Outage Safety
Downed Power Line Safety: What to Do After Wind, Ice, Tornadoes, or Flooding
A downed power line safety guide covering distance, vehicles, floodwater, trees, generators, and utility reporting.
Quick answer: Always assume a downed power line is energized, even if it is silent, still, or not sparking.
Keep distance
Stay far away from downed lines, nearby fences, puddles, trees, and objects touching the line.
Electricity can travel through the ground and water.
In a vehicle
If a line falls on your vehicle, stay inside if possible and call for help.
If fire forces you out, jump clear with feet together and shuffle away.
Reporting
Call emergency services or the utility to report the line.
Do not try to move it with any object.