Teddy... I needed a chuckle tonight, thanks.
"I also found an article (lost the link and can not refind it) recounting a tale of Robert Annunziata, when CEO of Teleport, working more than 12 hours waist deep in flood waters to restore service. Maybe Frank C can varify that legend."
I hope you're ready for a bedtime story that will put you to sleep. I don't think that I could state with an absolute sense of confidence that the legend is entirely untrue!. I'll be happy to find out, if you wish. smile
If there is any substance to this story at all, then it must have to do with the World Trade Center Bombing Incident. The TCG node in the WTC is in the sixth (6th) sub-level, about 100 feet below street level. I recall visiting the node when it was still under partial construction back in the mid 80s, and the architect from the NYNJ Port Authority on location boasting to us (I was leading an entourage of clients from Goldman Sachs at the time) how it was bombproof! Oi!
During emergency services and fire fighting response activities (and not just a few main breaks and standpipe bursts) the node chamber began to take in water, despite the pumps working at full bore. There were also some severe fiber disruptions in the sleeves and riser conduits leading to the outside world, via the cable vaults and shafts. All hell broke loose.
At that time, about another dozen or so carriers pitched in to help with reroutes in compliance with NY City's MAP, or the common carrier Mutual Assistance Plan, designed for just such contingencies. I wont say that it came off without a hitch (jeesh, how do you plan for such a thing?) but it proved to be a lot more effective than I thought it would be.
Some day remind me to tell you the story about the other subterranean tenant in the WTC who survived the blast with only a flicker of their incandescent lights. It was a partner of ours called the Dataport (now ARCUS Data Security), at the time.
I know some of the folks who were involved with that restoration process, and some who should have been there, but weren't!!, but I wasn't aware that Bob himself was practicing, at that time, for his next assignment in submarine operations. [g]
Regards, Frank Coluccio
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