Power outage, fire snarls Washington D.C. rush hour

[UpInArms]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A widespread power outage and subway fire left Washington dark and snarled traffic during the morning rush hour on Friday, power and transit officials said.

The Department of Homeland Security said there appeared to be no link to terrorism.

Pepco officials were investigating why a power substation failed at 10th St. around 7:30 a.m., leaving about 7,500 customers in the dark, Pepco spokeswoman Rhonda Ellis said.

Emergency crews had extinguished a fire near the Dupont Circle subway stop but commuters should expect delays of up to an hour through the morning, said a spokeswoman with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

"It is not yet known if the power problem and the fire are related," spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said in a recorded message.

The power outage darkened traffic lights downtown. Pedestrians screamed at cars to stop and let the elderly cross the streets.

The White House was running on backup power, a spokesman said.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1339968820080613

[bigworld]

1. More local angle from WTOP

Mostly in and around Chinatown.

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=25&sid=1421434

[YOY]

2. "he Department of Homeland Security said there appeared to be no link to terrorism"

No shit Dick Tracy. Things happen. Delays and power outages have been the order of the month in the District area.

[Mike Daniels]

3. Why would Homeland Security even get involved in something that happens regularly?

My guess is some FReeper-type tourist called it in as a possible "terruh" attack and Homeland had to get involved.

[YOY]

6. They like to look busy...

They're a DC laughing stock. Everyone knows they're about as useless as it gets, overpaid by far, given a giant budget for MSA contractors (crony friends of their high rankers), and have their days numbered. FEMA is a close runner up.

We had a whole bunch of our highlevel IT folks (upper management employees)leave for there as contractors. All of our "good ol' boys" as we called them. All former military buddies who came in under Bush I and II into high level positions. Bossy and bull-headed. They left and will most likely be looking for employment soon enough from the rumor mill.

[bluesmail]

4. This may be important news

along with the checkpoints in some 'high crime' neighborhoods. I'm telling you, Darth is paranoid. He thinks the whole world is out to get him. HA!

[bluesmail]

5. This may be important news connected to the checkpoints

in 'high crime neighborhoods'. I'm telling you, Cheney is paranoid. He thinks the entire world is out to get him. HA!

[amandabeech]

7. The Red Line subway was severely affected.

The power outage closed several stations, including DuPont Circle and Judiciary Square. There was and probably still is a fire on the tracks between Farragut North and Metro Center.

My train was emptied at F.N., and there was absolutely no one giving out good info on how to get to Metro Center, which is a major station and changing point for 3 lines, by bus.

I ended up hoofing it to the office which is south of Metro Center on a twisted ankle. Fortunately (or not), my building had power, but the block to the north did not.

It was a real mess.

I just hope that things clear up before tonight's commute.

[Mike Daniels]

8. I ride the Orange line to work and this week has been hell

Major delays every day this week from Monday through Wednesday.

Metro's communication system plain out sucks. You can't make out what they're saying when you're on a train much less when you're in a station and the sound can't cut through the crowd or traffic noise.

I feel for anyone who was stuck on the Red line today.

[YOY]

10. Orange line sucks to begin with.

It's full by the time it gets to Ballston coming in from Vienna.

I ride the Yellow. No complaints...

[bikebloke]

9. First Hand Report

I pedalled in as usual and saw a colleague standing outside. She told me about the outage, while trying to phone everyone on her mobile. They had one elevator working, so we went up. Emergency lighting was on. Of course, we couldn't do anything with the computers down. The phons died shortly after. Another colleague new to bikes had a flat. So I did a good deed and showed him how to repair it and be spared a bike shop rip-off. So the office was offically closed.

I went home to do some work.

Power's back on now. But I get to stay home (yippee!). I guess I'll have to go out and catch some rays. Gosh, doesn't that suck.