The news reports about today’s blackout tell a lot about the current state of mind. Every reporter had to emphasize that it was NOT terrorist related. It seems that when anything happens, they always have to bring up the ‘T’ word. I bet they’ll even mention the ‘T’ word after a big earthquake.
Massive blackouts happen, especially during the summer. All it takes is a power surge to knock out a generator, and due to the grid structure, it will end up taking down others.
I was too young to really remember the 1965 blackout, but I remember major NY blackout in the mid 70s. It also happened on a hot summer day under similar circumstances. I had just put on a Led Zeppelin record & I first thought my record player blew a fuse.