Responders ready for blackout
- By Wilson P. Dizard III, William Jackson
- Aug 22, 2003
Satelite image before the blackout
Courtesy of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
Satelite image after the blackout
Courtesy of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
State and local officials across the Northeast said that the emergency response methods they upgraded after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks helped them respond to this month's massive power outage. The preparations included computer links among state, local and federal emergency response centers.
New York Gov. George E. Pataki and Cleveland Mayor Jane L. Campbell, among other state and local leaders, praised the emergency response of their public safety agencies. Campbell said her city had activated the same emergency response plans designed for use during terrorist incidents.
Early reports did not indicate that computers of any kind played a role in the power failure. The blackout had no effect on Internet backbones, said Lloyd Taylor, vice president of technology at Keynote Systems Inc. of San Mateo, Calif., which monitors Internet performance.
About the Authors
William Jackson is a Maryland-based freelance writer.