In recognition of National Electrical Safety Month, Ocala Electric Utility is urging residents and businesses throughout the month of May to review important electric safety measures that can prevent electrically related fatalities, injuries and property loss before, during, and after severe weather or natural disasters.
“Severe weather creates life-threatening hazards. It is important that we all treat electricity with extreme caution before, during, and after a storm,” said Marvin Ayala, director of Ocala Electric Utility. “Our Storm Preparation Booklet is free and can be downloaded at severeweather.ocalafl.org. The booklet offers helpful information on how to prepare before a storm and make a plan to keep your family safe.”
BEFORE THE STORM
- Charge all phone and communication devices.
- Move computers and other electronic devices to countertops or tables to avoid water damage from flooding.
- Turn off non-essential circuit breakers to avoid possible power surges due to lightning.
- If evacuating, shut the main power off to your home at the main circuit breaker to avoid fires caused by rising waters.
- If you own a swimming pool, turn off all pumps and filters; otherwise, water from the approaching storm may damage them.
DURING THE STORM
- Stay indoors during hurricanes and away from windows and glass.
- Never operate a portable generator inside your home or garage.
- Don’t try to power your home’s wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet. This is incredibly dangerous and presents an electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors served by the same utility transformer.
- Use battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms in your home and garage to detect any dangerous amounts of emissions when running a generator.
- Don’t run a portable generator in the rain unless it is covered and vented.
AFTER THE STORM
- Have a licensed electrician inspect any water-damaged electrical equipment and electronics. Electrical items, such as circuit breakers, fuses, receptacles, plugs and switches can malfunction when water and silt get inside. Discard them if they have been submerged.
- You will need a licensed electrician to repair any damage to your home’s weatherhead before power can be restored.
- Do not touch a circuit breaker or replace a fuse with wet hands or while standing on a wet surface.
- Report and stay away from downed power lines and always assume they are energized. Never touch a person or object that is in direct or indirect contact with a downed power line, such as a fence, tree limb, or water. Instead, call 911 immediately.
- Avoid flooded areas as they may be electrified. Even non-conductive materials like wood or cloth that are slightly wet can conduct electricity.