Without over reacting wouldn't this count as a national emergency

[wndycty]

If the power in New York City, Detroit, Cleveland, Albany, Toledo and Akron and many other US cities (you will notice I did not mention Toronto or Ottawa) goes out at the same time for an extended time doesn't that qualify as a national emergency even if it is not a terrorist attack?

[slackmaster]

1. No, it's a regional emergency

Pretty serious problem for those who are affected. But the power and thankfully the air conditioning are still on in San Diego.

[wndycty]

3. Just think of the $$$ lost

This is a national emergency. The ecomonic hub of the world has lost power as well as cities across the northeast I think that qualifies. Think about all of the flights that have been canceled. This will affect the entire country. . .where is Shrub?

[slackmaster]

30. Is there anything I can do to help?

The national and global economy will absorb the incident. This is an outage of historic proportions, but luckily the weather is not dangerously hot or cold in the northeast, so healthy people will get through it.

I'm concerned about hospitals and individuals who rely on electric power. Any who do not have adequate backup systems are in grave danger. For them it's a big hairy emergency. For people stuck on a subway who are going to miss a dinner date or not make it home for several hours, for people with kids stuck at school, etc. it's an inconvenience but not an emergency. Not yet.

For power company engineers scrambling to get the juice turned back on it's a major emergency.

Count on me for a donation if the Red Cross has to step in and provide food, shelter, or medical care.

[wndycty]

32. I am calling it an emergency not a tragedy there is a difference

A number of American cities have been shut down, transportation is affected not just in those cities but all cities we are inter connected. Remember I am not saying its a tragedy, its an emergency.

[slackmaster]

34. Yes, it's an emergency for millions of people

I'm responding to the original question as to whether or not it rises to the level of "national emergency". I say it doesn't. People everywhere will be affected in some way or other, but not necessarily in a manner that calls for immediate action.

[blindersoff]

20. but if there is a thunderstorm, it could qualify as an emergency

... and it looks like rain.

[molly]

2. I would hope so

[rucky]

4. Dude...It's only been like Two Hours

Ask me again tomorrow if it qualifies.

[wndycty]

6. Well they are canceling flights at O'Hare and Midway now. . .

. . .this will happen all over the country. Its a major transportation center.

[mandyky]

7. you wanna get stuck in an elevator

for 2 hours, or get caught in the subway tunnels with no lights?

[slackmaster]

31. If you or someone else has to urinate it would be pretty bad

Always carry a flashlight and a Swiss Army Knife wherever you go. We in Earthquake Country who are prepared also carry food, water, and sensible shoes.

[Brian Sweat]

15. What part of "emergency" don't you understand

[LuminousX]

5. tinfoil hat...

After Bush said the economy was recovering, his advisors pointed out it really wasn't so they engineered a massive power outage to blame for why things still suck.

I don't believe this, but it is an interesting theory and I assure you that some pundit out there will make that claim and call for another round of tax cuts to help spur the economy even more.

[arcane1]

8. it wouldn't be the first time...

phony power outages to make an extra buck, it's deja vu all over again

arcane1: pissed off California resident :mad:

[Democrats unite]

9. It can only be a national Emergency if...

Bush & Company can make money off of it somehow.

[NashVegas]

10. If this is an Emergency

What was it in the tens of thousands of years leading up to the invention of modern electricity?

[Davis_X_Machina]

11. Um, dark?

We went 11 days without electricty in 1998, in mid-January.

It sucks to be hot, but it sucks to be cold, too, and have to carry water in from the stream in 5 gal pails for a week. (No well pump).

[NashVegas]

13. Zoikes!

But at least you had a stream, and I'm guessing it wasn't 5 miles away.

[AliceWonderland]

12. Funny, Crisco!

This hysteria is just ridiculous. It's a big administrative/engineering/urban planning problem, with potential isolated emergencies. For heaven's sake. This society is addicted to melodrama.

[NashVegas]

14. Yeah, It Is

It's pretty funny to hear the news announces wigging out, and regular folks who are stuck in it are just chillin'

[wndycty]

16. Does anybody understand why I call it an emergency. . .

First of all it is not a TRAGEDY.

My best friend lives in Cleveland is on dialysis (sp). . .HE NEEDS electricity, how many more people are in that same boat?

Anytime the markets close unexpectedly and cannot do normal business that is not good.

So many people and the things that they do that impact all of us do not have electricity. We live in a global economy.

To me its an emergency. . .does anybody agree?

[NashVegas]

18. Um .. No

Medical difficulties aside (and most hospitals do have back-up generators), so far, this ranges from an interesting quirk to royal pain in the ass.

I just got off the phone with my mom, who's Upstate. They're all taking it in stride.

[wndycty]

19. A definition of emergency

From: Websters

emergency-an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate reaction.

Now that being said when you have a major power outage in several cities which impacts transportation (flights are being canceled left and right) forcing people who are towns not directly impacted by the outage to react, I think that is an emergency.

[NashVegas]

39. "Sucks" vs "Emergency"

Losing power: sucks.
Losing power for more than a day or two: emergency

Losing power: sucks
Losing power when you rely on 24/7 medical technology: emergency

Losing power: sucks
Losing power means your place of business is going to get looted: emergency

Can't meet your connecting flight: sucks.
Can't meet your connecting flight to get your liver transplant: emergency

Stuck in traffic: sucks
Stuck in traffic wreck and medical crews can't get through: emergency

Losing a day's work: sucks
Losing a job indefinitely: emergency



etc, etc.

For a small % of people, this is an emergency. For the rest, it just sucks.

[jmowreader]

21. Your best friend needs a generator

If you absolutely must have electricity no matter what, you need a generator. Check pawn shops, places that take trade-ins, the classifieds and so on if you can't swing a new one.

[wndycty]

22. Fortunately. . .

He has a manual method that works for him, but others are not so lucky. I did not publish his plight for sympathy, but to demonstrate how this power outage affects people.

[QuietStorm]

24. I understand why you say it is an emergency (no running water)

there is no running water in my sisters county in NJ

[wndycty]

26. That makes it an emergency for her, but. . .

. . .what makes it a national emergency is the ripple effect that will affect people all over the country. Transportation is one thing that comes to mind, but commerce in general as well.

[QuietStorm]

28. I am not sure this is NOT terrorism and quite frankly I am not sure

they have ruled it out yet. DEFINITELY NATIONAL EMERGENCY.

[QuietStorm]

27. They say mal function in niagra falls (definitely emergency)

people are stuck in elevators in subway cars, Hospitals are effected, running water is effected, we do not know how long it will take for them to resume electricity. I do believe this is a first with outages within such a large area. I am not sure yet this is NOT terrorist related.

[wndycty]

29. And remember I am calling it an emergency. . .not a tragedy

:kick:

[QuietStorm]

36. tell me

isn't this another historic precedent? has the pentagon had a press conference yet or homeland security. DO THEY KNOW CONCLUSIVELY WHAT THE CAUSE IS YET.

As far tragedy, right now it is an emergency, potential it could be a crisis. depending no how long it the power is out could turn into a tragedy. and if it is terrorist related America might just be fucked.

[IranianDemocrat]

17. This is an act of war.

We must bomb the power company now for causing this atrocity. We must send a message to all the commie DEMONcrats who stand in the way of our great homeland.

One Nation! One People! One Feuhrer!

[QuietStorm]

23. this does seem major

[Feanorcurufinwe]

25. It's only a national emergency if it was concocted by BushCo

[PurityOfEssence]

33. I'm sorry, you are not permitted to discuss this without overreacting

It's just incredible to watch the cable networks at times like this.

DON'T PANIC!! WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T PANIC!! Excuse me, sir, have you seen any panic or looting or ABJECT FEAR RUNNING WILLY-NILLY IN AN EFFORT TO REACH THE STAGE OF FULL AMOK?!

Geez.

[slackmaster]

35. They all look like something from The Onion

Like the one where people all over New York City were being issued floatation devices (live vests, rafts, etc.) but being told there was no cause for concern.

[NYC]

40. That's very funny. (I'm here on battery.)

Those of us who are in the blackout can't watch television, so can't hear them telling us not to panic.

So far, things are okay.

Hospitals here have generators. Some people at home on dialysis or whatever may have generators. ALL of those people are registered with Con Ed. (I don't know if that will help them, but they aren't anonymous.)

Tall buildings will be without water. I had just arrived home when the blackout hit, so filled pots, glasses, and the bath tub. I can last a day or two.

Getting water from a brownstone is difficult because the heavy water then needs to be carried up many flights of stairs in over 90 degree heat.

Who knows? It may not last long. Hard to know what's going on from here.

I'll be saving part of the battery for later, so I can get an update.

Ignore typos, no time to proofread. :hi:

[QuietStorm]

37. Now they are saying that several generator switches have

switched off in niagra falls. what I do not understand is what does that have to do with the fire at conEd?

[QuietStorm]

38. How in the only super power in the world does this happen?

the spokesperson is calling it the nerve system of power in the region tripped off. hmmmm... massive devices circuit breakers tripped off. hmmmm. this is happens. how in the super power country. does this happen. they do not know what initiated these major devices to trip off.

Accident or premeditated?

[sandnsea]

41. Yes it's an emergency

One the President ought to be involved in, at the very least. Electricity and water going out in the middle of the hottest season of the year. Should somebody be thinking about getting water into the city? Should somebody be thinking about contacting the people who are registered with the electric companies as power being necessity to their health? Should somebody be thinking about the people who won't have any food if it all rots in their refrigerators and freezers?

It's not a tragedy yet, but it sure could be if the situation is poorly managed. With Bushco, we'll just have to hope for the best because he'll just let the free market handle it all. While he's out west gathering up all the money from the free market that let this happen in the first place.

[amazona]

42. many federal emergencies don't involve terror

In normal times (Bill Clinton) this would be a federal emergency. Perhaps Chimpy will do the right thing and declare it a federal emergency for those who need help but don't hold your breath. FEMA has been very short on emergency funds.

In 2002, my area was twiced declared a federal disaster area, and people were able to get loans, etc.

However, in 2003, even though the disaster in my area was much greater and more expensive to the city, the federal gov't refused to recognize it as a federal disaster area. Thus...no FEMA loans to people who needed them, you can't cash out savings bonds early if you need to get to them, the city is out $100K for a new pier built just months before, so on and so on. Even though the 2003 disaster was MUCH bigger, * refused to recognize Tropical Storm Bill as a federal disaster because...wait for it...the FEMA disaster assistance funds were already almost gone. On June 30. And this with hurricane season just getting started.

Chimpy may well indeed refuse to recognize you, as he failed to recognize us, as victims of a federal disaster. Not for any legitimate or sensible reason. But simply to conceal the fact that the Republican Congress has refused to properly fund FEMA!

People need to get more on the ball about this...It isn't just about the Gulf Coast and some hurricanes. Disasters can occur anywhere, at any time.