Attack on North Carolina Power Substation

I shouldn't laugh because this can get dangerous, but you hit it. Fr. Jim Martin has some related reflections in a thread and linked piece on this latest moment:

 

I'm a bit worried this will catch on and become a copy-cat crime across the country for disaffected individuals and extremist groups with a grudge. Too easy to accomplish - under cover of darkness and from a distance on unguarded substations plus wide spread impact and big time coverage in the media.

 

That will get people killed (e.g. accidents, those who depend on medical equipment, and either freezing to death or heat.). Hope they catch the asshats who did this.

 

Attacks on Pacific north-west power stations raise fears for US electric grid

 

Without going into details, there are much more effective ways to disable substations than firearms but rifles certainly allow one to do so from a safe distance.

No amount of money will secure our water and power systems. There are just too many miles of infrastructure to protect. Post 9/11, literally billions were spent to protect water plants but one barrel of contaminate, pump, and a hose can inject the system full of contaminents from any fire hydrant or air release valve on the system in a matter of minutes. Couple that contaminate with some widely used radioactive isotopes that are fairly easy to steal and entire distribution systems can be put out of service.

I just hope this nonsense doesn't result in billions spent to try and provide some false sense of security that end up driving up electricity rates for everyone

 

It seems that some are hellbent on living out their fantasies of living in some kind of post apocalyptic ammosexual paradise and don't care how many may die to bring that about.

 

Rushpocalypse

 

Sounds like the kind of profiling that gets black people pulled over on suspicion of being criminals. How about we let the investigation play out for a few days before we jump to any conclusions?

 

Not necessarily. It could be someone from another country perfecting ways to take down the U.S. electrical grid. I think I read there are something like five substations nationwide that if you took them out, the entire country would be without electricity. I tend to think most of the countries that would want to do that are sophisticated enough to sabotage the grid by hacking into the control systems of a few power plants, but you never know.

 

I have to confess that the incident in North Carolina was probably the breaking point for me. After years of procrastinating I'm finally going to get estimates for a generator.

 

Good. My experience is that once you buy one you never need it again… but if you don’t have one you’ll need one. It’s cruel programming code in the matrix.

 

You know the old saying about its better to have a friend with a boat rather than pay for one yourself?

Thats been my approach with a generator.
My FIL has one just 7 miles away.

Problem was after Hurricane Florence the flooding literally closed all the bridges between here and there and that 7 miles became a 4 hour drive. Yikes.

 

Not many ice storms here. A good one a couple years back, but more rare, but man we get nipped by every storm. Even when it isnt a direct hit. Charlie and Ian both actually gave us some fits and Charlie made a second landfall here. Those will usually not take the power for long, but a day or so sometimes.

Even with all the hurricanes though, we seem to only have 1 time a year on average with the power knocked out, so Im kot ready to pull the trigger.

Of course it isnt freezing cold after a hurricane. Open some windows, sit on the porch etc is fine. Ice storms bring a different set of needs for sure

 

Can confirm. Mine has never come out of the box.

 

For those looking, I got a Honda generator. Think it's the EU2200. Almost anyone can lift it, and it's the most quiet generator I've found. Also very gas efficient. It's not going to run half your house or anything, but I thought it was a smart purchase, particularly since I use a CPAP. Also, due to its portability, also very easy to lend to anyone in need without worrying about getting a big truck, finding people to lift it, etc.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Honda-2...ith-Advanced-CO-Shutdown-EU2200ITAN/316604378

2200-Watt Remote Stop/Recoil Start Bluetooth Super Quiet Gasoline Powered Inverter Generator with Advanced CO Shutdown

 

And what keeps the generator running?
Better have a 30,000 gallon fuel tank or a water wheel and creek close by.

 

Three power substations vandalized in Washington state, knocking out power for 14,000 - CBS San Francisco (cbsnews.com)

The first substation, located in Spanaway, Washington, and belonging to Tacoma Public Utilities, was attacked around 5:30 a.m. local time, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. Nothing was stolen, but equipment was vandalized, leading to outages in the area, police said.

A second nearby TPU substation was also vandalized, police said.

A substation belonging to Puget Sound Energy was also vandalized sometime in the early morning, police said. Power went around 2:30 a.m. local time. Police were notified around 11:30 a.m., and when they arrived on the scene, they found "the fenced area was broken into and the equipment vandalized," similar to the other two substations.

The three incidents come less than a month after someone opened fire on a substation in North Carolina, knocking out power to some 45,000 people. The "deliberate" attack raised concerns about the vulnerability of the U.S. power grid to sabotage, as many substations are protected by little more than chainlink fences.

 

Depending on the size of the house and the load an on site LP tank 250 gallon can run a 20k generator for 7-10 days.