next month.

The CN Tower is silhouetted against the setting sun, as Toronto was faced with a massive power outage, August 14, 2003. The office of Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien said Thursday night that a lightning strike on a power plant near Niagara Falls, New York, was the cause of the massive power blackout that hit large areas of North America Thursday. A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister's Office told Reuters that officials on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border confirmed that lightning hit a power plant in New York state and started a cascading blackout over an area of 9,300

A policeman directs traffic at a crowded New York intersection August 14, 2003 after New York City lost electrical power. A lightning strike caused massive power outages in New York and other cities across the northeastern United States and Canada on Thursday, trapping thousands in crowded subways and forcing millions of evacuated office workers onto the streets.

Detroit Police sit on Woodward and Jefferson in front of General Motors world headquarters, during a power outage August 14, 2003. New Yorkers may have rushed into the streets when a power blackout hit a large swath of eastern North America on Thursday but in Motor City, people mostly headed for their cars. The result was gridlock for thousands of Detroit commuters. Detroit does not have much public transportation aside from buses and a lightly used downtown monorail. So when the power failed in office buildings, people went straight for their cars.

Kathy Sack uses her cell phone to try and reach her husband in Toledo, to tell him she was stranded in Detroit, due to a massive power outage, August 14, 2003. Sack was hoping to eventually find a cab. New Yorkers may have rushed into the streets when a power blackout hit a large swath of eastern North America on Thursday but in Motor City, people mostly headed for their cars. The result was gridlock for thousands of Detroit commuters. Detroit does not have much public transportation aside from buses and a lightly used downtown monorail. So when the power

Toll booths on the Detroit side of the Detroit Windsor Canada tunnel sit empty after the tunnel was closed to traffic, during a massive power outage August 14, 2003. New Yorkers may have rushed into the streets when a power blackout hit a large swath of eastern North America on Thursday but in Motor City, people mostly headed for their cars. The result was gridlock for thousands of Detroit commuters. Detroit does not have much public transportation aside from buses and a lightly used downtown monorail. So when the power failed in office buildings, people went straight for their cars.

Abner Roman directs traffic on the the expressway outside the MGM casino as traffic gridlocked during a massive power outage August 14, 2003 in Detroit. New Yorkers may have rushed into the streets when a power blackout hit a large swath of eastern North America on Thursday but in Motor City, people mostly headed for their cars. The result was gridlock for thousands of Detroit commuters. Detroit does not have much public transportation aside from buses and a lightly used downtown monorail. So when the power failed in office buildings, people went straight for their cars.

Sally Moir exits a grocery store with a case of water during a power outage, August 14, 2003 in Detroit. New Yorkers may have rushed into the streets when a power blackout hit a large swath of eastern North America on Thursday but in Motor City, people mostly headed for their cars. The result was gridlock for thousands of Detroit commuters.

Asif Hossain drinks some water as he listens to a wind-up radio at an electronics store on Queen Street in Toronto, August 14, 2003. A blackout hit most of Southern Ontario Thursday leaving millions without power.

A homemade sign tells motorists to go around an electric-powered street car, on Queen Street in Toronto, during a power outage August 14, 2003. A blackout brought much of Ontario to a standstill Thursday afternoon, turning off power to as many as 10 million people as a massive outage hit eastern North America.

A Police officer stands in the middle of Times Square in New York during a massive power outage, August 14, 2003. U.S. power regulators said on Thursday that a massive power outage that hit New York City and other cities in the eastern United States and Canada was not caused by a terror attack. The outage was caused by an outage at a Manhattan power plant which destabilized the power grid as far as Canada, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) spokesman Bryan Lee said.

The Greatest Cost, Ultimately, May Be Just Inconvenience
By LOUIS UCHITELLE
For all the inconvenience and disruption that the blackout of 2003 inflicted, the damage to the national economy is not likely to be any worse than damage from a bad snowstorm.

Rumpled and Groggy, Wall Street Starts Trading Again
By PATRICK McGEEHAN and JONATHAN FUERBRINGER
On the morning after the blackout, hundreds of traders, many unwashed and most of them groggy from lack of sleep, staggered to their posts.

Communications: Cellphone Failures Cause Many to Question Systems

Among Suffering Businesses, a Few Did Make Out

An Extended Extension for Filing Taxes

Shares of Alternative Energy Surge 2:54 p.m. ET

FULL TEXT-Canadian defence minister on blackout

OTTAWA, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Canada's Department of National Defence issued the following statement by Defence Minister John McCallum on Friday. ---------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. stocks edge up on light volume after blackout

U.S. airlines, travelers struggle back to normal

US House Commerce panel launches blackout probe
Extract:
US House Commerce panel launches blackout probe (Adds Homeland Security Committee, White House to probe blackout; paragraphs 1-6 new) By Chris Baltimore WASHINGTON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - The largest power blackout in U.S. history will be examined by two House committees, leaders said on Friday, one sizing up the health of the network and the other

WRAPUP 12-Bush says blackout was "wake-up call"
Extract:
00:40:16 GMT WRAPUP 12-Bush says blackout was "wake-up call" (Adds power returning to New York, Bush comments, task force) By David Morgan NEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Amid sweltering heat, the United States and Canada slowly recovered from the largest power outage in North American history on Friday, with President George W. Bush calling the

World sympathy and wisecracks for U.S. blackout
Extract:
sympathy and wisecracks for U.S. blackout By Jeremy Laurence LONDON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Some people voiced admiration, others worried, and some could not help but poke fun at the world's self-confessed "superpower with a Third World grid". "Now we understand why they (Americans) have been unable to get the electricity running in Baghdad," said 47-year-old

New York City recovers from blackout
Extract:
New York City recovers from blackout (Updates throughout with return of electrical service) Ellen Wulfhorst NEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Sleep-deprived and sweaty, New Yorkers began to recover from the worst power outage in North American history on Friday, gradually overcoming a lack of water, fuel and transportation. As night fell across the Manhattan skyline,

Newsdesk
Extract:
00:40:16 GMT WRAPUP 12-Bush says blackout was "wake-up call" (Adds power returning to New York, Bush comments, task force) By David Morgan NEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Amid sweltering heat, the United States and Canada slowly recovered from the largest ... 16 Aug 2003 00:32:34 GMT Tropical Storm Erika aims at Texas-Mexico coast (Updates position,

North American power outage makes Iraqis gloomy
Extract:
across the Canadian border to Toronto and Ottawa -- except to say it was not the work of saboteurs. Iraqis said they could not understand why Americans were making a big deal out of the blackouts while power shortages had become a way of life in Iraq since U.S. troops toppled Saddam on April 9. Many

Bush says US electricity grid needs upgrade
Extract:
York City, Detroit, Cleveland, Ottawa, Toronto and a host of smaller cities back into the pre-electric age. "We've got to figure out how to make the electricity system have the redundancy necessary so that if there is an outage... it doesn't affect as many people," Bush said. JOINTLY CHAIRED The U.S.-Canadian task force will be jointly

Mayor says power back to 85 percent of New York
Extract:
2003 23:45:35 GMT Mayor says power back to 85 percent of New York (Updates with details, quotes and color, changes byline) By Ellen Wulfhorst NEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Sleep-deprived and sweaty, New Yorkers tried on Friday to cope with the worst power outage in North American history, facing a lack of water, fuel and

NY governor declares emergency amid power outage
Extract:
NY governor declares emergency amid power outage (releads with state disaster emergency) NEW YORK, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Gov. George Pataki declared a "disaster emergency" on Thursday in New York, where more than half the state's residents were without electricity following power outages that struck portions of the East Coast, Midwest and Canada. Pataki told reporters

Blackouts not totally avoidable-US Energy Sec'y
Extract:
predecessor that the U.S. power grid needed modernization. Democrat Bill Richardson says the United States is "a superpower with a Third World grid." "I don't think you can be in this job as secretary of energy and not reach this conclusion," Abraham said, pointing to Bush administration recommendations to upgrade transmission networks. Asked by host Larry

Mayor says power back to 85 percent of New York
Extract:
were not collecting fares. But subway service, which serves 7 million people a day, was at a standstill. Trains would not start up for eight to nine hours after full power is restored so workers can check the system, officials said. Thousands

New York City recovers from blackout
Extract:
from Connecticut to Michigan and Ontario, Canada, New York utility officials announced that the East Coast metropolis had regained full electric service. But the city's subways, a mainstay of life for 7 million daily commuters, were not expected to resume service until sometime on Saturday. "We are getting there," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said as the worst

New York City regains full electrical power
Extract:
New York City regains full electrical power NEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - New York City regained full electrical power late on Friday, nearly 29 hours after the U.S. metropolis found itself in the grips of the worst blackout in North American history, utility officials said. "It was restored at 9:03 p.m. (0103 GMT)

Some residents still advised to boil water
A boil-water advisory remained in effect for Detroit water customers on Saturday and was likely to stay that way until at least Monday, officials said.

• Survival tips | Water safety

Steelcase Inc. shuts down factories to save power in Michigan

• DARKNESS FALLS: Cities battle to stay safe.
  
• FIXING FAUCETS: Area water operations spotty.
  
• U.S. POWER: Officials call for overhaul.

• BRIAN DICKERSON: Dark side surfaces in blackout.
  
• SUSAN TOMPOR: Wall Street, businesses begin to move forward.
  
• MIKE WENDLAND: Crises made us a little stronger.

KIRTHMON F. DOZIER/DFP

Lions fullback Cory Schlesinger gets ready to board a bus along with his 5-year-old daughter, Natalie Rae. The power outage forced the Lions and members of their families to use eight buses to travel to Cincinnati for tonight's exhibition.

KIRTHMON F. DOZIER/DFP

Lions backup quarterback Ty Detmer carries his 2-year-old daughter, Rylli, to board a bus on its way to Cincinnati for tonight's game

J. KYLE KEENER/DFP

Grosse Pointe Police Officer Matt Kramer, left, helps Bob Frank of the Water Department with a pump to deliver gas for police from the city's reserve at a station at Kercheval and Cadieux.

J. KYLE KEENER/DFP

Richard Mackewich, 56, holds Victoria Chevalier, 2 months, while listening to blackout reports Friday on the family's front porch in Richmond, Mich. Other family members watched, listened and waited.

SUSAN TUSA/DFP	Desmond Moore, 58, of Detroit walks up Woodward Avenue from near Comerica Park to 6 Mile because the buses weren't running. He endured several blackout-related delays on a bus he took home from a trip to Seattle.
Content © 2003 Detroit Free Press. All rights reserved.

CHIP SOMODEVILLA/DFP

Samara Charles, 9, naps with her mother Jacki Charles, 28, at the Melvindale Civic Center early Friday after they were evacuated from their home because of a nearby refinery fire.

JULIAN H. GONZALEZ/DFP	Oakland County resident Joe Pauley, 22, rigs up a makeshift cooking area in the driveway of his home in Farmington on Friday. Like many in metro Detroit, Pauley was looking for ways to fix meals that didn't require electrical power.
Content © 2003 Detroit Free Press. All rights reserved.

HUGH GRANNUM/DFP

Mousa Bazzi, in black shirt facing camera, left, owner of the BP gas station at Alter and Jefferson in Detroit, tries to calm customers outraged about not being able to get gas. Detroit police were called in to shut the station down to maintain order.

RICHARD LEE/DFP	Jennifer DeCarolis, 28, of Bloomfield Hills checks on the fish tank at her fiance Don Spinozzi's house in Royal Oak. DeCarolis' father brought gas for a generator that runs the tank's air pump.
Content © 2003 Detroit Free Press. All rights reserved.

HUGH GRANNUM/DFP

Lisa Matheson, who is 33 weeks pregnant, waits for care with her husband Craig at St. John Medical Center in Detroit.

SYLWIA KAPUSCINSKI/DFP

Miles Johnson, left, of Highland Park gets a cooling shower from son Kuydale Brown, 3, as his mother, Ardeda Brown, 22, watches.

SUSAN TUSA/DFP	Kristina Thomas, 25, of Detroit watches television while waiting in line to get gas at a station on Fort Street in Detroit on Friday. Thomas waited almost two hours to fill up.
Content © 2003 Detroit Free Press. All rights reserved.

ROMAIN BLANQUART/DFP	Allen Park police officer Bill Mehall goes door to door on Flora in Melvindale, making sure residents evacuated their homes early Friday. Some residents were told to move out because a series of small explosions at the Marathon oil refinery spread fumes.
Content © 2003 Detroit Free Press. All rights reserved.

SUSAN TUSA/DFP

Desmond Moore, 58, of Detroit trudges Friday on Woodward after a bus trip from Seattle. He had several blackout-related detours.

J. KYLE KEENER/DFP

Miguel Avina, 32, of Detroit pushes his minivan Friday in a quarter-mile-long line at a Mobil gas station in Detroit. Long lines were the norm Friday as metro Detroiters, grappling with a massive power outage, flocked to the few open service stations, stores and restaurants. In line for two hours, he had pushed his van about 300 yards.

KATHLEEN WAYT/DFP

Trucker Peter Friesen, 25, of Leamington, Ohio, waits to go through customs on the Detroit side of the Ambassador Bridge Friday. It took Friesen almost three hours to get through the city and into Canada.

BEATING THE BLACKOUT: Car's a great place to chill out
Minivans with flat-folding seats and cars with household-type electrical outlets never looked as good as they did Thursday night, when the blackout plunged 50 million Americans into sweltering darkness.

COPING: Everyday chores are test of ingenuity
They emptied their freezers and grilled meals for the neighbors. They slept in the living room, back porch or basement. They walked or biked instead of driving.

• Endless waits draw prayers, fray nerves
  Saints and sinners. First, the saint: Bettie Lloyd, hands down. She was forsaken in a Fisher Building elevator in Detroit for 18 hours Thursday and Friday. The sinners: Those weasels who cut to the front of lines at metro Detroit gas stations. There are a million stories in the big blackout -- and most of them will be told with a stream of expletives. But a few will be told with grace and even humor, and Lloyd's ordeal will be one of them. Free Press story

• CARS TO THE RESCUE: Residents stay cool, informed.
  
• HOSPITAL EVACUATED: N. Oakland Medical Center waiting for adequate power.
• HOME CHORES: Everyday tasks test ingenuity.

ENTERTAINMENT CHANGES: Big concerts zapped in Detroit
Head bangers are bummed. African culture fans are out of luck. Dream Cruisers could find themselves stuck in endless gas lines. And Michigan State Fair attendees can expect shorter hours, fewer rides and less food along the midway.

FIXING THE FAUCETS: Area water operations spotty
Whether the water comes from a private well, community well or the City of Detroit's massive system, officials are urging people to boil or add chlorine to it for at least one more day to avoid getting sick.

NATION'S POWER SYSTEM: Officials call for overhaul

METRO DETROIT SCHOOLS: Preparations for school year interrupted

NATION'S POWER SYSTEM: Officials call for overhaul

SURVIVAL TIPS

TRACKING THE CAUSE: Officials baffled by outage
As DTE Energy worked around the clock to restore power to southeast Michigan, investigators were working just as hard to pinpoint the cause of the nation's worst-ever power outage.

TRANSPORTATION TROUBLES: Travel slow in outage's second day
As the power failure dragged into its second day, trucks were lined up for miles waiting to cross the Ambassador Bridge into Canada and passengers were fanning themselves in dark terminals at Detroit Metro Airport.

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS: Cities battle to stay safe
As the billowing flames replaced failed streetlights on the city's near east side, Detroit firefighters conceded immediately: The lack of water pressure from the hydrants wouldn't allow them to battle the inferno purposely set in the two-story duplex.

Blackout Pinned on 3 Failed Lines in Ohio

Northeast, Midwest Recover From Blackout

Subways Rolling As Lights Go on in NYC

Canada Struggles With Blackout Aftermath

Canada Struggles With Blackout Aftermath

Largest-ever blackout hits eastern U.S. Windows | Real

Many of those without power are exhausted, but patient Windows Real

Looting, delays marked previous blackouts Windows | Real

Areas Affected, and the North American Power Grid

Timeline of Past Blackouts

Pulling the Plug on the Pump

Blackout Investigators' Backgrounds Vary

New York Sees Dip in Crimes During Outage

Detroit Neighborhood Copes With Blackout

Northeast, Midwest Recover From Blackout

Blackout Pinned on 3 Failed Lines in Ohio

Some residents still advised to boil water

A snapshot of how one neighborhood copes with outage

In droves, people forage for necessities
Blackout victims across southeast Michigan scrambled amid the heat and humidity Friday to find water, gasoline, reliable information and a cool place to relax on the second day of the nation's worst power outage.

NATION'S POWER SYSTEM: Officials call for overhaul
MIAMI -- The power system crash in the the northeastern United States and parts of the Midwest brought calls for upgrading the nation's electric grid, but experts warned that proposals were likely to be waylaid by political fights, corporate reticence, and a cost that would easily run into tens of billions of dollars.

WATER SAFETY
All metro Detroit residents are being asked to conserve water so there will be enough reserve in case of a fire or emergency.

GETTING AROUND: Travel slow in outage's second day.

Lions bus trip to Cincinnati family affair
The Lions escaped the blackout Friday, but they had to do it the hard way — a five-hour bus ride to Cincinnati. Free Press story

ECONOMIC DAMAGE: Disruption could cause millions in GDP growth.

VIEW FROM IRAQ: U.S. blackout tickles an oft dark Baghdad.