Shedd Aquarium reopens after power outage
BY ALLISON HORTON AND TINA SFONDELES Staff Reporters April 6, 2013 3:38PM
Updated: April 6, 2013 4:21PM
The lights are back on and visitors are being welcomed back into the Shedd Aquarium after the popular tourist attraction lost power for about an hour Saturday afternoon.
Visitors were let into the aquarium just before 4 p.m. The outage, caused by an “internal equipment failure” happened about 1:30 p.m., according to Shedd spokeswoman Andrea Smalec. The entire building lost power but “at no time was the comfort and safety of animals at risk,” Smalec said.
Several backup processes were in place when the power went out, but a generator did not go on because it wasn’t neeeded. Other power sources backed up essential areas, Smalec said.
Those who left the aquarium were given ticket vouchers to come back.
Smalec said most visitors, many on spring break, stayed and came back in when the power came back.
The Shedd is open until 6 p.m. during weekends and will be open on Sunday.
