CNN –
Without announcing suspects or motive, FBI joins investigation into power outages in North Carolina county believed to be caused by “intentional” and “targeted” attacks on substations that left about 40,000 customers in the dark Saturday night, prompting a curfew and emergency declaration.
The massive outage in Moore County turned into a criminal investigation when utility crews found signs of possible equipment vandalism at various locations, including two substations that had been damaged by gunfire, according to the sheriff’s office of Moore County.
“The person, or persons, who did this knew exactly what they were doing,” Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields said during a news conference Sunday. “We have no idea why Moore County.”
Multiple rounds were fired at both substations, Fields said. “It was on target, it wasn’t random,” he said.
The sheriff would not say whether the criminal activity was domestic terrorism, but noted that “no group has stepped forward to acknowledge or accept that they are the ones [did] this.”
Authorities announced a mandatory curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Sunday night, Fields said, adding that the decision was made to protect residents and businesses.
In addition to the FBI, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has joined the investigation, officials said.
More than 33,000 customers were still in the dark across the county Sunday evening, Duke Energy’s outage map showed. For some, the outage could stretch into Thursday, officials said, putting the lives of tens of thousands at risk.
All schools in the county will be closed on Monday and authorities have opened a shelter that runs on a generator.
Traffic lights are also out, and while some stores with generators were able to open their doors, several businesses and churches in Moore County were closed Sunday, CNN affiliate WRAL reported.
“We just got over Covid. And now this,” the sheriff said, adding, “It’s going to hurt all our restaurants and businesses.”
Inside people’s houses, it’s hard to keep the cold.
“We have a six-month-old baby at home. We are out of heat. We’re trying to get heat for her,” Carthage resident Chris Thompson told WRAL.
Cool temperatures, with lows in the 30s, were expected in the area overnight Sunday with highs in the 50s and a chance of rain on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Moore County is located in central North Carolina, about 50 miles northwest of Fayetteville.
Mapbox
The estimated cost of damage to the substation is in the millions, the sheriff said Sunday.
The damage has been extensive and being able to divert is not an option, said Jeff Brooks, Duke Energy’s chief communications officer.
“The equipment will have to be replaced,” Brooks said. “We’re pursuing multiple restoration paths so we can restore as many customers as quickly as possible. Recognizing that, we’re looking at a fairly sophisticated remediation with a fairly large team.”
In addition to the gunshot damage to the substations, a door appears to have been removed from one of its hinge locations, Asst. Chief Mike Cameron of the Southern Pines Fire and Rescue Department told CNN.
While it’s unclear what motivated the alleged vandalism, the sheriff on Sunday addressed rumors circulating on social media that the attack was an attempt to thwart a local drag show.
Fields said investigators “have not been able to tie anything to the drag show,” which was scheduled to take place in the town of Southern Pines at 7 p.m. Saturday, around the time the power went out. .
The county declared a state of emergency to protect residents and property and maintain utilities, officials said. The countywide curfew is expected to remain in effect nightly while the emergency declaration is in effect.
“It’s going to be very, very dark and cold tonight, and we don’t need to have anybody outside and that’s the reason for our curfew,” North Carolina state Sen. Tom McInnis said during the press conference . “Please stay home tonight…the roads are dangerous.”
The emergency order also encourages residents to conserve fuel.
With the streets dark, the area has seen an increase in emergency calls and vehicle crashes are being reported because traffic lights are out, Cameron told CNN.
People who depend on oxygen have also made emergency calls, he added.
A shelter was opened at the Moore County Sports Complex and trailers with bathrooms and showers are being brought in, Moore County Manager Wayne Vest said.
As for schools, it’s unclear how long campuses will remain closed. Moore County Superintendent Tim Locklair said decisions about opening schools for the rest of the week will be made day by day.