29. The 1965 Northeast Blackout: A Historic Power Failure
Year: 1965
Location: Various locations in the North East
Company: Sir Adams Beck Hydroelectric Power Station No. 2
Estimated Damage Value: $6 million*
In 1965, a major blackout affected over 30 million people in the Northeast, causing $6 million in damages. Triggered at Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Station No.2, this event marked a significant challenge in electrical supply and disaster preparedness.

A faulty protective relay led to widespread power failure, impacting businesses and causing traffic chaos. This chain reaction of failures across interconnected lines underscored the vulnerability of power grids, leading to efforts in improving system resilience and emergency response.