Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the busiest airport in the world, was crippled by a total power outage over the weekend. The airport is now working to catch up before holiday travel peaks.
"An underground fire caused a complete power outage Sunday afternoon at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, resulting in thousands of canceled flights at the world's busiest terminal and affecting travelers worldwide," report Tim Darnell and Michael King. The power outage lasted 11 hours and canceled thousands of flights at the nation's busiest airport.
The article by Darnell and King provides a timeline of events, working backward from 6:35 am on Monday, when the plane train was still out of service. The beginning of the timeline starts at 3:15, when major airlines began canceling flights en masse. The power outage occurred at 12:55 pm, and the power came back shortly before midnight. One highlight in the timeline is a factoid picked up by news outlets around the country: Chik-fil-A served some 2,000 meals to stranded passengers despite its usual practice of closing on Sunday.
Becca J. Godwin and Janel Davis provide additional local coverage, providing answers to "Frequently Asked Questions" designed toward travelers affected by the power outage.
For traditional news coverage of the blackout, see an article by Emanuella Grinberg, Jon Ostromer, Madison Park, and Christina Zdanowicz for CNN, published after the power had been restored. According to that article, the cause of the fire is under investigation: "Georgia Power said in a statement that its equipment -- a piece of switchgear -- which was in an underground electrical facility, could have failed and started a fire. The incident is still being evaluated, according to the utility."
Another article by Jack Stewart examines the challenges of returning flights into and out of Atlanta to normalcy, in addition to flights around the country, which depend on the hub provided by Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
FULL STORY: POWER DOWN | Timeline of the Atlanta airport blackout
The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall
The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.
Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities
The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.
‘Micro-Apartment’ Trend Underscores Housing Crisis
SROs are making a comeback under a new name as the housing supply remains strained and costs soar.
How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities
Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.
Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing
Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.
Indian States Give Women Free Bus Passes
The programs are part of an initiative aimed at helping more women join the workforce and improving access to basic needs.
City of Yakima
City of Auburn
Baylands Development Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.