Do you remember where you were or what you were doing during the Northeast blackout of 2003?

[Cherry234]

Today is the 19th anniversary of the Northeast blackout of 2003. The blackout occurred on August 14, 2003 affecting eight US states including New York and New Jersey. The blackout also affected parts of Canada such as Ottawa and Toronto. I was 5 years old and only remember that I was scared that a blackout occurred in my apartment building. I don't remember any other details.

Times Square during the blackout.

This map shows all the places that were affected by the blackout.

[Anonymous]

Oh boy I dooooo.

So I was a lifeguard at the time. The power went out in mid lesson so everyone had to get out of the pool.

So since work was obviously caput we left. I was in the city centre. I was walking up a main street and remembered I had met some guy who lived on it. I buzzed it and he was there chilling with a bunch of his friends bbqing.

We probably smoked a bunch of weed too all while looking out on the city skyline.

Then we had burgers and absinthe and some annoying bitch was taking about how much she loves doing K (ketamine).

I thought the guy was gay but he apparently wasn't and was super trying to get something sexual going with me so that was my cue to leave.

Left hailed a cab that I shared with some dude up to my mom's boyfriend's place where I probably smoked a bunch more weed and had a few more drinks.

The next day I had to haul water up in buckets because there was no power to send water up the apartment floors so that sucked.

[wheresmrcunnunglis]

in new york with the family. My mother was prepared for things like this as we used to struggle financially a lot back then and our lights would get turned off so we already had a huge stash of candles that we could tap into to light for the two days ( was it more?) that this happened.

This question sure made me feel old haha! That incident never even crossed my mind for even a second till I read this very question

[DermalPunch]

Me too I feel old.

[WindAtMyBack]

I don't remember that one specifically.

Where I live we lose power all the time, like several times a year. I think we've had at least three this year so far.

In the last 20 years I remember at least two blackouts that lasted for ~5-6 days. Plus a bunch that were 2-4 days.

Hurricane Katrina was 2005 and I think that was 5-6 days. It was 7-8 days for some people near me. I'm a thousand miles inland, but those gulf hurricanes affect large parts of N America.

We get so many outages here that I keep pretty well stocked on candles, headlamps and camp lanterns. If it goes on long enough, many of my neighbors have generators I can tap into to keep my refrigerator and sump pump running.

[DCooper]

IIRC a big solar CME hit and blew a big chunk of the grid out. I got off work early the first day. I pulled an extra 4 banger car outside the bedroom window, ran an inverter off it, and played a lot of Star Qars Galaxies for a few days.

The cable internet didn't go down, they probably were running off a backup diesel generator.

[AviatorTom]

My family and I were visiting other family members in Pennsylvania, and we did not lose power. Interestingly, when we got home in Western NY a few days later (after the visit), we found that our area did not lose power, though areas all around us did.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Sorry I don't remember this one but I do remember the one in the year 2010 it hit Pennsylvania we had no electricity for 5 days

[Cherry234]

I don't know of that one since I don't live in Pennsylvania. But damn 5 days without power is a very long time. How did you manage?

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

@Cherry234 We lit candles and wrapped in blankets it was below zero outside and we kept contacting the electric company and finding out when the power would be back on yes it was something else I had a freezer in my kitchen that's what we kept things cold in I went outside
and got snow for the freezer

[Cherry234]

Oh wow okay

[Andres77]

Is this the hurricanes that came through PR? I was stuck in PR during a hurricane at some point in the fall of 2003.

[Andres77]

We were in military barracks. Building was solid. Except that the wind was blowing the water through the door seals so we taped garbage bags around the door and piled towels on the floor and a mattress against the door.

[Andres77]

Meditated…🙄… and went to sleep

[Cherry234]

Oh okay. No this is different.

[Andres77]

Yeah, I think ours hit in oct

[Pink2000]

I was 3. I’ve never heard of this. I had no idea. I imagine I was with my parents or most likely at school cause I had just started school then.

[dustybiker]

I was in a chatroom talking with 19 people. Half of them went silent.

[Still-alive]

Well i dont recall that event, but for that time you put down i had just turned 20 and just got hired at my local party city where i worked for about 5 years.

[Bluemax]

I was at home on my computer listening to the NPR. My wife and I followed the story as it unfolded.

[jimmy2]

I was not in area but I sure was when the power grid failed in the entire state of Texas

[Cherry234]

Interesting. I didn't know that.

[exitseven]

I am not sure but I imagine I got the day off from work and probably stayed home.

[AsaKyo]

I was a 1 year old baby drinking milk out of a baby bottle lmao

[Smartman5]

I guess this power outage lasted for long days. I wonder how people met their needs all this time?

[DermalPunch]

Wasn't that long just big.

[Smartman5]

@DermalPunch i understood

[loveslongnails]

My birthday. I think I was having sex with my mistress.

[Twalli]

Living in the midwest and not affected by it at all

[Bklynbadboy12]

Yes I know exactly what I wad doing I was at work I'm a high voltage splicer for Con Edison

[Anonymous]

Vaguely. I remember thinking, " so you lost your electricity for a little while. How is this newsworthy. Big deal"!

[YollyM]

I was 2 months old or should I say young😅

[Msputiton]

I was 2. So no i don't.

[pizzalovershouse]

Early in day at school

[Blueeyes81]

I don't as I was not affected.

[hafinjun]

I do, I was in the dark