More than 40,000 Moore County, North Carolina, residents were left powerless Sunday afternoon after two substations were leveled by gunfire Saturday night, according to police.
Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields said in a Facebook post Saturday that just after 7 p.m. that night, various communities across the county began experiencing power outages.
Electricity pylons at sunset in the background
(iStock)
Duke Energy, which operates the power grid in the county, responded to at least two different substations and there was evidence of intentional vandalism at both, Fields said.
NORTH CAROLINA SHERIFF SAYS ‘INTENTIONAL VANDALISM’ AT SUBSTATIONS CAUSED POWER OUTAGES FOR 40K CUSTOMERS
“We faced something here in Moore County last night that we’ve never faced before,” Fields said during a Facebook Live press conference Sunday afternoon.
The sheriff gave some more details about the situation, saying extensive damage was found at two substations caused by multiple gunshots, causing power outages mainly in the central and northern parts of the county.
As of Sunday afternoon, PowerOutage.us said 40,679 customers were without power.
TWO DOGS IN NORTH CAROLINA NEED TO ADOPT IN THE MIDDLE OF A POWERFUL EUTHANASIA AT AN OVERWHELMED SHELTER
Due to the power outage, the curfew will go into effect Sunday at 9pm until Monday morning at 5am.
The FBI, the State Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement agencies are conducting an investigation into substation vandalism 24 hours a day.
The Moore County Public Safety Directorate said during the news conference that the Moore County Sports Complex would open as a shelter at 4 p.m. Sunday for those without power.
Electrician worker climbing electric power pole to repair damaged power cable line problems after storm.
(iStock)
The facility can hold 225 to 250 citizens and will remain open until deemed unnecessary by the county.
Duke Energy’s Jeff Brooks said a full power restoration may not occur until Thursday.
ENTIRE NORTH CAROLINA POLICE DEPARTMENT RESIGNS AFTER HIRING OF NEW CITY MANAGER
He explained that unlike a storm where power can be diverted, there is equipment in substations that needs to be replaced or repaired due to gunshots.
The power company is pursuing multiple restoration paths, Brooks said, and their number one priority is getting power back to customers.
As a result of the power outage, Moore County Schools Superintendent Tim Locklair announced that schools would close Monday and the situation would be assessed on a day-to-day basis.
“My friends, this was a terrible act,” said state Sen. Tom McInnis, adding that the perpetrator who committed the “terrible” act will be brought to justice.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Sheriff Fields did not want to go into the details of the investigation because he did not want to jeopardize it in any way.
But he reaffirmed that the FBI and SBI were working in every possible way to find the individual or individuals responsible.
No group has accepted responsibility for what Fields called a targeted attack, without calling it domestic terrorism.
“We have no motivation,” he said. “I call them cowards.”
