Severe storms, unfortunately, do happen and are devastating to homes, properties and lives. These storms can also take down power lines—creating a dangerous situation for all of us, including the linemen and linewomen working hard to get your power turned back on.
How long it takes to get your power restored depends on the extent of the storm's destruction, the number of outages, and when it becomes safe for utility personnel to get to the damaged areas. There are many steps in the assessment and restoration process: clearing downed power lines, ensuring public health and safety facilities are operational and checking power stations and transformers. Additionally, there is repairing transmission lines, substations, distribution lines and restoring power to customers within the various damaged areas.
Be sure to contact your electric utility immediately to report the outage.
Safe Electricity and its members want you to know how to stay safe and get through until power can be restored to you. They recommend taking the following safety precautions:
Just because power lines are damaged does not mean they are dead. Every downed power line is potentially energized and dangerous until utility crews arrive on the scene to ensure power has been cut off. Downed power lines, stray wires, and debris in contact with them all have the potential to deliver a fatal shock. Stay far away and keep others away from downed power lines.
Never enter a flooded basement if electrical outlets are submerged. The water could be energized.
Do not turn the power off if you must stand in water to do so. Call your electric utility and have them turn off the power at the meter.
Before entering storm-damaged buildings, make sure electricity and gas are turned off.
Do not use water-damaged electronics before adequately restoring them. Electric motors in appliances should be cleaned and reconditioned before use. It may be necessary to replace some of your appliances and electronics. Have your water-damaged items inspected and approved by a professional before using them.
If you clean up outdoors after a storm, do not use electronic equipment when it is wet out.
If you are driving and come along a downed power line, stay away and keep others away. Contact emergency personnel or your utility company to address the downed power line.
If you do come in contact with a downed power line, do not leave the car. Wait for utility and emergency professionals to make sure the power line is de-energized before exiting the car.
Safe Electricity recommends turning off electrical appliances during an outage and unplugging major electronics, including computers and televisions. Power sometimes comes back in surges, which can damage electronics. In addition, your circuits could overload when power returns if all your electronics are still plugged in and on. Leave one light on to indicate that power has been restored. Wait a few minutes and then turn on other appliances and equipment—one at a time.
If you use a standby generator, you must take proper safety precautions. Always read and follow all manufacturer operating instructions. There should be nothing plugged into the generator when you turn it on. This prevents a surge from damaging your generator and appliances. Operate generators in well-ventilated, outdoor, dry areas. Never attach a temporary generator to a circuit breaker, fuse, or outlet. Permanent generators should be wired into a house by a qualified electrician using a transfer switch to prevent feeding electricity back into overhead lines, which can be deadly for linemen.
To help you get through, have a storm kit prepared. Keep the kit in a cool, dry place and make sure all family members know where it is.
For more information on electrical safety, explore SafeElectricity.org.