As I write this article in mid-October, the Northeast has been hit with upwards of 15 to 20 inches of rain in little over a week. In some locales, 10 inches fell in a little over 24 hours. This has been nothing compared to the devastation the Gulf Coast has suffered, or other regions of the world hit by flooding and earthquakes, but it brings to the forefront some hidden dangers in storm-related activities performed by emergency responders.
Many departments respond to a variety of calls during storms and turbulent weather, and for the most part these are handled quickly and efficiently, making them almost routine. And therein lies the problem. Wires down and arcing in the street, tree or pole on fire or down in the street, vehicle entangled in downed power wires, water coming through electrical fixtures and flooded basements all become the norm when the weather goes awry. Whether it is a sudden thunderstorm with accompanying winds and rain or a seasonal storm that lasts for a few days depositing more rain water than the ground can handle, the calls may be numerous and can tax any fire department.
When we respond to storm related incidents we must remain observant and alert while exercising extreme caution. What many perceive to be a non-threatening response can be a killer if we disregard the fact that electricity is a silent, and usually an unseen killer lurking in the varied storm responses we make. Your initial size up requires close observation of the response scene before making any commitment of personnel and placement of apparatus. Are there wires down and visible? Has the power company been notified? Are the wires burning on a pole? Is the pole secure? Are trees down on wires that may break at any moment? Has a falling tree brought wires down with it that may be hidden from view? Never drive apparatus over downed electrical wires or under poles or trees that are being supported by overhead wires. Always assume that any downed or sagging wire is still energized and dangerous.
When we think of electricity we must also think of anything that may conduct that source of energy, which can include almost anything: wet roads, fences, vehicles and almost anything that is wet such as trees, sticks and poles. Any other related form of wire is a conductor, whether it is telephone, cable TV or electric cable. Be aware that any of these forms of wire may be in contact with charged electric wires and can be “live” with all the same capabilities of killing by electrocution. Never touch a person who is in contact with power lines or other objects that are touching power lines. You cannot help them by being electrocuted yourself. Never attempt to cut or remove a tree that is, or could become, entangled with power lines. The same will hold true if a vehicle has become entangled in wires and the occupant, or occupants are still trapped in the vehicle. Make no attempt to remove the victims until the power company has deemed it safe for you to do so. Remain a safe distance away, keep the victim in the vehicle calm and wait for emergency personnel to handle the situation. If the victim must get out of the car because of fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, they should be advised to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Then shuffle or hop away from the car, keeping both feet close together, to minimize the path of electric current and avoid electric shock.
“Killing the power” is the responsibility of the power company. Emergency response personnel should never attempt to cut wires or pull pole fuses or circuit breakers. Secure the scene and await the arrival of the power company. During storms when wires are down in numerous locations, it may require longer waits before response from the power company arrives. The use of fire police, local, or state police to secure the scene may be required in order to place equipment and personnel back in service and available for additional response. Never leave the scene of any type hazard that you have responded to unprotected; you are responsible until you have transferred the hazard to another agency, the power company, or it has been eliminated.
One last thought for those departments that respond to flooded basement calls, remember most electric panels are located in the basement. Generally they are above the depth of the flooding condition, but checking that the electric panel is not under water before beginning your pumping operation is important. During storm situations, check the area for downed wires before beginning operations
Sometimes these type calls begin to back up and we respond directly from one similar dispatch to another, and because they seemingly have no challenge and thrill of fighting a structure fire, we tend to relax our guard. Remain alert and cautious at all times, electric is a silent killer.
Till Next Time, Stay Safe and God Bless!