Power Failure

Tomas Andreda, left, of Queens, and Nancy Acosta, center, make phone calls to family from a bank of pay phones as lines form behind them after a power blackout in New York City, Aug. 14, 2003. A huge power outage hit U.S. cities, spreading from New York to Cleveland and Detroit and north into Canada.

Commuters walk up the entrance ramp to the 59th Street Bridge in New York, as a police officer directs traffic, Aug. 14, 2003.

Pedestrians walk over the Manhattan-bound roadway of the Williamsburg Bridge, which was shut down to non-emergency vehicles after the power blackout, Aug. 14, 2003.

Pedestrians and vehicles clog New York's Brooklyn Bridge, Aug. 14, 2003.

Kim Halterman stands in the doorway of a 7-Eleven in Royal Oak, Mich., explaining the power outage that hit the Detroit area, Aug. 14, 2003

Pedestrian Raj Dhriaj takes matters into his own hands as he takes on the role of traffic cop at a downtown Toronto intersection, Aug. 14, 2003. Traffic, subways, elevators and most downtown buildings shut down following a widespread power outage in Ontario and parts of the United States.

People in Toronto try to thumb a ride after the power outage, Aug.14, 2003.

The clock at the South Norwalk train station waiting room is stopped at 4:15 p.m. in South Norwalk, Conn., Aug. 14, 2003. Power flickered across Connecticut and some areas of the state lost electric service completely as New York City was plunged into a blackout. According to Northeast Utilities some 182,000 customers were without power.

Metro North commuters wait on a train that's stopped at the Stamford, Conn. train station, Aug. 14, 2003. The front of the car door was left open for air to circulate.

Despite the loss of electricity, shoppers at a store in Clay, N.Y., were able to purchase groceries, Aug. 14, 2003.

Commuters and travelers flow out of the darkened hallways toward the main waiting area inside Grand Central Station in New York City, Aug. 14, 2003.

Crowds gather in gridlock on a New York City street, Aug. 14, 2003.

People attempt to board the back of a crowded Manhattan bus during the power outage, Aug. 14, 2003. Buses were packed to capacity after the subway lines closed down due to the outage.

A group of Orthodox Jews gather at Fifth Ave. near 46th Street in front of a bus stuck in traffic, during a power outage in New York, Aug. 14, 2003. A massive power blackout hit U.S. and Canadian cities, closing nuclear power plants in Ohio and New York state, driving workers in New York City and Toronto into the streets, and shutting subways in blistering heat.

A police officer helps people negotiate subway tracks and return to the Shea Stadium Willets Point subway station, Aug. 14, 2003. The passengers were evacuated from a Number 7 subway train stuck on the tracks in the massive power failure.

Cars try to navigate their way through New York City during the blackout, Aug. 14, 2003.

Twilight covers New York and the Empire State Building in this southern view from the 65th floor of the GE Building, Aug. 14, 2003. Some buildings had backup generators to provide power.

The city of Cleveland sits in the dark except for emergency lights in the Federal Courthouse, left, and the SBC building, far right, Aug. 14, 2003.

Patrons continue to eat and drink at the Rink Bar at Rockefeller Center in New York shortly after nightfall, Aug. 14, 2003.