Vandals wielding firearms are suspected of causing a major power outage across a North Carolina county that has plunged about 45,000 customers into darkness amid freezing temperatures, according to authorities.
Evidence of sabotage was found at two key electrical substations following the massive blackout Saturday night, prompting the Moore County Sheriff's Office to investigate the incident as a "criminal occurrence" and call in the FBI to assist in the probe.
A state of emergency was declared in Moore County on Sunday and a countywide 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew was set to be imposed Sunday night.
Jeff Brooks, spokesman for Duke Energy, the local public utility, said the two electrical substations were severely damage in the attacks and much of the equipment will have to be replaced. He said it could be until Thursday when power is completely restored.
Schools throughout the county have been cancelled indefinitely and a shelter was opened Carthage, a central Moore County town, for residents suffering from the disruption, officials said.
The power outages began at about 7 p.m. Saturday, and thousands of Duke Energy customers remained without electricity on Sunday after enduring freezing temperatures overnight.
Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields said at a news conference Sunday that the perpetrator or perpetrators of the sabotage "knew exactly what they were doing." He said multiple shots were fired at each of the damaged substations and a gate was rammed open at one of the properties to reach the target.
"We faced something last night in Moore County that we've never faced before, but we'll get through it," Fields said. "I can promise to the perpetrators out there, we will find you."
Fields added, "this was targeted. It wasn't random."
Distribution lines that provide electric power in North Carolina.
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No arrests have been announced. Fields declined to comment on a possible motive, but said the investigation has yet to uncovered evidence linking the vandalism to a controversial Downtown Divas drag show in Southern Pines that has sparked community protests. The drag show had been scheduled for Saturday night and was cancelled due to the blackout.
Brooks said utility crews are working "around the clock" to restore power, but conceded "we are looking at a pretty sophisticated repair with some fairly large equipment." Several law enforcement agencies in Moore County were providing security as crews worked to repair the damage.
"We do want citizens to be prepared that this will be a multiday restoration for most customers," Brooks said.
Mike Cameron, Southern Pines' assistant town manager and fire chief, told the Raleigh News and Observer said several vehicle accidents were being blamed on the power outage, including a multiple car crash that injured several people at an intersection in Southern Pines.
"The car wreck was totally because the stop lights were out," Cameron told the News and Observer.
Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, North Carolina, also lost power and was forced to switch to its backup generator, officials said.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in a Twitter post that he has spoken with Duke Energy and state law enforcement officials about the crisis.
"They are investigating and working to return electricity to those impacted. The state is providing support as needed," Cooper said.