This Day In History: 08/14/2003 - Blackout Hits Northeast US
On August 14, 2003, a major outage knocks out power across the eastern United States and parts of Canada. Beginning at 4:10 p.m. ET, 21 power plants shut down in just three minutes. Fifty million people were affected, including residents of New York, Cleveland and Detroit, as well as Toronto and Ottawa, Canada.
Although power companies were able to resume some service in as little as two hours, power remained off in other places for more than a day. The outage stopped trains and elevators, and disrupted everything from cellular telephone service to operations at hospitals to traffic at airports. In New York City, it took more than two hours for passengers to be evacuated from stalled subway trains. Small business owners were affected when they lost expensive refrigerated stock. The loss of use of electric water pumps interrupted water service in many areas. There were even some reports of people being stranded mid-ride on amusement park roller coasters. At the New York Stock Exchange and bond market, though, trading was able to continue thanks to backup generators.
New York City
Authorities soon calmed the fears of jittery Americans that terrorists may have been responsible for the blackout, but they were initially unable to determine the cause of the massive outage. American and Canadian representatives pointed fingers at each other, while politicians took the opportunity to point out major flaws in the region’s outdated power grid. Finally, an investigation by a joint U.S.-Canada task force traced the problem back to an Ohio company, FirstEnergy Corporation. When the company’s EastLake plant shut down unexpectedly after overgrown trees came into contact with a power line, it triggered a series of problems that led to a chain reaction of outages. FirstEnergy was criticized for poor line maintenance, and more importantly, for failing to notice and address the problem in a timely manner—before it affected other areas.
Despite concerns, there were very few reports of looting or other blackout-inspired crime. In New York City, the police department, out in full force, actually recorded about 100 fewer arrests than average. In some places, citizens even took it upon themselves to mitigate the effects of the outage, by assisting elderly neighbors or helping to direct traffic in the absence of working traffic lights.
In New York City alone, the estimated cost of the blackout was more than $500 million.
With few options to access information about the major power outage, a crowd of people gathered around a battery-powered radio to listen to the news.
Batteries were in high demand across the city, and sold out quickly. This crowd, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, lined up at the local hardware store for batteries to power fans, flashlights and radios.
Transit was crippled during the blackout—just as many people started to make their way home for the day. Subway cars that had been operating during the blackout slowed to a half and were left stranded underground. Crowded train cars across all five boroughs had to be evacuated.
With no access to the subway, the streets filled with people looking for a way to get home. Some pedestrians got creative by hitching a ride on the back of a New York City bus.
Not everyone was able to use the limited NYC transit options available. David Eisenberg, who had commuted in on the Long Island Railroad, stood in Time Square with a sign looking to get a ride home.
It was only two years since the city had endured the September 11 attacks and many New Yorkers feared the blackout had also been caused by terrorists. On the night of August 14th, thousands of people started to make their way home on foot over bridges, crowding the streets and creating total gridlock.
Iconic views around the city became unrecognizable in the dark. Times Square, known for its bright lights at all hours fell dark just like the rest of the East Coast.
As the blackout carried on to the following day, many New Yorkers tried to carry on as usual. Here, Peachy Garcis soaps up near a fire hydrant for a quick shower in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood.
The power outage affected many businesses, including those with perishable items that needed refrigeration. Here, Natalie Matos looks over a limited supply of meat at the supermarket. (AP Photo/Diane Bondareff)
Many tourists who had had booked air-conditioned hotel rooms resorted to sleeping outside on the sidewalk when the power went out, rather than staying inside their stuffy rooms.
Commuters waited for their trains at Grand Central Station on day two of the blackout as the city remained without electricity.
Buses and ferries were the only mass transportation options for stranded commuters who rely on subways and rail. Hordes of people were forced to squeeze into the limited buses that continued operating.
A stranded traveler sleeps in the baggage claim area at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Flight delays at airports in New York City stranded travelers for up to 48 hours or more.
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