Perhaps it was President George W. Bush who pulled the plug on the American people. In 2001, as he and his Republican allies in Congress passed a $1.6 trillion tax cut, they blocked a $350 million Democratic plan to modernize the nation’s power grid.

It took “W” a full four hours after the lights went out on Aug. 14 to issue the not-very-reassuring statement, “We don’t know yet what went wrong, but we will.” Through that dark night, one thing went right for New York City. The public employee work force answered the challenge with hard work, valor and dedication. Hospital workers saved lives by the dim light of backup generators and Housing Authority staff stayed overnight at a day camp until parents could pick up their youngsters. The DC 37 members whose skills and hard work keep the city running in normal times delivered under pressure for the public and for each other.

And at union headquarters, a team of building, security and maintenance staff showed their 24-hour commitment by staying overnight, sleeping in chairs and on the floor. Under the leadership of Associate Director Oliver Gray, they included Ralph Pepe, Michael Corbin, Frank Morales, Antonio Zografos, Keith Mittenzwei, Sergio Carrillo and Corrie Minor. On these pages appear just a few of the many union members who are truly New York City’s Blackout Heroes.

Preventing a nightmare

In a four-square-block area of modest three-family homes in Whitestone, Queens, a crew of Sewage Treatment Workers worked through the night Aug. 14 to avert a health and homeowners’ nightmare.

When a Queens pumping station lost power, “We had to keep the system going with portable generators,” said STW Edward Costa. The Dept. of Environmental Protection dispatched him and co-worker Steve Vallone, who dispenses tools like generators and hydraulic pumps, to Queens from the Ward’s Island and Tallman Island plants.

As hundreds of Whitestone residents held their breath, the DEP crew kept the backup gear running for 32 hours straight. They pumped the raw sewage to DEP’s Tallman Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, in College Point Queens, until power was restored.

“Considering the damage that might have been if the sewage overflowed into their basements, the neighbors didn’t mind the noisy generator,” Mr. Costa said. Without electricity, the city’s entire wastewater treatment system could have shut down, backed up and dumped sewage into basements, streams and coastal waters.

“Quick action by DEP and our Local 1320 members saved residents untold dollars in damage and prevented widespread health and environmental hazards,” said Local President James Tucciarelli. Taking in stride the run of emergencies since 9/11, Mr. Costa said, “If it happened again, I’d be there.”

— DSW