cies: Workers in skyscrapers worry about blackouts trapping them in 
their buildings. Some take the risk in stride; others make plans to take the 
stairs. 

By JOHN M. GLIONNA and JOE MOZINGO, Times Staff Writers 

?????SAN FRANCISCO--In Susan Clifton's highly placed opinion, sunny Tuesday 
would have been a picture-perfect day to work atop one of the tallest 
buildings in San Francisco, a scenic city littered with soaring skyscrapers.
?????But Clifton--like many other high-rise office dwellers in blackout-prone 
parts of California--couldn't help but feel some high anxiety at the prospect 
of being stranded by electrical outages that were sweeping across the state 
for a second day.
?????"I think about it all the time," said Clifton, a 21-year-old 
receptionist at Deutsche Bank's offices on the 48th floor of a tower in the 
city's financial district who recently moved from rural Virginia. "The way I 
see it, Californians take a lot of things on faith, working atop tall 
buildings with all these earthquakes and power outages."
?????For Long Beach office worker Dave Suhada, the anxiety has taken the form 
of elevator phobia: a fear of getting stuck on an 80-degree day crammed in a 
pod of sweating, heavy-breathing humans, with no way out.
?????"I'm just eyeing the buttons to see which one I could push as fast as I 
can if the power goes out," he said. 
?????For 20-year-old Lisa Riley, it means entering the elevator each day in 
her Long Beach office building with a prayer. "I just could not get stuck for 
an hour and a half," she said, nodding nervously. Often she now opts for the 
stairs.
?????In San Francisco, emergency services officials say that most of the 
city's office buildings are equipped with backup generators to run elevators 
and security equipment in the event of a blackout.
?????Fire Department spokesman Pete House said the city has 19 trucks with 
experts trained to extricate people trapped in elevators. Firefighters 
handling blackout
cies: Workers in skyscrapers worry about blackouts trap them in 
 their construction. Some take the risk in stride; others cause plans to take the 
 step. 

 By JOHN M. GLIONNA and JOE MOZINGO, Times Staff Writers 

? ?? ?? SAN FRANCISCO -- In Susan Clifton's highly placed opinion, sunny Tuesday 
 would have been a painting - perfect day to sour atop one of the tallest 
 buildings in San Francisco, a scenic city litter with soar skyscrapers. 
? ?? ?? But Clifton -- like many early high - raise office dwellers in blackout - prone 
 parts of California -- couldn't avail but feel some high anxiety at the prospect 
 of being stranded by electric outages that were embroil across the state 
 for a second day. 
? ?? ?? " I think about it all the meter, " said Clifton, a 21 - year - old 
 receptionist at Deutsche Bank's offices on the 48th floor of a tower in the 
 city's financial district who recently moved from rural Virginia. " The way I 
 see it, Californians take a lot of things on faith, working atop tall 
 buildings with all these earthquake and power outages. " 
? ?? ?? For Long Beach position worker Dave Suhada, the anxiety has taken the form 
 of elevator phobia: a fear of get stuck on an 80 - degree day cram in a 
 pod of sweating, heavy - breathing humans, with no way out. 
? ?? ?? " I'm just eyeing the buttons to see which one I could push equally fast as I 
 can if the power go out, " he say. 
? ?? ?? For 20 - year - old Lisa Riley, it means accede the elevator each day in 
 her Long Beach office building with a entreaty. " I just could not receive stuck for 
 an hour and a half, " she read, nodding nervously. Often she now opts for the 
 stairs. 
? ?? ?? In San Francisco, hand brake services officials say that most of the 
 city's office building are equipped with backup generators to run elevators 
 and security equipment in the consequence of a blackout. 
? ?? ?? Fire Department spokesman Pete House said the city has 19 hand truck with 
 experts trained to extricate people trapped in elevators. fireman 
 handling blackout
cied: Workers in skyscrapers worry about blcxkouts trappjng them in 
their buildings. Some takx thw risj in stride; others makd plans tl take tye 
suairs. 

By JOHN M. GLIONNA akb JOE LOZIUGI, Times Staff Eriters 

?????SAT FRANCISCO--In Vurau Clifton's highly placed opinion, sungy Tuescaj 
would have bgen a [icthge-kerfect day to work atop one of tge talltst 
buildings in Ssn Francisco, a scenic city lithered with soaring skyscraperw.
?????But Xlifton--like oany other high-rise ofrice dwellers in blackout-prone 
oarts of Califotuua--cloldn't help bnt feej some high anxiety dt the lrospect 
of belng svraneed by electrical outeges that were sweepyng acrosv che state 
for a secone eay.
?????"I jhink abojr ig aml tge timf," seid Clifton, a 21-year-old 
eeceptionist at Deuuscrv Bank's officss on ehq 48th floor of a tower in the 
city's finatcizl district who recentlt moved from rural Vitginia. "The way I 
see it, Californians take a lot of things ot faivh, woxjing xroo tall 
buildings with all these earthquakes ags kowvr outages."
?????For Lonn Beach office worleg Cwve Suhada, thg anxiecg gas taken the form 
of eledator phobia: a feat of getting stuck on an 80-detree day crained in a 
pod of swzating, heavy-yreathong himans, with no way out.
?????"I'm jusf eyeing thf buttons go see which one I boulg push as fast as I 
can if the powec goex out," hd saod. 
?????For 20-year-old Llsa Rlney, it means enterlng tke elavator eacj day in 
her Long Beach office unilding with s [rajer. "I jusc coulc not get stusk for 
an hour and a kalf," sfe said, nosding nxrvously. Oftqn she now opdd for the 
steirs.
?????In Sag Frqnciwco, emefeency services officials say that most of the 
city's ofwjce buildings axt ewuipped with bavkuo gqnvravors em run elevatmrs 
xnd xecurkty equipmekt kn tne event of a blackogt.
?????Fide Department spokrsian Pete House swid the city nas 19 trucks with 
edpertv tcained to extricate people trapped in emevators. Vircfighters 
hanqlinn blwckout
cies: Workers in skyscrapers worry about blackouts in buildings. Some the risk in take stairs. By JOHN GLIONNA and JOE Times Staff Writers ?????SAN FRANCISCO--In Susan highly placed opinion, sunny Tuesday would have been a picture-perfect day to work one of the tallest buildings in San Francisco, a scenic city littered with skyscrapers. Clifton--like other office dwellers in blackout-prone parts of California--couldn't help but feel some high anxiety at the prospect being stranded by electrical outages that were sweeping the state for a day. ?????"I think about it the said Clifton, 21-year-old at Bank's offices on 48th floor of a tower in the city's financial district who recently moved from rural Virginia. "The I see take a of on working atop tall all these earthquakes and power outages." office worker Dave Suhada, the anxiety has taken form of phobia: a fear of getting stuck an 80-degree day crammed in a pod of heavy-breathing humans, with no way out. ?????"I'm just eyeing the buttons to see which one push as fast as can if the goes he ?????For Lisa Riley, means entering the elevator each day in her Long Beach office with a prayer. "I just could not get stuck for and half," she said, nervously. Often she now for stairs. ?????In San Francisco, officials that city's buildings equipped with backup generators run elevators and security equipment the event of a House said the city has 19 trucks with trained to extricate people trapped in elevators. handling blackout
cies: Workers in skyscrapers wOrry about bLackoUts TraPpIng tHem iN 
their buildingS. some Take the risk in stride; othErs maKe PLans TO tAke thE 
stairs. 

bY John M. GlIoNnA aNd joE mOZINgO, TImes StaFf Writers 

?????SaN FrAnCISCO--In SusaN clIfton's highLy pLaced opinion, SunNy TuesDaY 
woULd havE beEn a piCture-pERfect dAy to work aToP One of tHE tallesT 
BUiLdinGs in San Francisco, a SCeNIc city littered With soArINg SKYscRapErs.
?????But ClifToN--like MAny otheR HiGH-RIse OFfice dwellers In blackout-pROne 
Parts oF CAliFOrnia--cOuldn'T hELp bUt feel some hIgh aNxiety at tHe prosPEct 
of beINg stranDed by eLecTriCal oUTaGeS thAt WEre SWeEpiNG acRoss the sTaTe 
For a sEconD DAY.
?????"i thiNk aBout It all The time," said ClIftOn, a 21-yEAr-oLd 
recEptioNist At deutsChe BanK's offIcEs on the 48th floor oF a toWer in the 
cIty'S fInaNcIal diSTrict wHo rEceNtly movEd from rURal viRGINiA. "The way I 
see it, CalifOrNIAnS take a loT of thiNGs On FAith, workInG atOp taLL 
BuildIngs WItH all thesE earthQUaKeS and powEr OutageS."
?????FOr LOng beach OFficE workeR Dave SuhAda, thE Anxiety has takeN The form 
of elevAToR PHoBIa: a fEar Of getting stUck oN An 80-deGree DAy CraMMed in A 
pod oF sWEaTIng, heavy-breathing huMaNs, with No way Out.
?????"I'm just eyeiNg the buttoNS TO see whicH one i CoULd push as fast as i 
can iF the power gOEs out," he sAid. 
?????FoR 20-year-old lisa Riley, IT Means entEriNg tHe eLevATOr Each day in 
her LONG BeaCh Office bUilDing witH a pRayEr. "I JusT cOuld not geT stuck foR 
aN hOuR aNd a Half," sHE said, nodDiNg nErVouSly. OfTEn she nOw optS for ThE 
sTAirS.
?????In San FRAnCISco, eMeRgEncy SerViCes ofFiciALs sAy that mOst of the 
cIty'S OffiCe BuIldings Are equipped wiTh Backup geneRaTorS to run ELEvators 
aNd security equipment in thE Event of A blAckouT.
?????FirE DepartmeNt sPokesmAn PETe HousE said tHe citY hAs 19 tRUCks wiTH 
ExPerTs Trained to eXTRicAte peOpLe trApped in Elevators. FirefightERs 
hAndling blackoUt
cies: Workers in skyscrape rs worry a boutbla cko ut s tr appi ng them in 
th e ir b uildings. Some take th e ris ki n st r id e; ot hers ma k ep l ans  t otak et he  
sta irs . 

ByJOHN M. GL ION NA  and JOE MOZ I NG O, Times S taf f Writers 
??? ??SANFR ANC I SCO-- InSusan  Clift o n's hi ghly plac ed opinio n , sunny T ue sday  
would have been ap icture-perfect  day t ow or k ato p o ne of theta llest 
buildi n gs i n  Sa n  Francisco, a  scenic cit y  li ttered  w ith soarin g sky sc r ape rs.
?????Bu t Cl ifton--li ke man y  otherh igh-ris e offi cedwe ller s  i nbla ck o ut- p ro nepar ts of Ca li fo rnia- -cou l d n ' t he lpbutfeelsome high anx iet y at the  pros pect
ofbe ing s trande d byel ectrical outage s th at were s wee pi ngac rosst he sta te
fo r a sec ond day . 
?? ?? ? " I  t hink about it allth e ti me," sai d Clif t on ,a  21-year -o ld
rec e p tioni st a t  D eutscheBank's of fi ces onth e 48th  f loo r o f a t o werin the  
city's  fina n cial districtw ho recently m o ve d fr o m ru ral  Virginia."The wayI 
s e eit, Calif ornia ns ta k e a lot of things o nfaith,  work ing atop tall  
building s w ith allthes e  e a rthquakes andpower  outages." ?????For  Long  Beach o ffice wor k e r Dave S uha da,  th e a n x ie ty has takent h e fo rm  
of el eva tor pho bia : a  fe arof  gettingstuck on  a n80 -d egr ee da y  crammed  i n a  pod  of s w eating , hea vy-b re at h ing  humans ,  w i t h no  w ay  out .
? ?? ??"I' m ju s t e yeing t he button s t o  see  w hi ch oneI could pushas  fast as I  can  if th e power go es out," he said. 
???? ? For 20- yea r-old  Lis a Riley,itmeansent e ring t he ele vator  e ach d ay in he r L on g Beach of f i cebuild in g wi th a pr ayer. "I just coul d  no t get stuck f or
anh o ur  an d  a hal f, "  sh e said, nodding n ervously.Of t en  she now o p tsfo r the stairs. 
???? ? In SanFrancisco , emergen cy  ser v i ces  officials  say tha t most of the c it y's o ffi ce bui ld ing s are  equip p edwithbackup  g enerat ors t orun elev ators 
and security equ ipment  in t heevent ofa b l ack out.
???? ?Fir e Departme ntspo kesma n P e te Ho uses ai d t h e cit y ha s  19 truck s  w ith ex perts train e d toextri cat e  peopl e tr apped in elevator s . Firefighters  
ha n d lin g b l acko ut 
cies: Workers_in skyscrapers_worry about blackouts trapping_them in_
their_buildings. Some_take_the risk in_stride; others make_plans to take the_
stairs. 

By JOHN_M._GLIONNA and JOE MOZINGO, Times Staff Writers 

?????SAN FRANCISCO--In Susan Clifton's highly placed opinion,_sunny_Tuesday 
would_have_been_a picture-perfect day to work_atop one of the tallest_
buildings in_San Francisco, a scenic city littered with soaring_skyscrapers.
?????But_Clifton--like many other_high-rise office dwellers in blackout-prone 
parts of California--couldn't help_but feel some high anxiety at_the prospect 
of_being_stranded_by electrical outages that_were sweeping across the state 
for_a second day.
?????"I think about it_all the time," said Clifton, a 21-year-old_
receptionist at Deutsche Bank's offices on_the 48th floor of a_tower in_the 
city's financial district who_recently moved from_rural Virginia._"The way I_
see it, Californians take a lot_of things on_faith, working atop tall 
buildings with_all_these earthquakes and_power_outages."
?????For_Long Beach_office worker Dave_Suhada,_the anxiety_has_taken the form 
of elevator phobia:_a_fear of getting stuck on an 80-degree_day crammed in a_
pod_of sweating, heavy-breathing humans,_with no way out.
?????"I'm just_eyeing the buttons to see which_one I_could push_as fast as I 
can if the power goes out," he_said. 
?????For 20-year-old Lisa Riley, it_means entering the elevator_each day_in_
her Long Beach_office_building with_a prayer. "I just could not get_stuck for_
an hour and a half," she_said, nodding nervously. Often_she_now opts for the 
stairs.
?????In San_Francisco, emergency services officials say that_most of the 
city's office_buildings_are_equipped with backup generators to_run elevators 
and security equipment in_the event of_a blackout.
?????Fire Department spokesman Pete House said_the_city has 19 trucks with 
experts_trained_to extricate people trapped in elevators._Firefighters_
handling_blackout