Massive power outage parts of NE US and Ontario, Ca - Just FYI

Might be missing some of our online buds today. From the Drudge Report (where I first spotted it although it's also on national TV and radio):

"A huge power blackout hit U.S. cities spreading from New York to Cleveland and Detroit and north into Canada Thursday afternoon. In New York City, the blackout affected subways, elevators and airports, including John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports. Thousands of people streamed into the streets of lower Manhattan in 90-degree heat. In Toronto, Ontario, too, workers left their offices after the blackout hit shortly after 4 p.m. EDT. Traffic lights were out throughout downtown Cleveland, creating havoc at the beginning of rush hour. There were reports of outages in New Jersey and Connecticut as well. Every prison in New York state reported a loss of power and had switched to backup generators, said James Flateau, a spokesman for the state Department of Corrections."

One report on TV/Radio said all of Ontario was out. The incident reportedly started with problems within ConEd in NYC and then had a ripple effect through the grid to the Niagara power plant. Indications at present are that it's just an operational FU/breakdown and not the result of an intentional act.

Best of luck to all those stuck in this.



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Reply #1 Top
One report: all of south michigan out too?

We folks out West had a five stater a few years ago, which may have reached as far as LA (I can't recall specifically) but this one now hits some significant major urban metro areas, and the heat ain't dry either. Yikes.



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Reply #2 Top
irc.stardock.com is down - dunno if its related to this though
Reply #3 Top
Stardock is located in Michigan although depending where the server is it might be related. This site's doing ok so far where ever it is.


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Reply #4 Top
Yeah, our power was out mostly all yesterday and some this morning. But that was because of a freak storm going over New Jersey. It ripped out trees, and when I stood next to the fallen trees, they were so big they were taller than me! It was really bad. On one road, there was a whole row of trees uprooted the same size as that one. It was bad. And it only lasted about 5 or 6 minutes. Whew.
Reply #5 Top
Well, now I know my mail server must be in NY.

announcement said power is starting to come back slowly.
Reply #6 Top
Im from Mass, We were affected here for about an hour. Since the power came back on though , it's gone out again twice. Hope I stay connected and keeep my AC on for a while.
Reply #7 Top

The IRC server and Stardock's website are affected. Power should come back slowly over the course of the next few hours. This was a huge outage, probably the biggest ever. The one in '96 was 9 western states, Washington to San Diego, Texas and as far east as Montana. But that one wasn't a complete failure, many cities had power and the outages were like big spots on the map but not whole states.

Good luck to all... I hope it gets fixed soon. On the news they said a couple hours for NYC to get back online but that sounds overly optimistic.

I wonder if a CME or solar flare was involved in this one? There was a huge power outage in Canada caused by one about ten years ago and the sun has been very nasty lately.

Reply #8 Top
Nothing extra-terrestrial going on. http://spaceweather.com/ gives the latest data on such things.
Reply #9 Top
It was reported on the National news that the Software the power company in Canada was using is the culprit.
Somehow it failed to prevent the power outage cascade when a generating station there went off..


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Reply #10 Top
It was reported on the National news that the Software the power company in Canada was using is the culprit.Somehow it failed to prevent the power outage cascade when a generating station there went off..


What I just read is Canadian officials blame it on a lightning strike at the Niagra Falls power plant



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Reply #11 Top
Hmmm I wonder how many babys will be born nine months from now
Reply #12 Top
Yea out here in Rhode Island, we lost power for about 5 hours last night because of the storm. But yea I heard that the power outtage is due to a lighting strike of the power generator station in Niagra Falls.
Reply #13 Top
Amzaing, just (again) watching thousands of people leaving NYC on foot over bridges.

That was a 9 stater in the west in '96? Whoa my mind is going. (Reason I should have remembered is my employer is sorta involved in energy issues in the western states and that was a big deal.) But as DavidK said, it wasn't total throughout the areas. Where I was (work and home) never not lose power while others did not regain power for days.

(I tink it wass te Beegfoot tat done it, yah.)



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Reply #14 Top
Oh Guys! I work in New York! That was a disaster! Manhattan was a mess! I had to walk from downtown, (I work just in front of were the twin towers stood) to grand Central Terminal, then we had to rent a car because I live in CT, Trumbull and one of my friends that work with me lives in stamford CT. We rented the car and we couldn't move because the traffic was a chaos. I didn't see police no where, Just normal people directing the traffic. Now it's 11:18 PM and I just got home! I will let you know the details tomorrow! Now I'm just tired!
The only thing I can say now is that New York is not prepared for an emergency!
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Reply #15 Top
Thats neet a friend of mine lives in Trumbull

lol

Friend of mine that works in manhattan JUST got home to northern jersey
Reply #16 Top
Power went out here around 4:15PM EDT. Just restored now (12:56 am EDT)

It's nice to have power again, but during the 8 plus hours that it was out I sat outside with my neighbors and got slightly tanked. That was actually fun.
Reply #17 Top
It was reported on the National news that the Software the power company in Canada was using is the culprit.Somehow it failed to prevent the power outage cascade when a generating station there went off..


What I just read is Canadian officials blame it on a lightning strike at the Niagra Falls power plant


The world uses electrical power. Sometimes it goes out. That's all.

Reply #18 Top
Lets see: current random excuses

lightning strike @ niagra
fire @ ConEd
software failure
terrorists
Reply #19 Top
Hmmm I wonder how many babys will be born nine months from now


Reply #20 Top

Stardocks office is still out of power as is all of Detroit and most of the metro area.  (2 million people are out from DTE Energy).  I live 55 miles from Stardock.  My power is from a different source, so I was out of power for a few hours from 4:10 to about 6:30 then it was on then off again in the night but back on now. 

Unfortunately, communications have been effected by this in the area, so it is doubtful that bringing Stardock's power up on generated power would be enough.  SBC is having issues, and our local loop is leased from SBC, so even if we had power, we probably would not get to the internet.

The news said that this is the biggest outage ever.  It effected over 50 million people.

Reply #21 Top
CNN reports that Detroit may be without power until late Sunday
Reply #22 Top
I live in one of the few areas that still doesn't have power (western Long Island) but my office which is in the east does have power. My wife had to walk 64 blocks (3 hours) to get out of Manhattan so I could pick her up at the Queens border last night. She is a trooper!
Reply #24 Top
Stupid CANADIAN ( > ) power plants. I bet there was even CANADIANS ( > ) working in it too >

I'm just kidding
Reply #25 Top
A Hydro-field cuts through my neighborhood
Somehow that always just made me feel good
I can put a spare bulb in my hand
And light up my yard

Late at night when the wires in the walls
Sing in tune with the din of the falls
I'm conducting it all while I sleep
To light this whole town......

--Page & Robertson, BNL