Hacker News Reader

> several people I know were without power for 2 weeks, and we got through it

Yes, but there are many people who are not young and healthy.

The worst impact would be on hospitals, nursing homes, the homes of elderly, etc, who require electricity for something other than productivity and comfort.

View on HN

Hospitals usually have private generators and are first to receive help from the government in times of crises.

Yes, but in Sandy many of those generators failed.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sandy+generators+hospital

I don't dispute that they wouldn't receive government help as quickly as possible, but playing the loss of electricity as having zero impact is also unreasonable.

Further, there's an economic impact to businesses. A terrorist attack need not take lives, just damage something.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com