cc: electronetwork-list
[Sorry about the subject heading before, I was in a hurry typing.]
Ron Evitts first called me from NYC, so some phones are working in
NYC. Ron asked me to let him know what was going by watching my TV.
Philadelphia is unaffected.
hi Steve, thanks for the info. telephones run (most often) on
their own power grid, so if the main electric power is off, phones
usually would work unless the phones were targeted too, not
sure but i think they are totally separate networks. the phones
could go down if everyone tried calling at the same time though.
from what i've heard, it is as you said tied with Ottawa/Ontario
power (hydro it would seem), and Manhattan, where it says
the subway system went down.
in the beginning of subways, they were powered by their own
powerplants but today are probably integrated with larger
grids, so not sure if it is beyond the subway but if traffic lights
are out, city grids may be out too. it also sounds like SCADA
systems (google SCADA +electronetwork) are being talked
about also. which are also easy to hack, apparently, as there
are automatic switching via microwave links which can/could
be intercepted or attacked, or this is a major vulnerability.
http://archives.openflows.org/electronetwork-l/msg00371.html
http://archives.openflows.org/electronetwork-l/msg00534.html
i've not heard a clear description of the scope of events, if it is
only in lower Manhattan or if it is cascading all over. planes
are grounded at several airports (probably related to signaling
for planes) and it _could likely be 'heat related' power outages,
where too much demand takes too little supply and the balancing
of the loads (daytime, nighttime, generation capacity) cannot
meet the problems. same thing happening in France with the
heat, yet they have nuclear power plants (cool water reactors?)
taking in hot river water and expunging hotter water, and it
seems this is heating up the reactors (bad news), blackouts
there and elderly dying from the heat (no air conditioners),
plus issues in Baghdad. the reason i am concerned at present
is that this is a major technique of problems in Iraq right now
with the grid being targeted, a major form of today's warfaring,
and thus until some cause is confirmed, i would remain with
open ears and make sure to see if it grows, as it might, to
a larger region of power problems. plus, seeing people in
Manhattan walking on freeways is scary in its reminiscent
aspects, not only power outages circa 1965, but 9/11 also.
brian
bc microsite
http://www.electronetwork.org/bc/
~e-list
http://www.electronetwork.org/list/
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