Northeast blackout of 2003
 This image shows areas where power outages happened. Not everywhere in these political borders were affected. | |
| Date | August 14–16, 2003 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 hours–4 days, depending on location |
| Type | Blackout |
| Cause | Software bug in the alarm system in the control room of FirstEnergy |
List of Northeast Blackout Cities
The Northeast blackout of 2003 was a big power outage that happened in many parts of the northeastern and midwestern United States, and the Canadian area of Ontario on Thursday, August 14, 2003, starting soon after 4:10 p.m. EDT.[1]
Most places got power back by midnight (in about 7 hours since it was lost), some as early as 6 p.m. on August 14 (in 2 hours since it was lost),[2] while the New York City Subway started serving customers again by 8 p.m.[2] Full power came back to New York City and Toronto on August 16.[3] It was the world's second biggest blackout in history, second to the 1999 Southern Brazil blackout.[4][5]
The blackout happened because of a software problem in the alarm area of the control room of FirstEnergy.
Northeast Blackout Of 2003 Media
A streetcar left stranded by the blackout in Toronto
People walking across the Queensboro Bridge in New York City during the blackout
Toronto, on the evening of August 14
Volunteers, like Toronto lawyer Peter Carayiannis (pictured), received fluorescent jackets from the police to direct traffic in Toronto during the blackout. Traffic lights also went out of service.
Toronto Union Station during the blackout
References
- ↑ Genscape (August 15, 2003). "What Caused the Power Blackout To Spread So Widely and So Fast?". Press release. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/what-caused-the-power-blackout-to-spread-so-widely-and-so-fast-genscapes-unique-data-will-help-answer-that-question-70952022.html. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Major power outage hits New York, other large cities. Turner Broadcasting System. August 14, 2003. http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/08/14/power.outage/. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
- ↑ (2016-05-05) International Comparison Major Blackouts and Restoration , 16–17. Report.
- ↑ "2003: The great North America blackout". CBC News (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). August 14, 2003. http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/2003-the-great-north-america-blackout. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
- ↑ "INDEPTH: Power Outage | Timeline". CBC News (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). August 18, 2004. http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/poweroutage/timeline.html. Retrieved September 15, 2008.
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