At 9:00 PM on December 16, 1942, Broward County went dark. The cause was a one-hour blackout drill ordered by the U.S. Army's interceptor command.

Other than essential services such as railway trains, aircraft beacons and emergency vehicles, local residents were required to extinguish all lights in their homes and businesses and were to park their cars alongside the road with the headlights off during the blackout. Outdoor smoking was prohibited as was the lighting of matches.

Churches that held Wednesday evening services were asked to be done early enough that those attending could be home before the blackout began.