When a widespread power outage hit the Washington region Tuesday afternoon, the White House’s backup power immediately kicked in, and those inside barely seemed to notice. But not everyone was as lucky as the president.
Here’s a look at the power outage, by the numbers:
Metro stations that operated on backup power: 13. (Anacostia, Dupont Circle, Eastern Market, Potomac Avenue, NoMa, Rhode Island Avenue, Stadium-Armory, Largo Town Center, Minnesota Avenue, Prince George’s Plaza, Benning Road, Navy Yard, Capitol Heights.)
People stuck in elevators in a Metro station: Zero
People stuck on elevators at the University of Maryland: At least 12. Prince George’s County firefighters rescued 12 people stuck in six elevators at the University of Maryland. Campus engineers may also have released others.
Metro stations closed because of an escalator outage: 1. Metro closed the Bethesda station Tuesday afternoon due to an escalator outage. The station reopened at about 9:15 p.m.
Smithsonian museums evacuated: 4. (National Portrait Gallery, American Art Museum, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of the American Indian)
Peak power outages in D.C.: About 2,500.
Number of traffic signals that are either out or broken as of 4 p.m.: 13
Some of the federal buildings affected by the outage: White House, State Department, Justice Department
Number of Rand Paul/”break the Washington machine” jokes: Countless
Rand Paul vows to "shut down the Washington machine" ... and a widespread power outage strikes DC, #literally #RandPaul2016 #hegotmyvote
— Dale campbell (@PcardMillioneer) April 7, 2015
Number of good municipal government electricity puns: 1
To those of you who find the Wilson Building re-volting, with electricity now returning, you are, for once, correct.
— Council of DC (@councilofdc) April 7, 2015