My brother is a security engineer who does a lot of work for ConEd. He called from NYC a few minutes ago and reported that the "entire grid is down" and was wondering what the hell was going on. All I can find is what's on the breaking news headlines on the major news websites.
All the biblical signs agree that August 14, 2003 is the end of the world. This event has nothing to do with high power demand from air conditioners, terrorism, or random accidents. This is simply just the end of the world. No need to be alarmed. Continue posting on Appleinsider like usual.
I'm in ithaca new york right now... power is on but some of the flourescent lights in the hall are out... was using my powerbook on AC adapter until the maintenance guy for the building walked by and said that the entire NY state power grid was having problems and there could be spikes that ruin my computer... gladly switched over to battery...
seems like several NE cities are having problems... hopefully this is just related to the heat and not related to terrorism
its not terrorists. its just the jackasses who set up the 3 major power grids in america and are supposed to be able to operate independently but obviously are not right now. i hope some engineer somewhere is smacking himself in the head right now.
NEW YORK - A massive power outage swept across swaths of the eastern United States and Canada on Thursday, leaving sections of New York, Detroit, Cleveland and Toronto without electricity, witnesses said.
Subways in New York came to a complete halt, and power was out at all three of the New York area's major airports. Commuter train service also came to a halt, and cellular telephone service was disrupted.
The Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Forked River, New Jersey was not functioning, according to people familiar with the plant's operation.
A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said they did not know the reason for the power outages, but said the department was looking into it.
Power is out here in Sharbot Lake, a little north of Kingston, Ontario. I'd better conserve my iBook's battery as much as possible.
I don't really mind that the power is dead, but I am annoyed that authorities and the media seem so clueless. Besides the nuclear plant in New Jersey that was mentioned in the Post story above, I read that fire has been reported at the Con Edision generating station in New York.
The CBC says that this is the largest power disaster to hit North America in nearly 40 years:
Quote:
In November 1965 a blackout struck eastern Canada and the northeast U.S. turning out the lights for more than 13 hours.
I think the news is saying that the cause is an overload on a Niagara power grid or some such.
This article is reporting differently:
Quote:
However it appears unlikely an overload of the Niagara Mohawk power grid could cause such widespread damage on its own. The company Web site says serves 1.5 million customers in upstate New York.
My brother is apparently better informed than the networks:
He reports that there was a major failure somewhere on the Niagara-Mohawk mainline, maybe in Canada. The outages elsewhere are mostly automated shutdowns designed to protect equipment from physical damage. In NYC, at least, all equipment was brought down successfully, without damage. The flames reported at NYC powerplants were a result of residual fuel left in reaction chambers when the turbines when they were shutdown - sort of like a back-fire.They're presently just waiting for the power authority to give them the all-clear to start things up again. No word, though, of when that will be, or when the precise point of damage will be isolated.
Also no word of terrorism, but my brother notes that there are a number of points on the power grid in Westchester where a guy who knows what he's doing could cause something like this with a pair of clippers and a crowbar.
My concern now is not that this started as terrorism but that it could end that way. Shite, did you guys notice the SEA of people pouring out onto streets and bridges all over NY? If ever there was a prime opportunity for low-tech suicide bombers or anyone interested in localized germ / chemical attacks.
Probably NY is MORE secure than most areas as far as screening for this type of stuff but once it gets dark the problem could take on an ugly dimension. Also, some of the TV "experts" are noting you could have more blackouts if these plants aren't restarted with the proper timing / sequencing. FUBAR.
Forget aircraft carriers George (and Governors), buy an f-ing power grid that works!
Hopefully we get through the night with nothing but some looted storefronts and muggings.
One humorous aside: Texas is the only state with its own grid. Everything west of Texas is on one grid and everything north and east of Texas on the other. Including parts of Canadahh, eh?
Apologies, I misread what I saw on TV, I just noticed Niagara and forgot the other part... will edit my post.
No, you probably read right. Most places seem to be saying that it was a failure in that grid. I just thought I'd add this article to the mix since it acknowledged that theory and disagreed.
Comments
The World is Ending!
All the biblical signs agree that August 14, 2003 is the end of the world. This event has nothing to do with high power demand from air conditioners, terrorism, or random accidents. This is simply just the end of the world. No need to be alarmed. Continue posting on Appleinsider like usual.
Hopefully this is just bad energy management and not something worse...
... like terrorism for example. World will not end until January 15, 2068.
seems like several NE cities are having problems... hopefully this is just related to the heat and not related to terrorism
NEW YORK - A massive power outage swept across swaths of the eastern United States and Canada on Thursday, leaving sections of New York, Detroit, Cleveland and Toronto without electricity, witnesses said.
Subways in New York came to a complete halt, and power was out at all three of the New York area's major airports. Commuter train service also came to a halt, and cellular telephone service was disrupted.
The Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Forked River, New Jersey was not functioning, according to people familiar with the plant's operation.
A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said they did not know the reason for the power outages, but said the department was looking into it.
I don't really mind that the power is dead, but I am annoyed that authorities and the media seem so clueless. Besides the nuclear plant in New Jersey that was mentioned in the Post story above, I read that fire has been reported at the Con Edision generating station in New York.
The CBC says that this is the largest power disaster to hit North America in nearly 40 years:
In November 1965 a blackout struck eastern Canada and the northeast U.S. turning out the lights for more than 13 hours.
Nice.
Originally posted by MCQ
I think the news is saying that the cause is an overload on a Niagara power grid or some such.
This article is reporting differently:
However it appears unlikely an overload of the Niagara Mohawk power grid could cause such widespread damage on its own. The company Web site says serves 1.5 million customers in upstate New York.
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/08/14/power_030814
He reports that there was a major failure somewhere on the Niagara-Mohawk mainline, maybe in Canada. The outages elsewhere are mostly automated shutdowns designed to protect equipment from physical damage. In NYC, at least, all equipment was brought down successfully, without damage. The flames reported at NYC powerplants were a result of residual fuel left in reaction chambers when the turbines when they were shutdown - sort of like a back-fire.They're presently just waiting for the power authority to give them the all-clear to start things up again. No word, though, of when that will be, or when the precise point of damage will be isolated.
Also no word of terrorism, but my brother notes that there are a number of points on the power grid in Westchester where a guy who knows what he's doing could cause something like this with a pair of clippers and a crowbar.
Originally posted by giant
This article is reporting differently:
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/08/14/power_030814
Apologies, I misread what I saw on TV, I just noticed Niagara and forgot the other part... will edit my post.
Probably NY is MORE secure than most areas as far as screening for this type of stuff but once it gets dark the problem could take on an ugly dimension. Also, some of the TV "experts" are noting you could have more blackouts if these plants aren't restarted with the proper timing / sequencing. FUBAR.
Forget aircraft carriers George (and Governors), buy an f-ing power grid that works!
Hopefully we get through the night with nothing but some looted storefronts and muggings.
One humorous aside: Texas is the only state with its own grid. Everything west of Texas is on one grid and everything north and east of Texas on the other. Including parts of Canadahh, eh?
I just feel really bad for those who may be sensitive to the heat.
If this is terrorism (which it probably isn't) then its an evil but a brillant attack.
NY Mayor Bloomberg just announced that the power will start coming back but it may take a several hours.
Originally posted by MCQ
Apologies, I misread what I saw on TV, I just noticed Niagara and forgot the other part... will edit my post.
No, you probably read right. Most places seem to be saying that it was a failure in that grid. I just thought I'd add this article to the mix since it acknowledged that theory and disagreed.