Power poles that were impacted by straight line winds near Lexington on May 12, 2022, (Brian Neben, Courtesy)
NEBRASKA — Severe spring weather in Nebraska brings many threats, including the danger of downed power lines.
Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) wants to remind customers to be cautious of any downed power lines they see, especially following severe storms. Strong straight-line winds and tornadoes can cause power lines and poles to break or can cause other objects such as tree branches to blow into power lines, knocking them down.
“Getting too close to a power line, or trying to move a downed power line, could result in a serious or even fatal injury,” notes NPPD Operations Program Manager Trevor Roth. “If you see a power line hanging from a pole or lying on the ground, stay away from the area. You can contact your local power provider to notify them of the damage, so that they can respond and safely fix the line. Our crews are prepared and ready to respond to outages when severe weather hits.”
If a power line were to fall on top of a vehicle you are in, stay inside the vehicle and call an emergency number for help. If a fire or other issue forces you to leave the vehicle, jump away from the vehicle and land on both feet. Never touching the vehicle and ground at the same time. Then shuffle away from the area keeping both feet on the ground.
Other storm safety tips and considerations include:
• Never enter a flooded basement if electrical outlets are submerged. The water could be energized. Do not turn power off, if you must stand in water to do so. Call your electric utility and have them turn off power at the meter.
• Provide any and all line workers as much room as you can. If they are working to restore electricity in the area, please avoid the area if possible. The technicians need space and the least amount of distractions as possible when working to restore electricity.
• Before entering storm-damaged buildings, make sure electricity and gas are turned off.
• Download NPPD’s On The Go mobile app to report an outage and view outage information
