Turn Off Electricity
Before you can enter your home you need to ensure the power and gas are turned off in the house. Even if your local utility has turned off electricity to your area and gone as far as removing your electrical meter, you still need to make sure power is turned off in your home. Why? Well, combining water and electricity? Bad idea. Also, what if the power company turned the power on without your knowledge and you're standing in the flooded basement or working on the wiring?
Only attempt to turn off the power if you do not have to stand in water to accomplish the following. If water prevents you from reaching the electrical service panel, then call an electrician to have the power turned off at the panel.
The following techniques will use a different approach in that you'll be using a wooden stick to turn off the power so as not to subject yourself to possible shock caused from water.
Turning Off Power: Circuit Breakers
- Standing in a dry location use a dry wooden stick or broom handle to open the door of the electrical service panel;
- By using the stick, push the main breaker switch to the "off" position. The main breaker is the large breaker at the top of the panel.
- Use this same technique with the stick to set each individual circuit breaker to an "off" position.
Turning Off Power: Fuse Box
- Standing in a dry location use a dry wooden stick or broom handle to open the door of the fuse box;
- If your fuse box has a main handle or lever on the side, use the stick to move the lever to the "off" position;
- Using the stick again, remove the main fuses in the box by pulling them out. They should have a small metal handle.
- Carefully unscrew and remove all the fuses (no, don't use the stick this time).
