HTA-0605: Blackout at the Ramada Inn

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Summary

Henry reports from the Ramada Inn near SFO during a power blackout.

Full Transcript

00:00
This is the Ramada Inn, which is near SFO, and it's a nice day on the outside.

00:05
On the inside, it's a little on the dark side.

00:08
In fact, it is pitch black in here.

00:10
There's been no power for, oh, it's been an hour and 45 minutes.

00:14
How was the lunch business today?

00:16
Do you have any customers?

00:17
Right now, we don't have any customers because there's no light, so the business is not good today.

00:23
Yeah, I'll say thank you.

00:25
As you can see over here, there is a rather nice salad bar.

00:29
however you can't see it without a flashlight but you know you don't need

00:33
power for a salad bar so that's the restaurant let's take a look at the

00:37
lobby which is also pretty much pitch black we have some guests here who are

00:44
I guess what is it it's lighter here a better place to sit and read or is that

00:49
why you're here excuse me I in the tunnel a little I speak Spanish but if you

00:54
speak slowly perhaps I can you know I haven't spoken slowly in years

00:59
But you know there's a power blackout, yes?

01:01
Yes, it's a great trouble.

01:03
So is that why you're out here, because your room is dark?

01:06
Yes, I will be one day, two days here, and tomorrow I'll fly to other parts.

01:14
I hope that you have more power there.

01:17
One of the other interesting aspects, of course, is that things like ATM machines are completely dark.

01:22
That one over here that's obviously, if you need money, you're not going to be able to use it.

01:28
But they've obviously persevered.

01:30
Oh, yeah, one other problem that I did want to mention to you

01:33
is that you can't get into your room without staff

01:37
because, you know, these little key cards,

01:38
they don't work without power.

01:40
So you can get staff to get a manual key to open the room.

01:44
And finally, you have to give them credit

01:47
for making the most of the situation

01:48
by putting a little bit of romantic decor in.

01:51
What kinds of problems are you having because of the power?

01:54
We're going to check in our guests,

01:56
as you realize we're going to check out our guest night now.

01:59
And it's really a problem with us.

02:03
It's been now, as I say, an hour and 45 minutes.

02:06
And go ahead, sir.

02:07
I don't mean to get in your way, please.

02:09
I don't want to stop business.

02:10
Pardon?

02:11
And I cannot even help him.

02:12
Oh, yeah.

02:13
You may have trouble checking in.

02:15
You know there's no power.

02:17
So welcome to San Francisco.

02:20
Anyway, that's the situation here at the Ramada Inn near SFO.

02:24
Romantic, but not...