Severe weather happens year-round. All kinds of storms can seriously damage power lines and other electrical equipment. Storm damage causes dangers that lurk after a storm has passed. Safe Electricity encourages you to be aware of and prepared for those dangers.
When you see power lines on the ground following a storm, stay away, warn others to stay away, and contact the electric utility. Lines do not have to be arcing or sparking to be live. Any utility wire, including telephone or cable lines sagging or down could be in contact with an energized power line, making them also very dangerous, so stay away from all of them.
Be alert to the possibility that tree limbs or debris may hide an electrical hazard. A downed power line can energize things around it, such as chain-link fences and metal culverts.
Keep in mind that a line that’s indeed “dead” could become energized during power restoration efforts or improper use of generators.
If you are driving and come upon a downed power line, stay in your vehicle, warn others to stay away, and contact emergency personnel or the electric utility. Never drive over a downed line. It could cause poles or other equipment to come crashing down.
If you are in a car that has come in contact with a downed power line, stay in your vehicle. Wait until the utility has arrived and de-energized the line. Warn others not to approach the car. If you must leave your car, only in the case of fire, jump free from the car and hop away from it with both feet together.
If you have a generator, know how to use it safely. If your generator is permanent, call a qualified electrician to install it.
While driving any time of year, be aware of electrical hazards you may encounter on the road.
If you are driving after a storm, keep away from downed power poles, downed power lines, and damaged electric equipment. Downed and damaged electric equipment can still carry electricity. Coming in contact with the equipment could shock or kill you.
If you are in a car accident with a power pole, do not leave the car until utility professionals tell you it is safe. After a car accident, it may be instinctive to get out if you can. In this case, the safest place is almost always inside the car
If the car is in contact with electrical equipment or a power line, it could remain energized. Stepping outside could be deadly if your body becomes the path to ground for electricity. Even if a power line has landed on the ground, there is still the potential for the area near your car to be energized. Call 9-1-1 and wait for the utility to arrive on the scene to ensure the line is de-energized.
Stay inside the vehicle unless there’s fire or imminent risk of fire.
If you must get out because of a fire, jump clear of the vehicle without touching it and the ground at the same time. Then hop with feet together so there will not be a voltage difference between your feet, which would give electricity the chance to flow through your body. Hop as far away as you can. Remember: do not get out unless you have to
However, if the wrong tree is planted too close to electric power lines, they will need to be trimmed for safety’s sake.
To avoid the not-so-pretty chop job, be sure to plant the right tree in the right place. When planting this spring, consider the mature height of trees. Never plant a tree near a power line that could grow within 25 feet of it. Tall growing trees should be planted a minimum of 20 feet away from power lines, and 50 feet away to avoid future pruning. A mature height of less than 15 feet is recommended for trees planted near power lines.
The City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Urban Forestry has an approved street tree list (PDF) that can help guide you. If you have questions about a tree variety, contact us or your local arborist.
When Mother Nature strikes, make sure you’re ready. Hundreds of Americans are injured or killed in the winter months due to car accidents on slippery roads and in home fires caused by improper use of heaters. Also, winter storms create a higher risk of hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks due to overexertion.
Because wintertime brings its own set of challenges to staying safe, Vera Water and Power reminds you to prepare for extreme weather and to stay home during storms and their aftermath whenever possible.
Be Ready
Do all you can to prepare ahead of time for massive snowfall, blizzards or ice storms that could last for days at a time. Tune in to local radio or TV stations for the latest winter storm updates. Also, use your cell phone to keep you informed by signing up for weather alerts. Make sure you have a portable charger and extra batteries on hand. You might also want to have a battery-operated radio available (with extra batteries) as yet another way to listen for updates or instructions.
In preparing for a storm, be sure to:
Consider special needs or medical issues in your household; have an ample supply of all medications.
Have a supply of non-perishable food, as well as plenty of drinking water and a first-aid kit.
Prepare for weather events year-round by keeping a checklist of items to have on hand. Have as many of these essentials at the ready, and in 1 place in case a storm event happens without much warning.
As the winter months approach, prepare your home with proper insulation, caulking and weather stripping. Learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups and test them to make sure they work.
Stay Inside
Stay home during snow and ice storms and wait until roads are passable. Whatever the commitment, it’s not worth getting into an accident or finding yourself stranded.
If you do travel and drive into extreme conditions, do not leave your car to look for help. Your car should also be equipped with several items during colder months, such as a first-aid kit, portable car charger and batteries, blankets, water, snack food, a windshield scraper, extra hats, coats and mittens or gloves; tire chains; canned and compressed air with sealant for emergency tire repair; booster cables; emergency flares; and road salt and sand for traction.
If you’re at home and the power goes out, please know we will restore power as efficiently as possible without compromising safety. Do not turn on the stove for heat; it is not safe. Instead, use blankets, sleeping bags, and warm winter coats. You can also use an up-to-code fireplace or portable heaters when used correctly.
When it comes to portable heaters, follow all instructions for use and:
Do not place any clothing on or near a portable heater
Do not put a portable heater up on the counter or another surface
Do not leave it unattended
Do not place on rugs or near papers or anything else that could ignite; make sure there are at least 3 feet of unobstructed area
When using a portable generator for power:
Never use it indoors
Make sure it is not close to any windows, doorways, or air-intake vents
Do not use it in an attached garage, even with the doors up
Never touch it with wet hands or use in areas with rain, snow, or standing water
As colder temperatures approach and you reach for your space heater to help you get cozy and warm, make sure you consider the potential dangers of using 1. If misused, it can cause electric shock or fire.
Never plug your space heater into an extension cord. Although handy, an extension cord cannot handle the energy spikes caused by a space heater and may become overloaded, possibly causing a fire. Also make sure the appliance is plugged in properly so there is not a loose connection, and carefully consider where you’ll place the heater in your home.
Vera Water and Power offers these additional tips to keep you and your family safe while using portable space heaters:
Place heaters in open areas and keep them at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn, such as paper or rugs; also do not place them near combustibles in your home such as paint, varnish, harsh cleaners, aerosol sprays or nail polish remover.
Monitor space heaters when they are in use.
Do not use them in potentially wet areas, such as kitchens or bathrooms.
Do not use space heaters around small children.
Keep space heaters away from pathways or doors in your home, and make sure the cord is not a tripping hazard.
Do not use open-coil space heaters.
Do not use a heater in disrepair or with a frayed cord or damaged plug.
Do not plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the space heater.
Before using your heater, read all manufacturer’s instructions and warning labels.
Place them on flat, level surfaces and never place on furniture, counters or carpet, which can overheat.
Select a space heater that is endorsed by a recognized testing laboratory.
Space heaters are for supplemental heat only; they should never be used for another purpose (thawing pipes or drying clothes, for example).
When not in use, unplug the heater and put it away.
A space heater can help keep you warm but be sure to use it with care so that you’ll stay safe in the colder months.
Every year there are reports of fires started by Christmas trees or holiday decorations. While the holidays are full of family traditions, do your part to make safety a holiday tradition in your home. Take some steps to be sure you are decorating your home safely this winter.
Use only extension cords and electrical decorations marked for proper use
Stay out of substations, and call us to retrieve your items. Substations are an essential part of Vera’s electrical distribution system, reliably delivering power to your home or business. All our substations have fences and posted signs warning “Danger – High Voltage” and “Warning – Keep Out!” intended to keep people out.
Substations are dangerous places for people who don’t have the proper training and safety gear. Remind your children, if they lose a ball or kite inside a substation to tell an adult. Never try to recover an object from a substation yourself, call us at (888) 774-8272.
The traditional way to remove chlorine from your drinking water is to fill a pitcher and leave it uncovered in your refrigerator for 24 hours. By doing so, the chlorine will dissipate. Another method of removing chlorine is to use a carbon-based filter.
Vera uses a disinfection system for its water, which is cleansed using calcium hypochlorite tablets. Disinfection begins at Vera’s well sites, allowing for the required contact time while water is flowing through our distribution system.
To avoid the not-so-pretty chop job, be sure to plant the right tree in the right place. When planting this spring, consider the mature height of trees. Never plant a tree near a power line that could grow within 25 feet of it. Tall growing trees should be planted a minimum of 20 feet away from power lines, and 50 feet away to avoid future pruning. A mature height of less than 15 feet is recommended for trees planted near power lines.
