If your home floods, follow the safety precautions below.

Before a flood

  • Unplug electric appliances if they are expected to be under water.
  • Individually shut off the valves to gas appliances if they are expected to be under water.

Stay safe

  • Never walk through a flooded home or building until gas and electric service are disconnected.
  • Standing water can snuff out pilot lights on hot water heaters and furnaces. If this occurs, natural gas may collect in your home, creating the risk of an explosion.
  • Even a small amount of water on the floor of your basement can put you at risk for electrocution. While electricity is often needed to run the sump pumps and wet-vacs that help remove water from the basement, the risk of electrical shock is too high.
  • Safety experts suggest using a generator to power your sump pump or wet/dry vacuum instead. Generators also come with safety concerns, so learn more about generator safety before operating one. Never run extension cords through water.
  • When you are ready to reconnect your service, call your power company. Be sure to have a certified electrician inspect your system for damage before calling to be reconnected. Have your furnace and water heater inspected by a professional.
  • NEVER handle electric appliances or any other electric equipment, such as a circuit breaker, with wet hands or while standing on a wet surface. Water and electricity can be a deadly combination.
  • Avoid walking in flooded backyards if water is touching utility equipment like ground-mounted transformers.

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