Transcripts For KNTV NBC Bay Area News At 11 20140923

The question now is could it happen again . Pg e says it has beefed up with highlevel security. But our hidden cameras tell a different story. Chief Investigative Reporter Tony Kovaleski with an eyeopening investigation. A clear difference of opinion. Reporter a clear difference, jess, and heres why this issue should concern everyone in Northern California and the country. A successful attack on multiple substations could cause a major blackout. Not for days or weeks but potentially for months and more than a year. As you watch tonight, understand we did not break any laws and the vulnerability were exposing is already known to those who may want to cause harm. Thats why were Holding Pg E Accountable for protecting the electricity we all need. Youre watching video from a Security Camera at the metcalfe substation. It shows sparks from the bullets, but cameras never captured images of the gunmen. There were a hundred or so rounds. Reporter it took 19 minutes to destroy 17 transformers. An attack that had the potential to black out much of silicon valley. This is far more than vandalism. This is a serious attack. Reporter these two veteran deputies responded minutes after the attack. Agreeing only to talk if we protected their identities. I believe that it was a terrorist attack. These were pros. Reporter san jose congresswoman zoe lofgren and other government leaders have raised concerns that metcalf may foreshadow a more robust attack. A trial run is what it looked like to me. Reporter but now nearly a year and a half later no one has taken responsibility and the fbi has not made an arrest. Those substations need to have enhanced security. There was basically none. At pg e. I tell you what, it was a game changer, a wakeup call for the industry. Reporter on this video posted on pg es website the utility responded to the attack promising to increase security by spending over 100 million over the next three years. We really needed to take a look at our physical assets, take a hard look at them to determine what can we do to protect them better. Reporter its a problem utilities have known about for decades. Take a look. This 1981 report to congress includes the nations electric Power Systems are highly vulnerable and a congressional report issued this year quotes former director of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff predicting damage of the metcalf attack will be exceeded in a future attack. Were taking aggressive action to asure that the security of our Critical Infrastructure is protected. Reporter so our investigation takes a closer look. The question just how agre s aggressive is pg e in protecting critical substations . A large substation in the central valley. Reporter to find out over several weeks we drove more than 1,600 miles through northern and central california. Were going to walk up to this gate reporter unannounced visits during the day and late at night. Its 2 30 in the morning. Reporter we observed and tested pg es security during 14 visits to nine of the largest and most critical substations. The only thing separating us from that transformer is a small hill, open gate, and a chainlink fence. Reporter one of the changes pg e5[mq promised, 24 7 onsit security. We did see an individual in a vehicle on the south side but so far after 20 minutes nobody has stopped by to ask us any questions or ask us to leave. Reporter our investigation did find Security Guards at seven of the nine substations. I know youve got your recorder. I dont care. You can record me all you want. Reporter this paid Security Guard answered our questions after spotting our camera. He provided information and never asked who we were or why we were there. Are you here 24 7 . Were here 24 7. What kind of shifts you running . Six and six. You canting telling me that. Reporter but at two large substations we found no visible Security Guards. I dont see anybody. Reporter and at that same substation we found this open gate and later a pg e employee. Hi there. Reporter answered our questions. Were just really curious about the facility. Yeah. Reporter is there anybody here . On site if. Its not a manned it used to be manned but its not anymore. Reporter no security . Yeah, theres security. Theres cameras all around there. Reporter but nobody on site . No. Im looking for people. Reporter our investigation also included observations and insight from a military veteran with two decades of experience in special operations. Hes trained to do threat and risk assessments. How intimidating is the security youve seen so far . It wouldnt stop anything. It wouldnt. Reporter we did find pg e has clearly increased security in the wake of the metcalf attack at two locations we were approached. Theres a guy in that car looking right at us. Reporter and engaged. Picked us up pretty darn quick. Thats good. Hes pushing you off site. Reporter but at many other major substations what we found appeared well short of significant and aggressive. Thermal imaging camera. Were able to pan across the substation. It recognizes hot spots. Reporter staying on public property at several locations, we got close enough to use a heatdetecting camera. And identify transformers in the dark. We spent almost an hour within about 200 yards of this apparent security vehicle. He has not moved. He has not asked us any questions. Reporter pg e also promised to cut back vegetation and eliminate potential hiding places. This is probably the closest weve been to any substation. Reporter at this substation we found an idea hiding place just outside the fence. Cuts in the barbed wire and overgrown vines. Whats that say to you . It says you just had a sixfoot fence and you made it three foot tall because i put my foot right there and the barbed wires not there so its not nonexistent. Im just saying this layer of security is nonexistent. Reporter the most significant security upgrades were here at the metcalf substation. Increased lighting, two onsight Security Guards and the only security station with fencing to obstruct view to the transformers, upgrades that failed last month to prevent vandals from cutting through this fence, entering the facility and stealing construction equipment. A breakin that went unreported for five hours. Youre at metcalf. Is it still vulnerable to the same attack . Dlts vulnerable to the same kind avenue tack from a different angle. Reporter because of future assignments the special ops veteran asked us ton show his face. He reviewed our entire investigation and spent two days visiting substations. Ultimately finding failures in pg e promises to aggressively increase security. I think they get a passing grade but is passing good enough . Is the minimum enough . I think not. Would you call pg e security now highlevel security . Yes, i think for critical facilities we have highlevel securities there. Reporter Stephanie Douglas is pg es director of security. We asked her to provide specific details regarding our 14 unannounced visits to substations. Can you tell us where weve been and when . Ill let you tell me. I do know a couple places where youve been. And i know that youve been to visiting some of our sites at night. Thats part of our test here. Can you tell us where we were and when . Honey, ill let you give me some ideas. Reporter nbc bay area has made several requests, and pg e has refused to provide specific details showing us that the utilitys highlevel onsite security net was able to track our unannounced visits. Do you think pg e has done enough now to prevent another metcalf attack . We are working every day to make sure it never happens again, tony. A guy trained like you, what could be done . How long would it take . Metcalf could be repeated across all the sites you that showed me in less than 15 minutes. And one final note for you, we intentionally did not tell you where we went but you should know the internet and publicly available documents make it very easy for people with wrong intentions to locate the largest and most critical substations. So heres your takeaway. Pg e says it has highlevel security but it waunz abs unabl tell us where we were and when we were there. We find that telling. And a highlevel former member of government says bottom line pg e needs to move faster. Well hear from him tomorrow night. Disconcerting for a lot of people. Thank you, tony. Well see you tomorrow. Tough a tip for our Investigative Unit give us a call at 888996tips. Or you can reach tony by sending us an email to theunit nbcbayarea. Com. Were following a developing story. It is now Tuesday Morning in syria and that country is waking up to considerable damage. The United States along with five arab nations have attacked. Coordinated air strikes in syria targeting the terror group isis. Until now the u. S. Has been attacking isis cells only in iraq. But everything has changed. Nbc bay areas derek shore has been monitoring tonights developments and he joins us now with the very latest. Reporter thats right, jessica. All of these attacks in syria are actually the antithesis of what started about two weeks ago. Air attacks that started in iraq. Now they are moving to syria, and that is where 2 3 of isis is believed to be stationed. According to u. S. Officials there are at least 20 targets, many of them in the isis stronghold of raqqa. The targets include fuel and weapons depots, training sites, troop encampments and other command centers all thought to be targets related to the terror group. We are told these strikes are being carried out and maintained by manned and Unmanned Aircraft and from u. S. Warships in both the red sea and persian gulf. This all comes about two weeks after air strikes were announced by mr. Obama to target isis. Sometimes referred to as isil and come in the wake of beheadings of two american journalists, james foley and steven sotloff. Isis took sxont showcased those deaths on video messages sent to the world and to the president. So far there is no information on whether or not there are any casualties to report tonight or whether or not the targets were indeed destroyed. I should mention there has been some confusion over just how syria feels about all of this. There was some talk beforehand that syria was not going to be okay with the fact the u. S. And those five other countries were moving into theirapn air space. And coordinating these attacks. We will have to see how they react in the coming hours and days. Reporting live, im derek shore, nbc bay area news. Still at 11 00, a crash in the sierra and he lived to tell about it. Toblt a south bay pilot tells his harrowing story of survival. Also not so neighborly. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerbergs construction project in San Francisco is not being welcomed with open arms. And its part of what makes california beautiful but some say it comes at a cost. Does the state really need all these trees . And for parts of the bay area, the first day of fall tomorrow looks plenty warm. Still some 80s in the forecast but were tracking that midweek chance of rain. Big surf, windy conditions and yes, muchneeded rainfall for parts of the bay area. Well have the latest on the storm arriving on wednesday when we come right back. The traffic situation the parking situation is very disruptive. Reporter many neighbors dont like the no parking sign, the dust or the noise. I think the contractors try to do a good job but it just goes on and on and theres a lot of congestion and a lot of noise and its six days a week. Reporter the department of building inspection has a record of one formal complaint filed last year. The District Supervisor says he hq points out complaints related to Home Improvement are common and construction is booming all over noe valley. Some say they dont mind the mess and look forward to a new highprofile neighbor. He chose a very nice neighborhood. I like noe valley. The facebook founder is doing more than a facelift on the house. More than a dozen permits are recorded for jobs like a 65,000 Kitchen Remodel and six bathrooms. 720,000 for a long list of improvements including a media room, a mudroom, and a wine room. Pricey jobs people on liberty hill are eager to see completed. A neighbor shared this picture of the construction site and the view zuckerberg will eventually enjoy. Some are wondering who he will enjoy it with and what that might mean for the neighborhood. And i imagine that once our famous neighbor moves in it might be more disruptive if there is more vip traffic. I dont know. Reporter lots of uncertainty here tonight. Now, i did reach out to a contractor who is listed on several of the permits to find out when work here is expected to be complete. So far i have not had a return call. Now, zuckerberg also has a home in palo alto, as we mentioned. Hes bought up lots around that house, which is making neighbors there not so happy. Reporting live in San Francisco, jean elle, nbc bay area news. Crews have begun closing a major offramp in San Francisco. This will have some impact too and it will impact anyone commuting into the city via the bay bridge. Looking at a live picture right now. The folsom street offramp. Its 11 00 so its dark and not a lot of people around but about ten minutes ago crews started closing this offramp. Its the first exit coming westbound off the bay bridge. Its in the financial district. The new offramp when reopened will run right next to the fremont street exit as well. There are some alternatives for you to use. The easiest way to get to folsom street may be on harrison which is on the far left side as you come into the city or you can take the fremont ramp. Traffic report eer mike inouye will track any problems for you beginning at 4 30 on in the bay. You might want to tune in. An incredible story of survival. A south bay pilot describes the harrowing moments of a crash landing in a remote part of the sierra nevada. After his propeller broke off at 13,000 feet. I remember looking at my political speed indicator. It was said somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 feet per minute and descending. And i remember looking at my air speed as i was coming down toward this field of huge rocks. And it was about 65 miles an hour. 65yearold tim cassel k cas survived 16 hours of near freezing temperatures. I looked out to my right and there were two rangers. I was very happy to see them. Miraculously, cassell suffered three broken ribs and a broken ankle and you can see those facial fractures, but he did live to come back and see his wife. He said he was very happy to be with his family this week. Lets bring in our meteorologist rob mayeda. And it is officially fall. Correct, rob . It is. And we have kind of an early fall forecast. As we head to the middle part of the week. Right now, though, clear skies. In fact not much in the way of patchy low clouds yet around San Francisco but by tomorrow morning we will see a few patches of low clouds out on the coast. Satellite radar looks pretty tame right now. It should stay that way for tuesday, wednesday. Then this rather largelooking system offshore, an area of low pressure which will continue to strengthen as he get into early thursday. While most of that energys going to ride off to the north, the trailing edge of that cold front will be sweeping through the bay area as you go into thursday morning. In the meantime some big waves possibly headed toward the woeft Late Wednesday into friday wave heights five to ten feet. Yore shove feet about 20 to 30 feet tonight. May get up to 30 offshore. Thats not going to get us on the coast but the northwest swell will bring the waves up at least five to ten feet for the end of the week. In terms of the timing of the rain, if we can manage about a quarter inch of rain you dont typically see this until about mid october for most of the bay area. So as things stand now it looks like parts of the north bay could get close to that. And notice on tuesday not a whole lot happening. Then as we get into website youre starting to see the showers dropping into the north bay around 9 00. Then as we get into the thursday morning commute this still looks to be the main event. Again, most of the action there north of San Francisco. Then by the time we get into thursday evening and friday maybe a few lingering hilltop showers. But this really does look like a thursday morning event for the bay area. Rainfall totals will be certainly higher north of ukiah where well see two to three inches of rain looks like north of eureka and chico and across the bay area. Probably less than a tenth of an inch of rain coming down. Just enough to wet the ground at times for your thursday morning commute and things start to rebound as you see in the sevenday forecast, drawing out and turning warmer as we head into the first weekend of fall coming up saturday and sunday. 83 degrees in san jose for tomorrow. Should see numbers in the upper 80s around morgan hill and saratoga. San francisco fairly mild for the first day of fall. Well see those temperatures in the low 70s. Around the north bay highs in the 80s around saratoga. Santa rosa over toward san rafael. Highs in the low 80s. Mid80s around pleasanton and livermore. And youll see in the fiveday outlook well see our best chance for rain in san jose and San Francisco for thursday morning. Hilltops on friday may see a stray shower or two. Then the skies clear for the weekend and it will be places like santa rosa that will probably get about a quarter inch of rain mainly into the7en north bay and lesser amounts San Francisco and livermore clearing skies andublc warming temperatu for the weekend. Back to you. Thanks, rob. Many people disagree but a local environmental expert says these wildfires burning across the state are a good thing. At least when it comes to our water supply. A uc berkeley professor says fewer trees actually mean more water for awful us. Nbc bay areas Terry Mcsweeney explains why. Reporter you have to believe theres a Silver Lining in all that smoke but dr. Scott stevens a uc berkeley professor of fire science can see one. Like the ones already observed at Restoration Projects in Yosemite National park. Weve also seen about a 20 increase initially of the water yield from these areas with the same amount of water input. Reporter stevens says 100 years ago there were perhaps 50 trees per acre on average in these forests. The programs designed to maximize timber production have led to about 400 trees per ache sxr they take in a lot of water. He advocates cutting trees on federal lands and selling them for timber and biomass. It doesnt mean clear cut, it doesnt mean removing forests but it does mean a lot more hete heterogeneralate. High dense forest areas. Much more heterogenaeity. He says there are acres under restoration but that number needs into crease to 200,000 acres and soon. If we dont do this today i think our kids and our grandkids will one day look back at us and shake their head and wonder why we didnt act. Reporter stevens says these projects often pay for themselves but even if they dont theyre worth it because of more sustainable habitat and more water. In berkeley Terry Mcsweeney, nbc bay area news. Still ahead new details about the White House Security scare. Also, we have jimmy. Hey, guys, the black lists megan boone is here. Plus Sofia Vergara, music from the black peas, and freestyling with the roots. Youve got to watch. An iraq war veteran appeared in court today accused of running into the white house with a knife. Prosecutors say Omar Gonzalez is a danger to the president after fridays incident. Now, this isnt his first runin with the law. Police had pulled him over back in july and found 11 weapons in his car as well as a map of washington, d. C. With the white house circled. Secret service has beefed up security around the white house after gonzalez allegedly jumped the fence and ran into an unlocked front door. President obama and his family werent there at the time. They were on their way to camp david. Not just the nfl commissioner but the owner of the Baltimore Ravens is also under fire. Today he did something about it. Steve bisciotti is defending the way he handled the ray rice situation. Its a bad picture. And thats why we responded with the facts that we know them to be. Im not happy with it. I said better late than never when we made the decision to cut ray. And i stand by that. He held a News Conference for about an hour today. Bisciotti adds hed hire ray rice as a Front Office Employee because he feels rice would be a good spokesman against Domestic Violence in the future. Up next Geraud Moncure joins us. Something pretty crazy in the 13th inning for the giants at Dodger Stadium tonight. Good owning. Geraud moncure here in the Comcast Sportsnet studios. The giants hoping to find some offense and skeep their Title Division title hopes alive at the same time. First of three at Chavez Ravine with the dodgers. Trailing l. A. By 4 1 2 games starting tonight. Starters jake peavy and dan haren not involved in the finish this evening. Top ten, Brandon Crawford singles up the middle off brandon leak. Yasiel puig fires a strike home and belt is out. They play on to the 13th. Two on again. Andrew susac singles off kevin correia. Giants win 52 cutting the dodgers lead to 3 1 2 games. Angels and as coliseum. Giovani soto at the dish. And he will single to center off c. J. Wilson. Johnny gomes and derek north will hustle home. 41 oakland. They werent finished. Bottom seven bases juiced again. Brandon moss scores along with adam dunn. As cruise 61. They win 84 the final. More news coming up after the break. Bigger iphones apparently means bigger sales for apple. The tech giant setting a new record in sales. Apple said it sold more than 10 million of the new iphone 6 and iphone 6 plus this weekend. Now, compare that to the iphone 5. Last year apple sold 9. 5 of those in that first weekend. Are you suggesting we upgrade our phones . No, not me. Im happy with my iphone 5. Thanks for joining us. Jimmy fallon is next. Byebye. Steve from studio 6b in Rockefeller Center in the heart of new york city, its the tonight show starring jimmy fallon. Tonight, join jimmy and his guests Sofia Vergara megan boone musical guest, the black keys