Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Saturday Morning News

Power Envy From Returning Electricity in New York City

Aired August 16, 2003 - 07:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: You know, we've heard so many stories of where people were and what they did when the lights went off, but Jeanne Moos has the story of what happened in one neighborhood when those lights came back on.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One side of the avenue light, the other pitch black. Chelsea residents were still walking their dogs by flashlight, even though most of New York was powered up. It was enough to inspire electricity envy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But when they turned on the Empire State Building and all the lights...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Staring in your face.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You could see the Empire State Building full bright.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's like turn on someone's (EXPLICATED DELETED) and give us some power over here.

MOOS: After almost 30 hours of no lights, no air conditioning, no toilet flushing, no running water, this is what happened when Chelsea residents finally saw the light. Residents of this building told of a Great Dane that fell down the dark stairs as its owner took the dog for a walk. A 59-year-old resident died of a heart attack after climbing 17 floors because the elevator was out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I helped him up the stairs and then he, you know, he didn't make it into his apartment. He needed to sit down. And he just died in the chair.

MOOS: Even restoring power can be dangerous. Just after the lights came on, manhole covers began to pop, possibly because of a power surge. You can see the flames at the edge of this manhole.

The power came back while these two were out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, the lights are on already.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, the lights on.

MOOS: First stop, air conditioner. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ah, viola.

MOOS: Next stop, toilet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hallelujah.

MOOS: Why just ask where were you when the lights went out?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was on CNN when the lights came on.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired August 16, 2003 - 07:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: You know, we've heard so many stories of where people were and what they did when the lights went off, but Jeanne Moos has the story of what happened in one neighborhood when those lights came back on.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One side of the avenue light, the other pitch black. Chelsea residents were still walking their dogs by flashlight, even though most of New York was powered up. It was enough to inspire electricity envy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But when they turned on the Empire State Building and all the lights...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Staring in your face.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You could see the Empire State Building full bright.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's like turn on someone's (EXPLICATED DELETED) and give us some power over here.

MOOS: After almost 30 hours of no lights, no air conditioning, no toilet flushing, no running water, this is what happened when Chelsea residents finally saw the light. Residents of this building told of a Great Dane that fell down the dark stairs as its owner took the dog for a walk. A 59-year-old resident died of a heart attack after climbing 17 floors because the elevator was out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I helped him up the stairs and then he, you know, he didn't make it into his apartment. He needed to sit down. And he just died in the chair.

MOOS: Even restoring power can be dangerous. Just after the lights came on, manhole covers began to pop, possibly because of a power surge. You can see the flames at the edge of this manhole.

The power came back while these two were out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, the lights are on already.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, the lights on.

MOOS: First stop, air conditioner. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ah, viola.

MOOS: Next stop, toilet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hallelujah.

MOOS: Why just ask where were you when the lights went out?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was on CNN when the lights came on.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com