A search for answers as to what happened, and, more importantly, what can be done to strengthen the reliability of our electric system to prevent such an event from recurring was immediately set in motion. With over 6 million residents out of power for up to two days and hundreds of businesses shut down, some for several days, officials in Michigan elected to commence an investigation to examine the blackout from their vantage point.
Not that Mother Nature was calm and cool in 2003. CMP Corp., a manufacturer of compressor replacement parts, suffered damage to its corporate offices and facilities during a tornado that ripped through Oklahoma City on May 8. On September 19, Hurricane Isabel demolished property in North Carolina, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Between warranty and insurance work, there were a lot of equipment replacements. Debbie Risher, owner of Belair Engineering and Service Co Inc., Upper Marlboro, Md., had one word for the experience: "Wow!"