Next Blackout May Be Catastrophic

[OrdinaryTa]

This year in New York we've had thunderstorms that were real doozies - one just a day or two before the blackout. It's only a matter of time before the two events happen together. There's nothing like an August cloudburst to turn grownups back into wide-eyed kids, especially with booming thunderclaps. But just imagine if the power were out at the same time. There'd be no joshing about stoic New Yorkers grinning and bearing it. No talk about tourists agreeably sleeping out under the stars.

The newspapers on Friday were full of stories denying how truly dangerous a power blackout is. Just imagine if commuters were stuck in Manhattan overnight - angry, frightened, and soaking wet. And just imagine if New York's criminal element were to take advantage of the thunderstorm. It will happen eventually.