Pedestrians and traffic leaving downtown Manhattan cross the Queensboro Bridge after the onset of the largest power blackout in American history on Aug. 14, 2003. More than 50 million people were affected by the outage, in Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland and New York City.
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A policeman directs traffic at 42nd Street and 7th Avenue using a light wand.
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A man listens to the news on his battery-operated radio during the massive blackout. The Department of Homeland Security said there were no indications that terrorists were responsible for the blackout.
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Businesses throughout New York City were forced to close during the blackout.
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However, some other businesses took the blackout as an opportunity to get rid of inventory that could go bad in the absence of electricity.
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During the evening hours of the blackout, police conducted traffic using flares in the streets.
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A woman holds her dog as she stands next to a flare, ready to cross the street.
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Thousands of commuters found themselves stranded and trapped in underground subway cars during the blackout.
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NEW YORK – AUGUST 14: Sun sets over the Manhattan skyline August 14, 2003 during a major power outtage affecting a large part of the north eastern United States and…
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The Statue of Liberty was unaffected by the blackout that hit New York City and other eastern US cities.
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Stranded travelers in Grand Central Terminal tried to keep cool during the hot summer day without any power by staying indoors. Most of the city woke up without any power for a second day, on Aug. 15, 2003.
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Many people found themselves sleeping outside the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York during the blackout.
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A vendor stands in his candlelit store window with signs reading “We Have Water” and “Sold Out Flashlights Batteries Candles” during the massive blackout.
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Many commuters resorted to taking MTA buses to move about in New York City during the blackout.
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Three mothers who were denied the use of Port Authority bathrooms and slept in an alley hold their babies during the East Coast blackout.
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Satellite images show the contrast of light coverage on Aug. 13, 2003, and after the blackout on Aug. 15, 2003. Millions of Americans and Canadians were without power for more than 24 hours.
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People watch a news ticker reading “Power Outage Is the Biggest in US History” in Times Square during the massive blackout as power slowly returned to certain parts of New York City.
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The first lights come on at 53rd and Broadway during the East Coast blackout on the evening of Aug. 15, 2003, in New York City.
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