How a Cut Cable Caused $77 Million in Damage

Send us a text

What do two clipped fibre optic cables have in common with a $77 million disaster? More than you think.

Mike Sullivan recounts a personal travel nightmare that snowballed into a hard-hitting reflection on the staggering societal costs of utility damage.

What began as a delayed flight turned into an eye-opening experience involving 1,800 disrupted flights, 235,000 stranded passengers, and millions in lost productivity, business, and environmental damage—all traced back to a simple infrastructure mishap.

Mike breaks down the direct and indirect costs of such incidents, explores the gaps in utility protection and reporting laws, and emphasizes the critical importance of submitting locate requests.

Listen for:

1:05 How Did a Travel Delay Reveal a Bigger Safety Issue?

4:13 How Does Buried Utility Damage Impact Society at Large?

08:27 What Does $77 Million in Damage Look Like in Real Life?

17:29 Why Do Airlines Operate on Razor-Thin Profit Margins?

25:08 Can Repeat Offenders in Utility Damage Be Held Accountable?

Follow The Safety Moment via Utility Safety Partners

X | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

Got an episode idea? [e-mail]