The Most Significant (and Unusual) Power Outages of 2018
It would be virtually impossible to count the number of power outages that occur in the United States in any given year.
For one thing, there are just too many. Do an Internet search for “power outages” and you’ll see scores of them – every day.
For another, many blackouts don’t get reported by news media, especially in rural areas.
Despite the large number of power outages in our country each year, some stand out more than others. Some because of their length and others due to the unusual circumstances that caused them.
Today we’re going to take a look at 13 of the most noteworthy power outages that occurred in the U.S. last year. First the seven most significant outages:
- Hurricane Michael. This monster storm that made landfall in Florida as a Category 5 hurricane in October left 2.5 million people in the dark in the Southeast. Including Alabama, the Carolinas and Virginia. Restoring power required some 35,000 utility workers.
- Hurricane Florence. One month earlier, this Category 1 storm wreaked havoc in the Carolinas, cutting power to some 1.4 million customers. It uprooted trees and caused plenty of other destruction along the way.
- Nor’easters 1 and 2. In March, back-to-back nor’easters left thousands of East Coast residents in the dark, some for days and others for more than a week. These winter storms broke some 600 poles and 1,700 spans of wire requiring replacement – in New Jersey alone. Overall, more than 1 million were left without power.
- Nor’easter No. 3. Shortly after the first two nor’easters bombarded the East Coast, number 3 rolled in. This time, more than 350,000 homes and businesses lost power, most significantly in Massachusetts.
- Spring storm. In mid-May, a storm that attacked Connecticut actually caused more damage to the electrical system than Superstorm Sandy had done in 2012. More than 1,800 utility poles were demolished, as were 288 miles of power lines. About 120,000 customers lost power.
- Summer storm. Some 150,000 customers in Michigan were forced to wait several days for their power to be restored in late August after storms came rushing through on their way east.
- Fall storm. Freezing rain and ice were the main culprits in Ohio in mid-November, as more than 130,000 lost power. Trees and wires were strewn all over the landscape, especially in Hamilton County.
Now for six of the most unusual power outages:
- Bird droppings. Birds will occasionally cause outages by flying into places they don’t belong. But in this case, the blackout was caused by a bird leaving its calling card on a piece of electrical equipment in Eugene, Oregon in early May. Well, poop happens.
- Underground activity. In Spokane, Washington in late October, a man decided to crawl under the sidewalk. No one knows why. But he came into contact with high-voltage equipment and caused an outage. He was booked for “first-degree malicious mischief.”
- Iguana Intrigue. In Key West, Florida, an iguana was allegedly zapped by 69,000 watts of power and lived to tell about it. Well, he lived anyway. It occurred in mid-December when he wandered into a substation, knocking out power for 7,600.
- Corny collapse. Electricity for residents near New Carlisle, Ohio was cut in January after a corn silo fell and took power lines with it. The accident also forced the closure of a state road.
- Helicopter Horror. While inspecting power lines in late September, helicopter pilots clipped wires, causing grass fires and knocking out power for more than 8,500 near Calistoga, California. Fortunately, the copter landed safely.
- Zombies. Obviously I saved the best for last. In May, a text alert went out from a Lake Worth, Florida government agency saying that 7,880 customers lost power due to “extreme zombie activity.” City officials later apologized for the message. I’m guessing someone lost their job over that, but at least they went out with a bang.
Some of the power outages I mentioned above actually border on the humorous. But it’s never funny when we lose power.
It’s an inconvenience at best and a major problem at worst. Power outages cause lights to go out, the AC or heat to go off and appliances to stop working.
And the scariest thing of all is that we never know when the power is going to come back on.
The President’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council recently told us that a blackout of “catastrophic proportion” could leave large sections of the country without power for months or even years.
Be Prepared for Your Power to Go Out
It’s becoming more and more obvious that our electrical grid is failing and vulnerable. In 2017 alone, it was reported that 36.7 million Americans had some sort of outage. And its only getting worse…
It’s time to take steps to protect your family if you haven’t already.
Thankfully there is a revolutionary device that protects against this disaster. The Patriot Power Generator.
This lightweight, solar generator can be used inside the house (unlike gas/diesel generators). It has two outlets, 4 USB ports and can power almost any device – from power tools to kitchen appliances – for weeks at a time.
Plus, it comes with a FREE solar panel and pack of food!
But hurry, it won’t take much for us to sell out of these popular devices… again.
This is why I believe more people should be moving to off grid power systems such as solar and wind. With a system like this plus EMP Shield (https://www.empshield.com) you can survive even through lightning, EMP, CME/GMD.
An off grid system can actually be built for a reasonable price these days. My cabin is 100% off grid and my solar system only has around $4k total into it so far.
Saw the email for batteries, need to come up with a solar charger during sunny weather and a hand crank or foot pedal charger or both for cloudy days , for a time when the grid would not be available for a while for whatever reason.
Many of us will go without power. I have bought food and survival items from this company. It’s great people can buy several of these solar generators and give them as gifts.
I don’t have a “rich uncle”. And I can’t charge it.
I feel bad for my ailing husband. He can’t get around much anymore. I take care of him. He has to sleep in a chair in a cold room. He doesn’t complain.
You are offering the solar generator again. I can’t afford it as much as we need it. My husband has Parkinson’s and is disabled. We had to buy a car as the transmission dropped out of the other on. Social Security doesn’t cover greater expenses. Our prescription costs quadrupled as they try to take advantage of poor seniors. I can’t afford mine so I quit taking them. We have stocked up on food from you little by little. For that we are grateful. When the power goes out again as warmer weather draws near, we we I’ll lose our refrigerated and frozen food. This is not an unusual story. There are many people in our situation. If I could afford that generator, I would buy it immediately, but I can’t.
I entered the drawing for the free one but wasn’t chosen. Thank God some people can buy them and help your business. I’m not one of them.
There are smaller, less expensive ‘solar generators’ out there. The Renogy Phoenix 300, as an example, will run an electric light, a CPAP machine, or other small electric appliances. It’s 337watts, has USB,v12V, and 110v outputs.
https://www.renogy.com/phoenix-300-power-station/
GoalZero is another one. They are on the expensive side, but if you search on “open bos” you might find deals. Goalzero.com
And you can find used backup batteries. Price should be around $1.00 per watt.
Hello,
Just want to say while I love the solar powered products you offer, as I have purchased several of your power cells and even gave them as Christmas gifts this year, and this generator looks absolutely a wonderful deal as I’ve many times worried more about a power grid situation more than anything else, I am still unable to afford this as I am a single woman with one not so great income. I am still unable to afford even your payment plan. If there was a way to make payments less for a longer period of time, maybe I might be able to manage something, but 100’s of dollars per month I just cannot afford.
I do understand where you are coming from but I feel really an average joe cannot afford even the payment plan that is offered in this deal. I understand if there isn’t a way to fix this, I just wanted you to know.
Thank you for all your wonderful solar products! They really make one feel better prepared for what might happen.