Story Outline

 

Blackouts Hit California From a news story by CNN San Francisco Reporter Don Knapp January 18, 2001

I. Blackouts hit California

A. Critical shortage of electricity.
B. There is no power in nearly 2 million homes and businesses.

II. What happens with the power is turned off

A. People get trapped in elevators
B. Accidents happen with no traffic lights
C. Power is usually off for about 1 1/2 hours

III. People can’t work without power

A. Their computers don’t work
B. Their doors don’t open

IV. Problem of power shortage

A. For the last two months there hasn’t been enough power
B. Some blame the problem on lack of water in the Pacific Northwest

V. Solutions

A. California State legislature working to solve the problem
B. California is hoping to buy power at low rates to sell it to the utilities

VI. Future

A. Not all believe that there is a problem.
B. Political leaders think they’ll solve the problem

1. Solution will only work in the short term
2. In the long term California needs new power plants.

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