5 Things to do When Power is Lost

Summer storms knocked out power to about 145,000 DTE Energy customers Friday night, including nearly 4,400 customers in St. Clair Shores.

While service has been restored most of those people, DTE Energy shares the following tips to stay safe during the powerful storm and power outage:

• Stay away from downed power lines and anything with which they come in contact, especially metal fences. Treat every downed power line as if it were energized.
  
• Don’t open refrigerators or freezers more often than absolutely necessary. A closed refrigerator will stay cold for 12 hours. Kept closed, a well-filled freezer will preserve food for two days. Turn off or unplug all appliances to prevent an electrical overload when power is restored. Leave on one light switch to indicate when power is restored.
• Always operate generators outdoors to avoid dangerous buildup of toxic fumes.
• During low-voltage conditions – when lights are dim and television pictures are smaller – shut off motor-driven appliances such as refrigerators to prevent overheating and possible damage. Sensitive electronic devices also should be unplugged.
• Stay out of flooded or damp basements or other areas if water is in contact with outlets or any electrically-operated appliance. The water or moisture may serve as a conductor of electricity. This can cause serious or even fatal injury.