This weekend Hurricane Irene took down power lines next to our house. The power lines were live, wet, and dangerous. To keep our neighborhood safe, Arlington Police blocked off the road with caution tape and a police vehicle until Dominion Power could make the repairs. As there are millions of people without power in Virginia, the process took over five hours. In total, Arlington Police made three shift changes before the lines were repaired. Thankfully, all is well this morning.
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| Fallen Line Outside Our House |
Down power lines are extraordinarily dangerous. If you find one you should always assume they are live; direct contact with an active wire could severely injure or kill you. To stay safe, I have listed important safety tips below. For detailed information, please see the CDC’s flyer on electrical hazards.
- Stay at least ten feet away from fallen power lines and NEVER touch the power line.
- Immediately call the power company to report the incident.
- Do not drive through water if there is a fallen power line in the water.
- If a power line falls on your car and stalls the engine, do not turn off the engine or get out of your car. Call 911 and the utility company to get help. Warn people to not touch your car and wait for help to arrive.
- Do not remove tree limbs or other items that are touching or near a downed wire. Electricity can travel through tree limbs making them unsafe to touch.
Written By Kate Schweigart
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