Huh? Over here, widespread grid failures from stress are very rare (will discuss Puerto Rico separately). We do lose largish chunks of the grid because of local DAMAGE. Hurricanes, ice storms, earthquakes, etc.
Puerto Rico is another matter. The grid there was in poor shape even before the hurricane that took down poles/wires/transmission towers all over the island. Repairs since just jury rigged and no time/money to make permanent repairs as "fire fighting" just to keep the jury rigged system going (more or less going)
When we have a disaster hitting part on the grid (part of the national grid) the utilities in the damaged area can call on "mutual aid" from utilities elsewhere. Repair crews/trucks from hundreds of miles away arrive within a day or two. So first the jury rigged repairs (in a few days) and then over the next several weeks permanent repairs. After which the outside crews go home.
Puerto Rico has been limited to the trained people and equipment on hand. QUICK mutual aid protocols impossible.
By contrast, when hurricane/flood hit western NC (the problem wasn't wind but the huge rainfall) you can be sure repair trucks (bucket trucks) from as far away as here were arriving within a couple days with crews, towing replacement poles, wire spools, etc. When we're on the receiving end of help we'll see them staging at some supermarket parking lot, high school parking lot, etc.
