A power outage, also known as a blackout or power failure, is an interruption in the supply of electricity to a particular area. This can be caused by various reasons such as natural disasters like storms and hurricanes, equipment failures, human error, or even intentional acts like sabotage or vandalism. Power outages can last from just a few seconds to several days, depending on the cause and extent of damage. They can have significant impacts on daily life, affecting everything from transportation systems to communication networks, and causing inconvenience and discomfort for residents.