News - San Francisco's Weekend of Darkness and Aftershocks

On a weekend that was anything but ordinary, San Francisco experienced a significant power outage that plunged the western half of the city into darkness. It all began on a day which seemed typical while watching the college football playoffs in San Mateo County, just south of San Francisco. The unexpected began with a text message revealing a power outage in the Richmond District, the site of intended overnight plans. As details emerged, it became clear that the blackout extended across several key districts, including the Presidio and Sunset, highlighting how interconnected the city's power grid is with significant hubs of activity being affected. The origin of the outage was soon traced back to a fire in a PG&E substation at 8th and Mission Streets. The setback disrupted not just daily life but also significant events, as seen with the cancellation of Mass at the renowned St. Ignatius Church, a historical site with familial resonance for many residents. My journey into the city to attend the evening service at St. Ignatius faced unexpected detours. Rerouted through the city's southeastern residential streets and skirting areas still flickering with electricity, the route highlighted how pockets of normalcy existed amidst widespread darkness. Traffic stalled at major intersections due to non-functioning lights, but drivers exhibited commendable patience and adherence to ad-hoc stop sign rules, preserving order in chaos. Upon reaching St. Ignatius Church just before 5 PM, the solemn news confirmed that services were halted due to the power disruption. Interactions with the clergy were light amidst the heavier backdrop of the outage, reflecting a community accustomed to coming together in such trials. Adding to the day’s woes, at approximately 6:30 PM, an unexpected tremor shook the tranquility of the night. A reported earthquake of magnitude 3.9 with an epicenter near San Ramon crossed the bay area, a reminder of the ever-present tectonic activity underlying daily life. As residents sat in homes enveloped by the night's silence with technology rendered impotent, the power returned by 9:15 PM. However, modern life’s necessity, the internet, remained elusive until Monday morning in the Richmond District — ironically within a region that prides itself as a global technology hub. Despite such setbacks, the resilience of San Francisco was apparent. The weekend unearthed vulnerabilities yet highlighted the city's inherent capability to navigate unexpected challenges. As power lines hummed back to life, and devices reconnected to the web, the episodic nature of the disturbance became another chapter in San Francisco’s storied chronicles of adapting to life’s unpredictable currents.