1977 Blackout

The New York City blackout of 1977, unlike the 1965 blackout, affected only New York City and surrounding areas, beginning on July 13 at 8:37 p.m. and ending the next day. After a series of lightning strikes, Con Ed could not generate enough power within the city, and the biggest generator in the city shut down an hour after the initial lightning strike.  Subways were shut down that night and for much of the next day, and about 4,000 people had to be evacuated from the subway system. Yet unlike the 1965 blackout, there was a drastic increase in crime, as 3,776 people were arrested in New York’s largest mass arrest in city history. 1,616 stores were looted, and 1,037 fires were responded to, leading to around $300 million in damages.