We were at the very edge of the blackout area. Quite a few of the surrounding towns (Okemos, Grand Ledge, etc) still had power. Fortunately, I had left work early yesterday, and was home when the power went off. At first, it just flickered in and out. Then it stayed on for about five minutes. Then it went off.
My boyfriend called me from work, where they still did have power and told me what had happened. I hadn't thought anything of it at first. I just thought it was a brownout. I spent the next hour or two just listening to the radio. I couldn't believe that most of the northeastern part of the country was fading slowly into a dark, hazy evening.
You never really think of how reliant your daily activities are on electric power until it's out. No tv. Battery powered radio. Flashlights and candles for light. Once it gets dark, there's not a whole lot to do. Fortunately, I'd charged up my handheld, and was able to play a few games.
I think that the strangest part of the experience was the total darkness. We walked down to one of the city's major roads, and there were no lights on anywhere! Usually this part of the street is lit up like a Christmas tree. It was dark and quiet. No traffic lights, no street lights, nothing. Only headlights of passing cars in which I could see the humid mist hovering. It was uncomfortably hot last night. But I'm thankful that I was home, that my boyfriend was able to get home okay, and that for the most part, people just took this in stride.
9:03:56 PM 
|
|
