Prepared Brief: Grid Failure, Storm Alerts, and Security Activity
November 14, 2025
Analyst Insight
The last 24 hours were marked by infrastructure stresses and fluid security conditions.
The massive regional power failure across Wyoming and South Dakota shows how a single transmission disturbance can cascade across multiple states, while the West Coast braces for a multi‑day atmospheric‑river storm with flash‑flood risk.
Domestic security incidents continue, including a shooting at California’s Laney College and an upcoming Customs and Border Protection operation in Charlotte.
Legislative actions in Connecticut aim to curb courthouse arrests by ICE and protect residents’ personal data, signaling growing tension between federal immigration enforcement and state privacy interests.
Overall, readiness posture should remain elevated due to overlapping weather, infrastructure, and security developments.
Domestic Security and Civil Unrest
Laney College shooting – Oakland, California. A senior member of the athletics staff at Laney College was shot on campus just before noon; he was taken to hospital and his condition was not known. The victim was later identified as John Beam, the current athletic director and former head football coach. This was the second shooting in Oakland involving a school in two days.
Readiness impact: Campus security protocols should be reviewed, and situational awareness maintained around higher‑education facilities.
No widespread protests or active‑shooter incidents were reported elsewhere in the United States during the period.
Infrastructure and Grid Alerts
Wyoming/South Dakota regional power outage. Two tripped 500‑kilovolt transmission lines near Medicine Bow, Wyoming, triggered a cascading voltage event that shut down multiple lines and left communities in Wyoming and western South Dakota without electricity. Approximately 55,000 Rocky Mountain Power customers lost power, with 40,744 customers affected around Casper, WY. Utilities deployed crews to restore service, but authorities warned residents to prepare for extended outages.
Readiness impact: People should verify backup power readiness, maintain fuel supplies, and plan for extended communications outages across the affected region.
Extreme Weather and Natural Hazards
Atmospheric‑river storm – California. The Weather Prediction Center forecasts that a powerful atmospheric river will hit northern, central, and southern California through Saturday, bringing 2–4 inches of rain across broad areas and more than 4 inches along coastal ranges and the Sierra Nevada. Flash‑flood risks are elevated for the Bay Area and upslope regions, and forecasters warn of rapid runoff and debris flows.
Readiness impact: Emergency managers should prepare for flash‑flooding, mudslides, and evacuations in burn‑scar areas.
Border and Immigration
Charlotte, North Carolina, immigration operation. Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden announced that U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents will arrive in Charlotte as early as Saturday for an immigration enforcement operation. The Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department said it does not participate in federal immigration operations, while local officials urged residents not to spread rumors about enforcement activities.
Readiness impact: Community organizations should prepare for potential demonstrations, and transportation planners should monitor for possible checkpoints affecting traffic.
Church, Mission, and Civilian Safety
No attacks on churches, missionaries, or humanitarian workers were confirmed in the reporting period.
International Flashpoints
Regional naval and military operations. Open‑source reports indicate the U.S. Navy published images of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford operating with its escort group in an undisclosed location; no hostile actions were reported. No major international crises with direct U.S. impact were verified within the past 24 hours.
Supply Chain and Liberty Watch
Connecticut limits ICE arrests and data sharing. The Connecticut legislature passed House Bill 8004, banning state agencies from sharing personal information such as home addresses or court‑appointment dates and codifying a policy that prohibits ICE agents from arresting individuals in state courthouses without a judicial warrant. Law enforcement officers are also prohibited from wearing masks in courthouses unless medically necessary. Opponents contend it could hinder the removal of violent offenders.
Developing Reports (Unverified OSINT)
These reports originate from open‑source OSINT accounts and are still being verified. If confirmed, they may have operational impacts.
Charlotte CBP deployment: Increased sightings of federal law‑enforcement vehicles near Charlotte’s airport and government facilities ahead of this weekend’s immigration operation. If confirmed, indicates that enforcement actions may begin within 48 hours.
Laney College security response: Posts from students describe panic and lockdowns during the Laney College shooting, with campus police and city SWAT teams sweeping buildings after the athletic director was shot.
Rural co‑op voltage instability: Cooperative members report “lights on, lights off” conditions across northeastern Wyoming as voltages remain unstable; crews are delaying switch‑back to avoid damaging transformers. If confirmed, indicates that restoration may be prolonged and households should conserve energy.
Signals to Monitor
Stabilization of voltage and full restoration of power in Wyoming and South Dakota.
Rainfall totals and flash‑flood impacts across California’s burn scars; road closures and evacuations.
Federal law enforcement presence and public response in Charlotte during the immigration operation.
Legislative or legal challenges to Connecticut’s new limits on ICE activities.
Potential copycat incidents following the Laney College shooting.
Red Flags
If power restoration in Wyoming/South Dakota fails to progress within 24 hours, communities may face extended outages affecting heating, communications, and water systems.
If the atmospheric river stalls or produces greater‑than‑forecast rainfall, critical infrastructure such as highways, dams, and rail lines could be compromised, triggering supply‑chain disruptions.
If CBP operations in Charlotte expand beyond targeted enforcement, protests or civil unrest could emerge, impacting traffic and public services.
Preparedness Action Items
Verify backup power and communications: Ensure generators, batteries, and satellite communication devices are functional and fueled; test at least once today.
Prepare for California storm impacts: Top off vehicle fuel and stock food and water; avoid travel in mountainous or burn‑scar areas during heavy rainfall.
Review campus and workplace security protocols: Reassess access control, emergency communication, and lockdown procedures following the Laney College shooting.
Monitor official channels: Follow updates from utilities, the National Weather Service, and local emergency management to adjust readiness measures promptly.