Fact Set #1 A Squirrelly Situation

If only the squirrel had chosen to board the train using the front door, forty-seven thousand rail commuters would not have been stranded Monday afternoon in New York. The squirrels’ power line ballet caused an electrical surge that not only electrocuted the commuting squirrel but set a domino effect of problems in motion for the Metro-North commuter railroad. When the power surge occurred it weakened some overhead power brackets on the rail line, this loosened some wires which then fell onto the tracks, and become entangled under a passing train. Metro-North spokeswoman Donna Evans reported that commuters waited for hours. No one could get out of Manhattan. Even though power was restored by Tuesday morning commuters have learned a valuable lesson, whether animal or human, always use the door.