Vandalism suspected in outage that left thousands without power in Moore County

[Red Mountain]

Last edited Sun Dec 4, 2022, 12:47 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: The News & Observer

Vandals are suspected to have intentionally damaged electrical substations in Moore County on Saturday night, shutting off power to 45,000 customers and prompting law enforcement officers to accompany crews sent to make repairs.

Jeff Brooks, a spokesman for Duke Energy, said the power went off after 8 p.m. When crews responded, they found “multiple equipment failures” at several substations and what appeared to be intentional damage, Brooks said.


Protest over drag show

Earlier in the day, protesters had gathered outside the Sunrise Theater in downtown Southern Pines, upset about a drag queen show planned for the small venue Saturday night. On her Facebook page, Emily Grace Rainey posted an invitation to the protest.

After the lights went out out, Rainey, who became known in Moore County during the pandemic for her opposition to mask mandates, posted on Facebook that, “The power is out in Moore County and I know why.”




Read more: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article269579392.html

---

Right wing nutjobs have threatened this sort of thing in the past. Article is behind a paywall. Open in private browser to read.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Moore+County,+NC/@35.280515,-79.4318825,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89ab5777cbccf3dd:0x9b655a0ffb000e60!8m2!3d35.3674493!4d-79.4703885

Still out:

https://outagemap.duke-energy.com/#/current-outages/ncsc

[paleotn]

1. The wealthy folks at Pinehurst were not amused, me thinks.

A bridge very much too far, that earns the nutters few friends and costs them plenty. That's the kind of shit that will land them in jail for a good long time.

[brush]

58. Just a thought: Have these anti-woke, so called anti-groomers...

magats moved to domestic terrorism, damaging vulnerable, unprotected infrastructure?

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Took me a bit to find out WHERE this happened in the U.S.

Apparently in NC. I suspected that given the reference to "Duke Energy" but even the article gave no clues...

[SouthernDem4ever]

3. Thanks for that info

I was just looking for that too.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. I had to click on the little weather icon at the OP's news article's website

to see that it said "Raleigh".

[Warpy]

34. I knew because that's the part of the country I fled

as soon as I had a car that was nearly as old as I was plus enough money to make the trip.

The problem is the preachers who shriek from the pulpit and incite this shit. No, I doubt the jerks who did it go to church, they just heard Mamaw or Peepaw ranting about it and decided to git them pree verts. They didn't spare a thought for anyone else, not in hospitals and not at home.

Just please tell me that there were video cameras left over from Islamophobic paranoia. This is home grown terrorism and I want those assholes caught and prosecuted and sitting in prison, preferably in a prison designed for terrorists.

I have never regretted getting the hell out of Dixie. The only time I missed any part of it was in May in Boston when it was icy cold and drizzly and I remembered what a real spring was like. The rest of the time, nah.

[Jamastiene]

50. Yep, you do know this area.

You explained it so well. I hope the FBI being involved gets the culprits arrested. I don't trust the local sheriff.

[Jamastiene]

44. I didn't even read more into it when I first saw it, because

I thought they were talking about Moore, Oklahoma or one of the other Moores in America.

I live in another county near the place here in NC where that happened. Nothing ever happens much here. So, I didn't even know. When I finally did read it and NC was mentioned, my jaw hit the floor.

[BumRushDaShow]

51. Well this story finally hit national news big time

(am literally hearing a report about it as I type this while listening to my local news radio station)

[Jamastiene]

52. I don't think those 40k people are happy right about now.

I don't trust that sheriff, but the FBI and our Dem governor and Dem AG are on it. I do trust them to do more and actually arrest whoever did it. Cooper and Stein have been good ones.

[BumRushDaShow]

53. I know for decades

there has always been concern about our energy infrastructure being open to damage as a "soft target" with a need to be "hardened". Except for those facilities that might be underground like those in dense urban areas, most substations are just sitting exposed on some plot of land in the open behind fencing but still obviously identifiable.

This is a pic of the NC substataion -



I live a couple blocks from a substation that looks similar and drive by it all the time (I live in Philly) but my power actually isn't from that one but from another some distance away, and is one that also provides power to parts of the township across the county line between Philly and Montgomery County.

[Jamastiene]

62. So true. Did you see the poles that held that gate on?

They were rotten at ground level. I've seen very old poles rot like that at ground level. It makes them very weak, like punky wood.

A small child could have pushed that gate over, even a small animal. That should never have been left that dilapidated that someone could just get in there to that equipment so easily.

As many storms as we have here in this area of NC, they should have long since gone to lateral lines (underground). It would stop a lot of power outages and unnecessary food spoilage. I know every time a storm knocks my power out, it is going to be anywhere between 5 hours to 5 days. I dread hearing 5 days when I call to report it and get the reply back from Duke Energy.

Like you said, though, we should have long since protected our electrical grid. Our grid is atrociously undefended, dilapidated and weak. That should have been done during the war on terror, a long time ago. We were sitting ducks the whole time.

[BumRushDaShow]

64. I was surprised they even had wood poles

but I suppose it was for a "rustic" look for the facility so it could blend in and not look so harsh and industrial.

I grew up with wires strung along the backs of houses but the house I'm in right now actually has underground electric. However I know it eventually comes out of the ground and up to a pole and goes on its way to transformers and a substation. And during storms (particularly any tropical storms/remnants of hurricanes) the persistent winds can blow out transformers fairly quickly. Hell, branches falling on lines are the bane of one of my sisters' existence.

[Jamastiene]

63. International news now...

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63829130

[AllaN01Bear]

4. since when are proud boys protestors ?

[CurtEastPoint]

6. she is getting pummeled on her FB page. Ignorant GD twit. Patriot my ass.

What is someone on oxygen died because of her 'patriotism?'

https://www.facebook.com/emily.rainey.94

[barbtries]

20. i hope the police are aware.

and arrests will be made. but you never know around here, they could be applauding it.

looked at your link. her latest post:

The Moore County Sheriff's Office just checked in. I welcomed them to my home.
Sorry they wasted their time. I told them that God works in mysterious ways and is responsible for the outage. I used the opportunity to tell them about the immoral drag show and the blasphemies screamed by its supporters.
God is chastising Moore County. I thanked them for coming and wished them a good night. Thankful for the LEOs service, as always.

comments still blasting her. hope she goes to jail.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

7. You'd think an omnipotent God could've just shut off the power at the drag show itself

You know, to show his displeasure at this violation of His Will (which I'm sure these protestors claim to know).

[oldsoftie]

8. See how easy that was? Imagine if a foreign actor wanted to REALLY cause trouble

Our electrical infrastructure MUST be hardened against attacks and also solar attacks.
EVERY year we do little to prevent damage.

[Red Mountain]

22. Tell me about it

Stupid newspaper.

[jmowreader]

24. Everyone who reads the N&O does, anyway

Although the LBN rules require using the exact headline, would it be permissible to add (NC) to it so everyone outside the Carolinas knows?

[Red Mountain]

25. I could have made a point of explaining where it occurred, I guess

I was being a bit facetious.

Though I'm not sure if people were more offended by not knowing what state it was in or where Moore county is in NC.

The name of the newspaper was a clue.

The Southern Pines reference in the article was a dead giveaway.

[Hotler]

10. Vandalism? How about targeted. I just started listening to Rachel's podacst Ultra.

Seems like right out of the 1940 Nazi play book. I highly recommend listening, many parallels to today.

[judesedit]

13. Is Ultra in book form yet?

[barbtries]

16. Do we even know that it will be?

the podcast is free, easily accessible and entirely worthwhile.

[taxi]

31. Under each episode on the MSNBC presentation is a link to its transcript.

Far too lengthy to be printing at home, it makes for a quick and easy download, and it's free. Episode 1 is 487kb. Here's the link: https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc-podcast/rachel-maddow-presents-ultra/transcript-trip-19-n1299418

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-presents-ultra is the link for the main page.

[judesedit]

33. Thank you for that. My problem is I have an old phone. Not much space

No computer, so everything's done on my phone. I'll try, though.

[taxi]

36. There are also those with limited internet service.

Here is a link to a RollingStone article: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/rachel-maddow-ultra-podcast-great-sedition-trial-1234603398/

It briefly summarizes things. They allow only a few free articles so maybe give yourself enough time to read it when you go there. There is a limit on how much can be posted from a source so here is some it:

It was called The Great Sedition Trial of 1944. It’s mostly forgotten history, in large part because the trial didn’t work. They all got off. But that doesn’t mean that these guys weren’t actually doing what they were accused of. There were powerful elected officials who were involved in this terrible plot. They pressured the Justice Department to get the prosecutor fired, and to get the whole thing shut down. They used their political power to get away and to get their co-conspirators off. It has had decades of consequences for the United States in terms of this protection racket at the heart of the far right.
snip
But the German propaganda efforts in the United States, in particular, were something that was often downplayed at the time, and is still downplayed. Because we never think about propaganda as important. We saw it as bad advertising. Or disinformation. But that was how the Nazis were waging war. And their propaganda operation inside the United States was big, well-funded, and aggressive. Some of the most famous members of Congress at the time were implicated in this plot.
snip
They thought that killing the congressmen would set off a civil war in the United States. They believed they could provoke the antifa of their time, the anti-fascist groups and communist groups, into such an outraged reaction that it would cause the National Guard to be called out, and then the Christian Front would join with the National Guard. And it would be a military coup in the United States, which would pave the way for a fascist, emergency power-style military government.
snip
But there’s more to it: The political pressure on the Justice Department to fire the prosecutor; the members of Congress who are implicated in the plot inveighing against the prosecution and against the trial itself; the little problem along the way of the judge dying. It’s a crazy, crazy story. And it ends with them all getting away, which sets me up for what I’m hoping is going to be Season Two.

[csziggy]

15. How about domestic terrorism?

If a foreign entity did this, it WOULD be called terrorism. Just because it is a domestic source, it's vandalism?

[tclambert]

42. Obviously, they think a white guy did it.

If someone with a little pigment in their complexion did it, THEN they will start saying terrorism.

[tenderfoot]

11. When shit like this happens, I cannot help but notice that there's not one peep of outrage from

this site's alleged "as a gay man" trolls.

[NBachers]

12. This is not vandalism; it is sabotage.

[DBoon]

18. This is not sabotage, this is terrorism

[Jamastiene]

45. It is terrorism.

Look up Nazis and "Lights Out."

The Neo-Nazi groups have been planning to do something like this for ages. It was probably a test run.

[question everything]

14. Please update your post to add in parentheses the location.

Yes, you can do this. I have many times

[barbtries]

19. i live in NC and unfamiliar with Moore County.

An earlier post with a twitter link had the same story. I do subscribe to the News and Observer and you're right, if you're not from around here you wouldn't even know what state it was in. That happens with a lot of local paper news stories.

[mnhtnbb]

55. I just cancelled my subscription to the N&O

because it has moved so far right. When we first moved to NC (Chapel Hill,) in 2000, we started taking the N&O in addition to the NY Times. It started moving to the right after it was bought by McClatchy in 1995. Now it's ridiculous. They don't even print Letters to the Editor anymore. They "report" right wing talking points--propaganda--as though it is news. They bury real news on page 10 and put human interest stories on the front page, above the fold, as though they are a weekly paper from some small town in the '50's, instead of the newspaper of a capital city. Pathetic.

Screw 'em.

[barbtries]

56. I hardly ever read it to tell the truth.

there were comments on this story and they were 100% anti- domestic terrorism, which I found encouraging. I only get the online version.

I look it up when there's a local news story I'm interested in, but subscribe primarily to support local coverage. What do you read instead? Maybe I should spend my money better on NC Policy Watch or Indy News? I live in Durham.

[mnhtnbb]

57. I had it for local coverage, too.

I got the print edition delivered because the Wednesday food ads often ran a Harris Teeter coupon worth $10-20 off when buying a threshold $ amount. Paid for the subscription. But the coverage of political races this summer just turned me off. I'm in Durham now, too.

The TV news channel websites usually cover local stories, so I just look them up on-line. Don't watch them on TV. INDY Week is free on-line, but you can donate to support it. https://indyweek.com/

[barbtries]

59. thanks.

yeah, i do watch the local news for weather events and so on. I don't have TV. Well I have a Roku but no cable or local channels. I watch everything on my computer lol have one in my bedroom, my home office, and downstairs in front of the Roku. I'm bad.

I think we may have met at a DU meetup a long time ago mnhtnbb - anyhow, i'm near Southpoint in case you're a neighbor.

[mnhtnbb]

60. Sending you a DU mail.

[Red Mountain]

21. Added it in

I CAN do it!

Sorry, went out for a biscuit.

[DBoon]

17. Imagine if the terrorists were Islamic State instead of fundamentalist Christians

There would be mass arrests as we speak.

[Red Mountain]

23. Might have been......

a practice run.

Right next door to Fayetteville.

Fayetteville, NC people. Fort Bragg?

Soon to be renamed Fort Liberty?

Sigh.....here you go......

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fayetteville,+NC/@35.0746559,-79.0222712,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89ab134f42924a23:0xa3ab9e7512763b9b!8m2!3d35.0526641!4d-78.8783585

[Stuart G]

26. Where, oh where, is Moore County?

...I don't see where this is at? What state, and near what city that we all know....PLEASE..!

Oh well, I didn't see post 23. sorry.

[Red Mountain]

27. Does it matter?

Coming soon to a substation near you.

[Stuart G]

28. Yes, it matters...Here it is: Fayetteville, North Carolina..That is where it is.

I didn't see post 23. I looked at the headlines only....Sorry.

[paleotn]

37. Pinehurst. Golf Mecca. Fayettenam is in Cumberland County. Next one over.

[Jamastiene]

47. Thought I was the only one that called it Fayettenam.

Fort Bragg is a nest of neo-Nazis. Good place to get beaten up for nothing. All you gotta do is exist there and you are going to be beaten up and possibly slashed.

[tclambert]

43. I'm sure Al Qaeda has bookmarked this news story.

[Jamastiene]

46. Look up golf in North Carolina.

It will lead you right to Moore County. It's all hospitals and golf there for as far as the eye can see, along with oodles of pine trees. And I mean oodles of pine trees, more than you will ever want to see again and I do like pine trees. Even I think it's a bit much.

I live near there, but not rich enough to live in that county, not that I would want to anyhow. It's too expensive.

At least they have a movie theater there. My county closed down the movie theater here in the 90s because they played Showgirls. They did that because it was against community standards, not because it sucked or anything.

[SunSeeker]

29. Way to go, NC MAGAts, shut down electricity for thousands to stop a drag show.

Fucking idiots.

[Jamastiene]

48. It's like they shot themselves in the foot.

They shut down power on one of the coldest nights of the year so far....for everyone in the whole county, 40k people, because of their bigotry.

It backfired on them.

They gotta go home to a fridge full of spoiled food, no power, no internet, no cell service, and explain to their neighbors, families, and friends why they thought that was a good idea. It's almost like instant karma. I'm glad they were stupid.

No wonder Andy made Barney keep his one bullet in his shirt pocket. Give these idiots around here more than one bullet and that's what they decide to do.

[dalton99a]

30. The FBI should treat this as a case of domestic terrorism

[Red Mountain]

32. Hopefully they have informants in the area

Insurgencies rely on the cooperation and/or silence of the population to succeed.

This is bound to affect somebody who knows something in a negative way...and piss them off...if whoever did it was local to begin with.

[area51]

39. +1

"Vandalism" my ass.

[Archae]

35. "60 Minutes" did a segment on this.

These guys are terrorists.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/america-electric-grid-60-minutes-2022-08-28/

[Jilly_in_VA]

38. Somebody better hang for this

This is straight up terrorism. Not vandalism, not "redneck fun".

[vercetti2021]

40. Tired of these terrorists

One day they'll get karma

[Red Mountain]

41. Still out:

https://outagemap.duke-energy.com/#/current-outages/ncsc

[Jamastiene]

49. They spelled domestic terrorism wrong again. n/t

[Behind the Aegis]

54. BINGO!

(BTW....sooooooooooooooooo happy to see you again!!!!)

[Jamastiene]

61. Hey!

Twitter was fast paced, but the burning car guy is turning it into a cesspool. I decided to come back here for a while, like coming home or something.

So happy to see you too.