I've been predicting snowstorms and hurricanes since the early eighties, too. And since I am right a few times a year instead of once or twice every three decades, my track record is clearly better than anything these "experts" have to offer.
/sarcasm off/
P.S. The irony here is that the nuclear plants and natural gas plants were the ones that shut down. The hydroelectric plants were the only ones that had no disruption.
And ever vigilant FReepers have dutifully tracked these events:
Squirrel Plunges Downtown Saginaw Into Darkness
Squirrel fell on power line, authorities say
Squirrel (islamic militant?) knocks out power in OKC buildings
Squirrel Cuts Power Supply To 5,000
This conclusive evidence PROVES that there is a vast squirrelly conspiracy against our nation's electrical infrastructure.
Congress needs to act and place a bounty on ALL squirrels!