what to do when you find a Downed Power Lines

It is important to remember that wires installed on utility poles carry electricity. When wires are down,
they are dangerous -- electricity can still flow through them. Never assume that a downed power line is
not energized as they still could be “live”. . Telephone and cable TV wires may be
entangled with electric wires and must also be treated as live. Another danger from downed power lines
can come in the form of a wire touching or laying on a metal building or metal fence. Again, this could
energize the building or fence and kill or injure someone if they were to come in contact with it. Stay at
least 50 feet away from all downed wires and keep others from going near them as well.
Be especially careful when driving or parking a vehicle near downed wires. If downed wires are in the street, near the curb, or on the sidewalk, use extreme caution. Never drive over downed power lines.
Even if not energized, they can become entangled in your vehicle.
In the event that a wire comes down on a vehicle with passengers, the best advice is to stay in the
vehicle until professional help arrives to safely remove you from the vehicle. . If you
MUST get out of the vehicle because of fire or other life-threatening hazards, jump clear of the vehicle so that you do not touch any part of the car and the ground at the same time.
Jump as far as possible away from the vehicle with both feet landing on the ground at the same time.
Once you clear the vehicle, shuffle away, with both feet on the ground, or hop away, with both feet
landing on the ground at the same time. Do not run away from the vehicle as the electricity forms rings of different voltages. Running may cause your legs to "bridge" current from a higher ring to a lower voltage ring. Get a safe distance away.
The voltage drops as you move away from the point of contact. If one part of your body touches a highvoltage zone while another part of your body touches a low-voltage zone, you will become a conductor for electricity. This is why you should shuffle away from the line, keeping your feet close together.