Plot to attack the power grid in Baltimore

[rubytue]

I might shoulda found the older thread when this happened in NC. But, unclear if these people are related to that one. But, they arrested two people near Baltimore plotting to attack more power stations.  

Edit - rereading the article, I’m going to TW it because of the references to the associated hate groups. 

Gift link wapo.st/3RCIfGj

[Bad Dingo]

How are these terrorists out on bail?

[wawa]

I...would have liked an answer to whether that approach actually *would* cause a cascading power failure. Was that in there and I missed it?
Even if it was a lie. That's fine. lie to me and tell me the entire regional grid can't be taken out by a pair of fascists with guns.

[wildrice]

Feb 6, 2023 13:54:53 GMT -5 wawa said:

I...would have liked an answer to whether that approach actually *would* cause a cascading power failure. Was that in there and I missed it?
Even if it was a lie. That's fine. lie to me and tell me the entire regional grid can't be taken out by a pair of fascists with guns.

Yeah.... this just gave me major anxiety! The idea is terrifying. I assume it's likely we would have been affected? Sounds like my employer definitely would have been. 

Even if it didn't make it this far out of the city, what the hell. Poor Baltimore has enough issues to deal with without something like this. I am sure it's not a coincidence that it's a minority white city. I just cannot imagine what would happen to the people who are already struggling to get by to not have access to electricity in their homes for an extended time. 

I don't even know why people like this exist in the world. The idea that she wanted her legacy to be destroying an entire city/metro area - like, what? 

[noodleoo]

Feb 6, 2023 13:54:53 GMT -5 wawa said:

I...would have liked an answer to whether that approach actually *would* cause a cascading power failure. Was that in there and I missed it?
Even if it was a lie. That's fine. lie to me and tell me the entire regional grid can't be taken out by a pair of fascists with guns.

I’m pretty I saw a story on 60 minutes about how vulnerable our power grid is. And it is not well protected at all. They said in the story that an attack taking out something like 20 key power stations would bring down the entire grid. All I could think watching it was that they really shouldn’t be giving people ideas!

[rubytue]

*Breaths deeply into a paper bag*

All that stuff about prepping for power grid issues, get on it. But also, you know, get off the natural gas and onto electric.

Sometimes, it feels like there is a large (but probably small) segment of the population that actually believes we are already in the never civil war and they are just doing their battles.

[pixy0stix]

Feb 6, 2023 16:19:20 GMT -5 rubytue said:

*Breaths deeply into a paper bag*

All that stuff about prepping for power grid issues, get on it. But also, you know, get off the natural gas and onto electric.

Sometimes, it feels like there is a large (but probably small) segment of the population that actually believes we are already in the never civil war and they are just doing their battles.

Power issues will always be short term, but you do have to be prepared and have a plan. Like if you live in a cold place, have a plan for heat (the article said they were going to target after a snow storm). When all is said and done, emergency preparedness looks the same for weather events as it does for terrorist attacks. The only difference is that they do rec having a bug out bag for terrorist events, but then it looks a lot like wildfire planning.

[rubytue]

pixy0stix, yeah, I do get it. I’m just feeling a bit of the sky is falling today. *sigh*

[MrsAxilla]

Feb 6, 2023 13:54:53 GMT -5 wawa said:

I...would have liked an answer to whether that approach actually *would* cause a cascading power failure. Was that in there and I missed it?
Even if it was a lie. That's fine. lie to me and tell me the entire regional grid can't be taken out by a pair of fascists with guns.

Yes, yes it would. And could ☹️

[aurora]

Feb 6, 2023 13:54:53 GMT -5 wawa said:

I...would have liked an answer to whether that approach actually *would* cause a cascading power failure. Was that in there and I missed it?
Even if it was a lie. That's fine. lie to me and tell me the entire regional grid can't be taken out by a pair of fascists with guns.

The basic idea is that power systems have safety shutdowns in place that can trigger to prevent catastrophic damage. So, if part of the system goes down, other parts could be overloaded and shut down for safety.

We've known for a long time that our power system is old, not especially resilient, and vulnerable, but we don't want to pay to improve it.

[aurora]

Feb 6, 2023 16:22:18 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Feb 6, 2023 16:19:20 GMT -5 rubytue said:

*Breaths deeply into a paper bag*

All that stuff about prepping for power grid issues, get on it. But also, you know, get off the natural gas and onto electric.

Sometimes, it feels like there is a large (but probably small) segment of the population that actually believes we are already in the never civil war and they are just doing their battles.

Ironically, part of prepping for power grid issues means natural gas/gas generators.

Or solar with batteries.