If you are a member of the media and would like more information, please contact Patty Nowlin at (269) 445-1079 or by e-mail at pattyn@teammidwest.com

ELECTRICITY PRECAUTIONS AFTER FLOODING

(Cassopolis, MI) -- Floodwaters are very destructive, but when they come in contact with electricity, they can be deadly.

Midwest Energy Cooperative urges local residents to be extremely careful when entering flooded areas or working with electric appliances or other devices once the floodwaters recede. Following are some tips for dealing with flooding and electricity:

• Do not step into a flooded basement or any other room where floodwaters may be in contact with electrical wall outlets, appliances or power cords, because of the risk for electrocution.

• If you cannot reach your circuit breaker box without standing in floodwater, do not attempt to turn the power off. Instead, call your power company and ask them to disconnect power at your meter.

• Stay away from downed power lines, even if they appear to be dead. Report them to the power company or your local fire department.

• Do not use any electrical equipment or touch wires or switches when you’re wet or standing in water. Keep all electrical equipment at least 10 feet away from wet areas.

• If you’ve been forced to evacuate your home, stay out until local authorities tell you that it’s safe to return.

After the flooding has ended, Midwest Energy Cooperative urges you to continue to be careful with any electrical equipment that has been in contact with the floodwaters:

• Replace any circuit breakers that have been submerged.

• Have an electrician check any appliances that have been in contact with water before you test or use it. Otherwise, you may receive a serious shock or burn out any motors or similar components.

• Any insulated appliances, such as refrigerators and ovens, should have the insulation replaced if it became wet in the flood.

• Toasters and other appliances used to prepare food should be dried completely. Then thoroughly clean and disinfect all the parts that come in contact with food, and allow them to dry again before using them.

Special care should also be taken with gas furnaces or stoves, wood stoves, and any other devices that use combustion. If you smell natural gas, leave your home and contact your gas utility. Do not attempt to use your gas furnace or stove until it has been inspected by a service professional. Be sure that other devices that use combustion are also inspected to ensure that they are not releasing any deadly carbon monoxide gas into your home. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, so be sure to have equipment checked by a trained professional.

Midwest Energy Cooperative is a member-owned electric utility providing electric and an assortment of energy-related programs and services to more than 36,000 customers in 11 counties in southern Michigan and northern Indiana and Ohio.  Midwest Energy is the parent company of Midwest Connections and Midwest Propane and has district offices in Cassopolis, Paw Paw, and Adrian. 

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