Power Outage Gave Rise To Heroes

Last week was one of the roughest experiences on record for many of our readers. As if soaring temperatures and humidity high enough to make it feel as if every breath were drawn through a wet cloth, Queens was hit with a power outage in many respects worse than the multi-state blackout of August 2003. Some 150,000 people had no or very little power for the better part of a week. Convenience stores, delicatessens, food stores and restaurants lost millions of dollars in spoiled food that had to be thrown away. Other businesses lost customers when they were forced to close early or could not open at all; their employees lost wages as well.

This grim picture had some surprising, but still welcome, bright spots. Police and firefighters maintained public safety. Unlike the case with other blackouts in this city's history, there were no reports of looting or property destruction in the five neighborhoods afflicted most severely by the power outage. Despite all the manholes exploding and candles burning in homes with no power, we heard no reports of homes, businesses or other property being destroyed by fire. Emergency Medical Services units took the infirm and elderly to hospitals quickly, efficiently and without incident. The men and women of the Sanitation Department performed the necessary but unheralded task of collecting and disposing of the tons of trash and garbage that accumulates at curbside every day-a vital city function in any season, but especially so in a heat wave.

We're sure there are many more stories of unheralded heroism that have yet to surface, but for right now, we'll stay with saluting the army of city workers and civil servants who once again demonstrated their willingness to go far beyond their job descriptions to keep the rest of us safe and in rightful possession of our worldly goods. We're proud of them.