Safety during severe weather
The dangers are real during storm season. Be prepared and stay away from fallen powerlines.
Storms can cause loose objects around the home to become dangerous missiles, bringing down powerlines and interrupting power supply.
Making a few smart steps like trimming trees and securing loose objects can minimise the damage done.
To report fallen powerlines or damage to the electricity network, please call 13 19 62.
To report power interruptions, call 13 62 62.
Prepare for storms
Take a look around your home and identify any potential hazards which may become airborne during a storm or interrupt your power supply.
These objects may include:
- overgrown tree branches
- outdoor furniture and umbrellas
- loose roofing including corrugated iron and tiles
- garden debris
- garden tools
- outdoor toys
If you have overhead power supply, check the wire coming to your house from the street is clear from contact with trees and branches.
Please do not attempt to prune trees in or near powerlines.
If you are concerned a tree is too close to a powerline, call ENERGEX on 13 12 53 during business hours.
To ensure you are well prepared, please refer to our Storm safety checklist.
Fallen powerlines
During storms and high winds, unsecured items can be blown into overhead powerlines, causing electricity interruptions or live powerlines to fall to the ground.
Always stay safe during times of extreme weather by remaining indoors.
After a storm make sure you:
- Be mindful of the hidden dangers of fallen powerlines when moving branches or debris.
- Stay away from fallen powerlines.
- Alert people of any dangers.
- Call ENERGEX on 13 19 62 to report any fallen powerlines or network damage.
For the latest power restoration updates, visit our Power outages page.
Lightning
A lightning strike to the electricity network can result in damage to electrical equipment and infrastructure.
This can cause fallen powerlines and power interruptions.
If you see a fallen powerline stay away and report it to ENERGEX by calling 13 19 62.
In Australia, lightning accounts for five to 10 deaths and well over 100 injuries annually.
Many result from people using fixed telephones during thunderstorms.
When lightning strikes close by, the phone system may become highly charged.
Related injuries may include hearing damage, burns, electrocution and even death.
There are things you can do to stay safe when lightning strikes:
- Fit your home with surge protectors and lightning conductors to help safeguard your family and electrical appliances.
- Before the storm arrives, disconnect the external aerial and power leads to radio and television sets.
- Disconnect computer modems and power leads.
- Avoid the use of fixed telephones.
- If it is an emergency and you need to use the phone, ensure the call is brief or use a cordless or mobile phone.
Floods
Flooding following storms can have major impacts on the electricity network and your home.
While it is not always easy to be prepared for flooding, here are some important tips to stay safe.
Flood planning
Contact your local council to find out if you are in a flood-prone location.
If you are in a flood-prone location:
- Consider relocating your switchboard and any wiring in your home that may currently be below previous flood levels.
- Discuss and agree on an evacuation plan.
- Identify possessions, equipment and fittings that are not located above possible flood levels and move if practical.
- Familiarise yourself with flood warning classifications and where to access information during a flood.
- Keep a list of emergency phone numbers on display, also store these numbers in all mobile phones.
To help you prepare for floods, we have compiled a Flood safety checklist.
Flooding and electrical equipment
Flooding following storms can have major impacts on the electricity network and your home.
Severe storms often cause damage to the overhead power network, with major floods damaging underground power equipment such as transformers, and pillars.
Be aware of the hidden dangers of live electricity mixing with water.
If floodwaters rise to the level of electrical equipment, stay well away to avoid the risk of electric shock.
Appliances affected by water can be extremely dangerous, and in some cases they can even be fatal.
It is important that affected items are either thrown away or checked by an authorised electrician before they are used again.
State Emergency Service (SES)
Call the State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 from anywhere in Queensland for their assistance in a flood or storm.
Bushfires
ENERGEX works closely with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) and Rural Fire Service (RFS) to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the electricity network in bushfire prone areas.
In consultation with the fire services, we have produced the Bushfire Risk Management Plan.
In the event of a bushfire, you should always:
- Follow the advice of the QFRS and RFS.
- Stay away from any electrical equipment which may be threatened by fire.
- Keep away from fallen powerlines.
Call 13 19 62 to report damage to equipment or fallen powerlines. - Never direct water jets towards overhead powerlines.
- Keep away from overhead powerlines when dense smoke is present.
- Be on the look out for exposed underground cables or melted pillar boxes after a fire has passed through.
- Call 000 for life threatening emergencies.
Contact us
Phone
13 12 53
Disclaimer
This is not an exhaustive list of all safety matters that need to be considered. Whilst care is taken in the preparation of this material, ENERGEX does not guarantee, to the extend permitted by law, the accuracy and completeness of information.
To the extend permitted by law, ENERGEX will not be responsible for any loss, damage or costs incurred as a result of any errors omissions or misrepresentations in relation to the material in this document or for any possible actions ensuing from information contained above.
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