Gunfire at electrical grid kills power for 45,000 in North Carolina

2022-12-05 23:30

Officials in Moore County, North Carolina, declared a state of emergency on Sunday after gunfire damaged an electrical substation and left 45,000 homes and businesses without power in near freezing temperatures.

The state of emergency declaration, obtained by North Carolina-based publication The Pilot, says, "Massive Power Outages due to criminal activityhas caused widespread and significant power outages within the County of Moore, North Carolina. It is anticipated to take up to one week for the power to be restored to residents, businesses, churches, schools, and government."

Duke Energy said its employees are working around the clock to restore power to affected customers.

At the press conference, Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields was asked by a reporter whether there's any connection between the attack on the power grid and a drag show that had been scheduled Saturday evening in the town of Southern Pines.

The shooting attack on the power grid echoes a similar gunfire attack on a Pacific Gas & Electric substation that occurred in Metcalf, California in April, 2013.

In 2019, California adopted rules to implement such measures to defend its electrical distribution grid.

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