# 40,000 experience power outage in North Carolina, due to sabotage (4-DEC-22) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** breaking-news\ **Created:** [December 4, 2022, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033 "2022-12-04T23:34:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2022, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/1 "2022-12-04T23:34:29Z")
As I write this, crews are working to restore power to about 40,000 customers in North Carolina after a substation was damaged, apparently by gunshots. > **[NC county announces curfew as nearly 40,000 customers remain without power...](https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/04/us/power-outage-moore-county-criminal-investigation/index.html)** > > Authorities have announced a mandatory curfew in a North Carolina county where around 40,000 customers lost power after two power substations were damaged by gunfire Saturday night. I did see that Moore County abuts Fort Bragg, which has plenty of problems of its own. I also hope that whoever did this gets caught quickly. Are any Dopers affected by this? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/2 "2022-12-05T04:17:28Z")
Moved from the BBQ Pit to MPSIMS. I also added a Breaking News tag. If there is some aspect of this that you would like to rant about in the Pit, feel free, but you will probably need to make the post a lot more Pit-worthy. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/3 "2022-12-05T10:22:39Z")
Sounds eerily similar to the [Metcalf sniper attack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metcalf_sniper_attack) of 2013. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/4 "2022-12-05T10:59:22Z")
I don’t have a citation, but it’s been well-documented elsewhere on this board that it was done by a right-wing militia that was attempting to shut down a drag show. The rest of my opinion about that will have to go into the BBQ Pit (and how), but suspect and motive are relevant to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/5 "2022-12-05T13:29:56Z")
A lot of our infrastructure is poorly guarded/protected at best. Someone finally decided to take advantage of that. It’s a bit of a wonder it didn’t happen sooner. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/6 "2022-12-05T14:05:42Z")
How was such extensive damaged accomplished with gunfire? NPR quoted a representative of the power company that a lot of equipment must be replaced. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/7 "2022-12-05T14:11:25Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > I don’t have a citation, but it’s been well-documented elsewhere on this board that it was done by a right-wing militia that was attempting to shut down a drag show. [A right-wing militia whose self-proclaimed leader was at least present for the Trump rally which stormed the Capitol Building and has made general threats of violence on Facebook.](https://nypost.com/2021/01/11/army-investigating-officer-who-led-group-to-deadly-dc-riots/) ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/8 "2022-12-05T14:31:41Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > I don’t have a citation, but it’s been well-documented elsewhere on this board that it was done by a right-wing militia that was attempting to shut down a drag show. I read an article where local law enforcement was saying they did not know a cause yet and were not able to connect this to the drag show. Of course, it’s possible that they are incompetent, or not sharing this info for their own reasons, so if there are other reliable sources that DO say this was the cause, I’d love to see them. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/9 "2022-12-05T14:37:18Z")
Found it, from a local paper in Raleigh: > [@](#): > > On her Facebook page, [LINK REMOVED] an outspoken opponent of the drag show, posted an invitation to the protest at the theater. 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.” > > Later, she posted that the Moore County Sheriff’s Office had come to her house to ask about the outage. > > “I welcomed them to my home,” wrote Rainey, who [organized a group of Moore County residents to travel to Washington on January 6, 2021](https://www.thepilot.com/news/southern-pines-army-officer-facing-review-over-role-in-d-c-protests/article_554fe398-542a-11eb-8bcf-875056fd527a.html). “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.” > > Rainey said, “I told them God is chastising Moore County, thanked them for coming, and wished them a good night. Thankful for the LEOs service, as always.” > > Without naming her, Fields indicated in Sunday’s press conference that the information Rainey posted online was “false.” He said officers “had to go and interview this young lady and have a word of prayer with her, but it turned out to be nothing.” > **[Power substation attack leaves Moore County, NC in the dark. Here’s what we know](https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article269579392.html)** > > Two substations were damaged, putting nearly the whole county in the dark. The SBI and FBI are assisting and charges will be “extensive,” the Sheriff said. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/10 "2022-12-05T14:40:01Z")
Perhaps the sheriff has [partisanship](https://ballotpedia.org/Ronnie_Fields_(Moore_County_Sheriff,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022)) clouding his judgement. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/11 "2022-12-05T14:40:04Z")
So, if this article can be trusted, the evidence against her is that she posted on FB “the power is out and I know why”. But, according to her and the police, she meant this in a “because God is punishing us for an immoral drag show” sense. Whether this is true or not remains to be seen; we can hope that if she is lying and was simply able to fool the local police, that the FBI would sniff that out. But the alternative meaning doesn’t seem too farfetched - if a meteor struck the power station, her post would still make sense (well, coming from a deluded bigot like her). ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/12 "2022-12-05T14:42:06Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Perhaps the sheriff has [partisanship](https://ballotpedia.org/Ronnie_Fields_(Moore_County_Sheriff,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022)) clouding his judgement. Certainly another possibility, and one I only left out of my prior post in the interest of keeping MPSIMS less political. If that’s the case, one would hope that when the FBI finds out, both this lady and whoever helped her on the force will be caught. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/13 "2022-12-05T14:42:24Z")
I think the news of power grid attacks in Ukraine gave some bad people the idea in North Carolina. I’m confidant the FBI will find the people responsible. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/14 "2022-12-05T14:42:55Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m confidant the FBI will find the people responsible The FBI does tend to take domestic terrorism seriously. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/15 "2022-12-05T15:24:17Z")
The people responsible better hope the FBI finds them first. There’s 40,000 pissed off people in North Carolina. The police are probably getting a lot of tips. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/16 "2022-12-05T15:30:48Z")
We have had enough warnings about the vulnerability of these things. We have done nothing. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/17 "2022-12-05T16:23:25Z")
The attack was timed to take place soon after the drag show started. This is a targeted hate crime. To their credit, they kept the show going on for 2 hours with people using flashlights. Hate will not win. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/18 "2022-12-05T16:37:40Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > A lot of our infrastructure is poorly guarded/protected at best. Someone finally decided to take advantage of that. It’s a bit of a wonder it didn’t happen sooner. It has. An end-of-the-roader in Alaska [ruptured the oil pipeline](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/06/us/pipeline-crews-tackle-huge-oil-spill-caused-by-shooting.html) in 2001 by shooting at it. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/19 "2022-12-05T17:56:50Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > How was such extensive damaged accomplished with gunfire? NPR quoted a representative of the power company that a lot of equipment must be replaced. The authorities probably don’t want to get too detailed about that lest there be copycats. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033/20 "2022-12-05T18:26:22Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > How was such extensive damaged accomplished with gunfire? NPR quoted a representative of the power company that a lot of equipment must be replaced. - I doubt the housings were made of hardened armor plate. (From 2012) [.223 against 1/4 inch mild steel plate.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KjjR88nQes) No armor piercing, just a sample of typical consumer grade ammo. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/40-000-experience-power-outage-in-north-carolina-due-to-sabotage-4-dec-22/976033.md?page=2)