New York ? Yes, Americans are feeling dismayed in the aftermath of the nation’s largest blackout. Of course, millions of people in the Northeast were inconvenienced and frightened when the lights went out on Thursday afternoon at about 4:10 EDT, and stayed out until Friday, at the earliest.

But one feature of the confusion and fear was that New Yorkers behaved well during the turmoil, in sharp contrast to the looting and arrests that occurred during the city’s last major power outage July 13, 1977.

It’s possible that one reason why New Yorkers pulled together was that the bitter experience of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, had given the city’s residents an opportunity for perspective about how to behave during subsequent emergencies, such as the blackout.

“I think you can make the case that people in New York City are happier, get along better and cooperate with one another,” New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.

Tourism is on the rise in New York, underscoring the appeal of the city throughout the nation. Fewer than 17 million visitors came to the city in 1977. That number is expected to double in 2003.

A poll by the New York Times and CBS News shortly after the 1977 blackout produced a headline: “Nationwide Poll Finds 6% Think New York Is a Good Place to Live.”

Another factor was that the 1977 blackout occurred at 9:30 p.m., while Thursday’s happened shortly after 4 p.m. New Yorkers and tourists had ample sunlight hours to get to their homes and hotels and find safety.

As the New York Times pointed out, the New York Police Department had an opportunity to mobilize with a near-record of officers appearing on street corners and traffic intersections to restore calm and control to the chaotic circumstances.

One snapshot of the 2003 blackout that probably won’t be forgotten soon by New Yorkers was the surreal spectacle of ordinary citizens standing at intersections, calmly directing traffic while stoplights were not working.

People used rolled up newspapers and magazines and umbrellas to direct drivers. Pedestrians respected their commands, too, and order was restored at a potentially difficult time.

The Nov. 19, 1965, issue of Time shows traffic flowing down the darkened streets of New York during the blackout that occured Nov. 9 that year.

The July 25, 1977, Time shows chaos erupting in the streets of New York during the July 13 blackout. More than 1,700 stores were looted or damaged.

Time's Aug. 25, 2003, cover shows a darkened New York skyline Aug. 14. In contrast to the 1977 blackout, New Yorkers were law-abiding and helped direct traffic.