North Carolina substation sabotage exposes grid vulnerability

700 attacks on the U.S. power grid. [Shop Survival Frog]( Last Day: We’re offering [free upgraded 2-day shipping]( on all orders over $100! Add $100 or more of survival supplies and outdoor gear to your cart, and select the Express Shipping option at checkout. Ends tomorrow. (Excludes products with noted shipping delays). Keep your phone on if the power’s out with a QuadraPro Solar Power Bank or light up your living room with a solar lantern. Both are [in stock]( and ready to ship. ______________________________________________________________________________ Gunfire Attack on North Carolina Substations Raises the Alarm over U.S. Electrical Grid Security Roughly 45,000 people were left without power after criminals shot up two electrical substations in Moore County, North Carolina. Authorities said the December 3rd attack was targeted, and it’s being investigated as a criminal act. Multiple rounds were fired, and Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields said, “The person, or persons, who did this knew exactly what they were doing.” The Damage Severely Disrupted Daily Life The substation sabotage shook the community. Residents suffered from four full days without power in chilly temperatures, schools were closed, businesses were shuttered, and a curfew was imposed. Several serious car accidents were reported due to traffic lights being out. Calls flooded the police of home break-ins prompted by the darkness. The fire department responded to an increase of house fires as people tried alternate ways to heat their homes. Hospitals were running on generators. The extreme disruption to daily life goes to show just how much we depend on electricity. And it serves as a vivid reminder of the vulnerability of the U.S. power grid. FBI Joins the Investigation The FBI was brought in to assist local law enforcement with the investigation, and some are wondering if it was an act of “domestic terrorism.” One thing is clear: the attack has raised serious concerns over the security of America’s electrical grid and power stations. Federal authorities have previously warned that extremist groups might target critical electrical infrastructure in order to cause chaos. History Repeats Itself In a still unsolved case from 2013, a sniper attacked a substation in California. That attack was on Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s Metcalf Transmission Substation outside San Jose. The substation was down for weeks, but PG&E was able to reroute power. Otherwise, it would’ve been lights out for Silicon Valley. Despite calls to beef up security measures at vulnerable substations, many are woefully exposed, especially in rural America. The fact is, the sheer sprawling size of the American electrical grid makes it difficult to defend. Substations are in every nook and cranny of the country. Urgent Warning Issued on 60 Minutes Often, the only thing between bad actors and critical electrical infrastructure is a chain link fence. Mike Mabee, an Iraq war veteran, former cop, and self-taught grid security expert who publishes the website, “Grid Security Now,” told 60 Minutes there were more than 700 physical attacks on the U.S. electrical grid in a single decade. The grid’s also vulnerable to cyber attacks and extreme weather. Jon Wellinghoff, who served as the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from 2009-2013 revealed a terrifying and shocking statistic during the same 60 Minutes episode – You’d need to take out less than 20 substations to knock out power nationwide and cause a coast-to-coast blackout. The situation was bad enough in rural North Carolina. Just imagine if major cities across the U.S. were suddenly plunged into darkness. What Lessons Can Be Learned from This? It’s unlikely anyone except the criminal(s) woke up in Moore County Saturday morning anticipating two substations would be shot up and they’d be left in the dark for days. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, and you can never know when the world will throw a challenge your way. In North Carolina, some people had generators, and some didn’t. Some had firewood. Some had canned food and a way to cook it without power. In short, some people were more prepared than others, and they were able to ride out the blackout in comfort compared to their neighbors. We can’t predict the future, but we can be prepared. There may come a time in the future when you’re left without power. Be blackout ready. Think about what supplies your family would need. Pocket-sized device offers blackout proof power source The QuadraPro Solar Power Bank gives you on demand power when and where you need it. Even if you’ve suffered a power outage – You can stay charged up and in touch. We’ve heard from customers how the QuadraPro Solar Power Bank offered a lifeline and saved the day in some truly dicey survival situations. It’s the perfect emergency preparedness power source to bring your cell phone and other USB devices back to life. We hope you never need it to call for rescue, but no matter what – [This pocket-sized solar power bank]( keeps your phone on when the power’s out. ~ Survival Frog Preparing Made Easy® ______________________________________________________________________________ Need help? Talk with a product expert, place orders, or get customer support, email support@survivalfrog.com Survival Frog, LLC, 621 Kalamath Street, Suite 75, Denver, CO 80204, USA Can't see this email? [Open in your browser](. Want to update your email preferences? [Click here]( [Unsubscribe](