"A thunder strike may disrupt power momentarily, but it is going be restored quickly without someone having to visit and manually check the hit electric poles," he said.

His hope was that it would disrupt power within the plane and shut off the interior lights.

Vacuum tubes are also less susceptible to the electromagnetic pulses that would follow a nuclear detonation and disrupt communications and power, Mr. Tracy said.

Guerrillas fighting the Liberian Government have reportedly seized control of the city's main hydroelectric installation and water-treatment plant, cutting water supplies and disrupting power.

The cyclone also caused major erosion on several islets of all three atolls, damaging roads and bridges and disrupting electric power and telecommunications systems.

Rains from the storm destroyed 2000 houses and damaged 8326 more, and disrupting electric power, communication and traffic in some areas of the region.

A warhead detonates over the North Sea, creating an electromagnetic pulse that disrupts power and communications over the region.

A high-voltage line running adjacent to the plant and over the Missouri River was damaged, disrupting power in the neighboring state of Nebraska.

The winds produced no significant damage, but did disrupt power to 16,500 utility customers and delayed the Trysail College Regatta.

How did it disrupt power and comms?