1965 - Great Northeast Blackout (power outage)

The Great Northeast Blackout of 1965 was one of the most significant power outages in North American history, affecting an estimated 30 million people in the United States and Canada. It occurred on November 9-10, 1965, when a series of malfunctions and human errors led to a cascading power failure that affected a vast area, including parts of Ontario and Quebec in Canada and Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in the United States.

The blackout lasted approximately 13 hours, during which time cities like New York plunged into darkness, causing widespread confusion and disruptions. Traffic lights went out, causing massive traffic jams, and businesses and schools were forced to close. The event highlighted vulnerabilities in the power grid and led to improvements in power system reliability and emergency response protocols.