After a flood, hurricane or other natural disaster, you must take extreme care to avoid electrical hazards in your home, as well as elsewhere. Here’s how to protect yourself, your family and others:
- NEVER touch a fallen power line. Report it to the power company.
- During cleanup and other activities, avoid contact with overhead power lines.
- If downed power lines are in standing water, do not drive through it. Call, or ask someone else to call, the emergency services and the local utility company.
- If electrical equipment and electrical circuits are wet, or in or near water, switch the power off at the fuse on the service panel or the main breaker. Don’t walk in standing water to access the power switch; call an electrician to do it.
- Never switch the power on or off, or use an electrical appliance or tool, while standing in water. Don’t switch the power back on until all electrical equipment has been checked by an electrician.
- If you see sparks or frayed wiring when power is restored, or if there’s a burning smell but no visible fire, shut off the system at the main breaker immediately.
- Ask an electrician if it’s okay to use a power generator because, if the generator is online when service is restored, it could become a fire hazard and endanger the lives of the restoration workers.
At Spangler Restoration in Charlotte, NC, we are a team of restoration, cleaning and remodeling professionals who offer disaster repair & cleaning for residential and commercial properties. We guarantee fast emergency response and the latest technology. Please contact us for more information.
