Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall along the southern East Coast of the U.S. in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, bringing with it extensive rain and wind, and prompting extensive evacuations. The National Hurricane Center has also issued advisories for other tropical storms and hurricanes, and is asking communities to prepare ahead as these storms move closer to land.
Electrical safety tips
To help navigate these storms and prepare throughout hurricane season, NFPA encourages residents to follow below electrical safety tips that can help reduce the risk for injury and damage to homes.
- Turn off utilities if instructed to do so by authorities, and turn off propane tanks.
- Stay out of flood waters, if possible, and do not drive into flooded areas. Even water only several inches deep can be dangerous.
- Treat all downed wires as if they are live even if one does not see any sparks, and especially if there is standing water nearby. Alert authorities immediately if one sees downed wires in the area.
Home flooding, Gas leak and generators
- If one’s home has experienced flooding, it is important to keep one’s power off until a professional electrician has inspected the entire home for safety, including appliances. Water can damage the internal components in electrical appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers, and cause shock and fire hazards. Have a qualified electrician visit one’s home and determine what electrical equipment should be replaced and what can be reconditioned.
- If one smells gas in one’s home or neighborhood, notify emergency authorities immediately. One must not turn on lights, light matches, or engage in any activity that could create a spark.
- In the event that electricity may not be available to one’s home yet and one has not experienced any water at home, generators are a viable option to power some of the small appliances. However, if used improperly, they also pose a fire hazard, risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, and electrocution.
As communities engage in emergency preparedness efforts now and throughout the fall months, one can visit the NFPA website to learn more and to download tip sheets about generator safety, escape planning, building an emergency supplies kit, and more.