Any resident of Florida will testify to the damage and destruction a severe storm can leave in its wake. Most of you will already have a variety of safety checklists and evacuation plans in place, but have you considered the electrical hazards you may encounter during a storm?
A severe natural disaster also comes with a variety of potential electrical safety hazards. Everyone knows how to stockpile essentials and put hurricane shutters up on windows and doors, but do you know how to approach electrical damages? Do you know what to do if your electrical appliances are submerged in the floodwater, or whether or not you can bathe while there is lightning?
Let’s examine some of these electrical safety hazards more closely…
Even though most people know how to prepare for our stormy seasons, not many are familiar with the electrical dangers that can occur during/after any storm. Three natural elements could cause electrical safety issues, and all three have different dangers attached.
The three elements are:
Lightning storms can look spectacular, and no one would blame you if you were mesmerized. To avoid the risk of electrocution though, there are a few things you should do before you admire the storm:
Flood water often transports chemicals, oil, and debris. All these could damage the electrical circuit and electrical appliances. Try to unplug and elevate any electrical appliances or equipment if you think the water level may rise.
All electrical appliances that come in contact with water, especially if they were submerged, must be examined by a professional electrician before use. If they came into any contact with water, a qualified electrician must inspect:
Strong winds and flying debris cause general havoc, especially if power lines are damaged. Damaged power lines, especially if any cables are laying on the ground, are extremely dangerous and should not be touched. We cannot stress that enough. Only licensed, skilled professionals should deal with damaged power lines.
The human body is a very good conductor of electricity, so if you come across damaged power lines:
The saying, “prevention is better than cure” is very relevant when it comes to electrical safety during a storm. If you have an electrical safety checklist that you can check off before a storm, you can minimize the risk of dangerous electrical safety hazards during and after a storm.
Some things you should include on the checklist are:
If you want to prepare an electrical safety checklist, or need your electrical circuit inspected before or after a storm, Art Plumbing, AC & Electric are waiting for your call. Our qualified, experienced, licensed, and insured technicians can be reached at 1-800-475-1504 Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm, and on Sunday for emergencies.