To the Editor:
Were you living on the Peninsula 15 years ago? If so, where were you on May 14, 1996?
Do you remember what you were doing on that day?
I remember it quite well.
It was a cool spring day, bright sunshine no clouds, little wind, and temperatures in the low 50's.
At approx. 10:12 AM, the power flickered and died. All across the peninsula, the power was out. And it stayed out for 7 hours, longer in some areas.
Investigations later revealed that a switch in a DP&L power substation was improperly installed or handled.
Imagine a doofy character walking into the DP&L control room: "Duh, what's this switch for? .... (BUZZ) .......oops..." While that may not be exactly how it happened, I've been told that there is more truth than fiction to such a scenario.
Many businesses, agencies, hospitals, etc. discovered just how good their emergency and standby power systems were. Many failed. It was a real test of how well prepared we were, with no advance warning. Many stores lost their refrigerated and frozen goods, due to spoilage.
Fortunately, there were no storms, extreme weather, or other factors that could have made this event into a real disaster. It was not hot, nor too cold, so folks really did not need any heating or A/C systems that day.
Standing outside during the outage, the ambient noise was gone. Nearby the Perdue feed mills were silent. It was an eerie silence, almost surreal. Its funny how you get used to all the noise around, and it is unnerving when its gone.
WBOC-16 was on the air using their own generators. I can remember Jackie Lanza doing the noon report that day. I had an inverter that was in my work van. I turned it on, and ran an extension cord into the house to watch the news on a small TV. At least those rabbit ears worked in those days.
Now 15 years have passed. Many folks have forgotten those events. Many others were not even living here to experience it.
I wonder how prepared those same businesses, agencies, hospitals, emergency centers are today, compared to 15 years ago.
Have you become complacent? Or are you prepared?
Respectfully submitted,
-A regular reader
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
I remember that day very well. I was working for the telephone company. We ran our generators in every switching location on the shore without a single failure. The managers and supervisors got a bonus because we were prepared.I wonder if the Verizon Company today is as prepared as we were in 1996?
ReplyDeleteVerizon = definately not. It's a real shame how the once great copper infrastructure the US had is crumbling away. This is one case where the Old Ma Bell would have been great if they had the power/money that they did to upgrade to fiber etc, we could probably have high speed to every residence in the US. Damn a cell phone!
ReplyDeleteHow funny that you used the analogy of the guy innocently hitting the switch....
ReplyDeleteA family friend was employed at the Indian River Powr Plant, and was changing a lightbulb up high, on a big ladder. He'd had to turn off a breaker to do the work, per OSHA, and at exactly the same moment he turned the breaker back on, the whole plant shut down. He turned to the two guys helping him and said, profoundly, "There's no f*cking way!!!!" The entire power plant was dead silent for the first time since he'd worked there,roughly 25 years. He said it was the creepiest thing ever.
We heard it was caused by the failure of a transfer switch somewhere north of Delaware.....
Valuable lessons were learned that day, by all of us!
I remember this day. I had gone to Salisbury with a friend to shop and get gas! We couldn't do either and she had to call a few friends to find gas so we could get home.
ReplyDeleteThe whole problem was caused by a simple relay that was due to be changed out. The guy plugged in the new on that was supposed to be tested before installed and wam the whole grid went done due to a cheep part probably purchased from China. The old part had nothing wrong with it just due to be replaced so losing power wouldn't happen but look what happened. Hope everyone remembers what that day was like and are prepared in case it happens again.
ReplyDeleteMy office was across from the gas station on Naylor St & Rt 13 and THEY had a generator. Cars were lined up for a block or so down Naylor St.
ReplyDeleteOne minor correction: It was 13 years ago that this went down, not 15.
ReplyDeleteI must be getting old in any case...