Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) New York City is without electricity all night and only about 1/2 of area has power today. Looting, arson, people stuck away from home noted. Lightning struck power line outside city causing overload on other power stations which caused blackout.
REPORTER: David Brinkley

(NYC) Problems for people caught in streets and on subways noted. [WOMAN - asks if there's really blackout; says there was no panic on subway.] Some were stuck in elevators, like those at World Trade Tower; others stay in hotel lobbies rather than walk to rooms on high floors. [MEN - cite experiences.] Reporter notes injuries, muggings and fights causing hospital emergency room overflows.
REPORTER: Richard Hunt

(NYC) Report on looting and arson taking place. [MEN - cite reactions to looting.] Crimes committed in this blackout contrasted to crime rate in 1965 power failure.
REPORTER: Brian Ross

(Studio) Bus., banks, Wall Street and most of New York City closed today.
REPORTER: David Brinkley

(NYC) Report on effects of blackout to business in city. Most employees at stores like Macy's have day off. Financial district is hard hit. When power comes back on in some areas, stores do brisk business [Tito VALAZQUEZ - is selling many batteries and radios; people aren't keeping faith in electricity.] In Central Park, people do usual things. [WOMAN - says flying kite better than sitting at home.]
REPORTER: Gerald Harrington