A Primer on Personal Safety in Dangerous Storm Events

Keeping Safe During Dangerous Storm Situations

You can secure yourself and your family in the event of?cyclones, twisters, blizzards, floods, and lightning storms that take lives and injure thousands every year if you're up?on?electrical safety during and after weather events.

When the hazardous weather has passed, electrical risks can still cause injuries and deaths,?related to fallen telephone pole lines, portable electrical generators, and electrical circuitry or home appliances that have been subject to strong environmental conditions.

Safety Measures

1) Caution when approaching flooded areas whether inside your home or out. Submerged power receptacles, electrical cables, cords, and downed telephone lines can add an electrical charge to the water, presenting a life-threatening situation.

2) Stay away from fallen telephone pole power lines and anything in contact with them.

3) If you see anyone?who has a physical connection?with a fallen telephone pole power line, do not touch the individual. You could end up being the next fatality. Call 911 or Emergency Services contact number.

4) Do not try and drive over fallen lines or telephone poles.

5) Have an electrical contractor set up portable electrical generators. Caution, wrongly connected set up small scale power production equipment (ie.. generators) can "back-feed" to the power line and become a hazard to maintenance technicians.

6) Keep the generator or power pack battery dry. Keep carbon-producing emissions well vented since gas and diesel generators produce lethal carbon monoxide gas.

7) Never overload a generator; follow the maximum operational and starting criteria per the manufacturer's instructions.

8) Use GFI and/or AFI protective devices depending on the occupancy requirements.

9) Electrical equipment or circuits that are wet should be avoided. Call a licensed electrician and get advice from the equipment manufacturer's technical support.

10) Lightning strike mitigation strategies, like staying inside and away from windows during weather events.

11) Avoid? corded phones, that can carry the transient charge of a lightning strike on the telephone pole power lines in other than?emergency situations.

12) Stay away from water (pools, ponds, rivers) and water pipes as these can carry an electric charge.

13) If outdoors throughout lightning storms, stay away from trees, poles, towers, and large metal structures.

13) Bring your pets in during a threatening weather event, as they are an important member of the family.

Author: Travis Hannah LinkedIn: www.fireratedcables.com twitter: @coolconductors