[Malsua]

>>Preventing the cascade requires swift human reaction. <<

ABC Radio is reporting that the entire grid went down in 9 seconds. Which is about how I recall it.

A blink, then the fans on the lasers started slowing...then back up...and then slowing and then out. It was definately under 30 seconds.

I can't imagine anyone even got to a console to answer a warning light, much less react in that amount of time.

[firewalk]

.

[Conspiracy Guy]

EXACTLY. The auto protection is kept to a minmum to prevent computer failures causing the same type event. In a huge overloaded grid like this one. This is going to happen and it is remarkable is doesn't happen more. A minor event in one part of the system can have fast wide ranging effect. Electricity is very fast.