Safety with Electricity
Practice safety with electricity
As we make safety our top priority, we ask that you do the same. This means planning for severe weather as soon as possible. In addition, before and during hurricane season, we advise residents to follow these electrical safety guidelines:
- Stay away from downed power lines. Always assume that a downed power line is energized, and move away to safety.
- Remember, to report any life-threatening conditions, please call 911.
- Never go near a downed wire. While some energized wires spark and snap, others may not appear dangerous. Avoid any metal objects making contact with a live wire. A wire fence, metal signpost or railroad track touching an energized wire can conduct a hazardous electricity a long distance.
- Stay out of floodwaters. Floodwaters can hide energized power lines or other hazards, or put you at risk of drowning.
- Caution: Use portable generators safely. DO NOT connect your portable generator to your home’s circuits. Plug your appliances directly into the generator. Connecting your generator to your home’s circuits may cause power to flow to outside lines, posing life-threatening danger to power restoration crews. Also, portable generators must NOT be operated near air conditioning ducts or in residences or any enclosed space (including a closed garage), where deadly carbon monoxide gases could build up.
- Practice safety when water enters your home. Before water enters your home, turn off your electricity at the fuse or circuit-breaker box by throwing the master switch. If there is no master switch, turn all the breakers OFF or carefully unscrew each fuse.
- Water on the floor can be hazardous even before it is high enough to reach electrical appliances. Never use an electrical appliance while standing on a wet floor. It can give you a severe or even fatal shock.
- If an electrical appliance gets wet, turn OFF the power supply to it and then disconnect the appliance. It should be inspected before being plugged in again. If this causes the fuse to blow, unplug the appliance.
- Use caution when driving in a storm. If a wire falls on to your car, always assume it is energized or “hot”. If there seems to be no immediate danger of fire, do not attempt to get out of your vehicle. Summon for help, if possible, while still in your car. If help is not available, try driving your car away from the wire, allowing it to slide off.
- If fire or injury means that you must leave the car, do not touch any part of the car while setting foot on the ground. Jump clear of the vehicle with both feet, making sure you don’t touch the car or the electrical hot wire.
- Do not eat food touched by floodwaters or food that may have spoiled as a result of the electricity being off. If your electricity goes off, the insulation in your refrigerator and freezer will keep the food inside cool for up to 48 hours if you avoid opening the doors.
