The New York City Blackout of 1977: The History of the Power Failure that Led to Looting and Arson Across the Big Apple

Name: The New York City Blackout of 1977: The History of the Power Failure that Led to Looting and Arson Across the Big Apple
Brand: Charles River Editors
SKU: 41393295884458
Price: 8.99 USD
Availability: InStock

By: Charles River Editors

ISBN: 9781535277143

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Description

*Includes pictures
*Includes accounts of the blackout by NYC residents
*Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading
*Includes a table of contents

“Perhaps the most significant effects of the blackout were those felt by public and private organizations with responsibility for the economic and social activities of New York City and its inhabitants. In many cases, these organizations were ill-prepared for the blackout and much of the chaos, economic loss and individual inconvenience resulted from this lack of preparedness.” – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s “Impact Assessment of the 1977 New York Blackout Report”

Throughout history, light has been associated with goodness and darkness has been a connotation for evil. This is no coincidence, given that many bad deeds that take place in the world under the cover of darkness. It’s no surprise civilizations have always valued the ability to keep light present, even when the sun goes down and the world itself becomes dark. Beginning with the first discovery of fire, men and women have struggled with ways to tame it for their use so that they might have a sense of safety at night. Just as a roaring fire lit at the mouth of a cave would keep out four-legged predators, so it was widely believed that electric lights could discourage marauders of the two-legged kind.

But what happens when the awesome – and occasionally awful – power of nature snatches light away from those who depend on it to feel safe? This question was answered in a most dismaying way in July 1977 when New York City was plunged into darkness for over 24 hours following a thunderstorm. New Yorkers across the city quickly learned that without the light, they could fall prey to looting and violence of just about every kind imaginable. It did not help that this disaster occurred at a time when the city was under more stress than usual due to a poor economy and frequent reports of a new murder by a serial killer calling himself the “Son of Sam.”

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