If Mother Nature is promising to visit your area, it’s important to prepare your home. Protect your family by safeguarding your home’s electrical system with the following tips before, during, and after the storm.
Before – Be Proactive
There are many things you can do to ensure your home is electrically safe before a big storm. First, make sure
you have updated contact information for your electrical company. If there’s a threat of a power surge, turn off your breakers and check that all electronics are unplugged and safely stowed away. Make sure there are no branches near your power lines, and if there are call a tree service to trim them back. If you have a backup power generator, get regular maintenance from electrical contractors so you know it’ll be ready to go when you need it.
Be prepared for a power outage by making sure that all necessary devices, such as cellphones, are fully charged. Write down all the contact information for emergency services in case you can’t access the numbers on your devices. And make sure you know where all your flashlights, lanterns, and candles are if the power does go out.
During – Don’t Let Your Guard Down
It can be scary once the storm starts raging, but maintain your calm by sticking to the following tips:
- Double-check that you have not left any appliances plugged in.
- Don’t go outside near the power lines. Remain indoors even if the storm seems to be moving away.
- If there’s a power outage, call your local electrical company and inform them immediately.
- If your basement gets flooded, cut off the power to any appliances in there if possible.
After – Wait for a Return to Normalcy
Once the storm is over, you’ll need to exercise some patience before everything goes back to normal. If some of your appliances have been submerged in water, do not plug them in or attempt to use them. If you suspect that your electrical panels have been damaged, consider hiring electrical contractors to replace them. Generally, electrical panels last up to 25 to 40 years. If your home is around that age, there’s a likelihood that you’ll need to upgrade, and after a big storm is a good time as any. Give downed power lines and anything that’s touching them a very clear berth.If there are electrical contractors in your area, do not disturb them.
Hopefully, you, your family, and your electrical system will remain in good condition even with a big storm on the scene. Still, if you need to hire electrical contractors for some restoration work, don’t hesitate to give us a call!