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Storm Damage and Electrical Hazards

After a storm, farms face a long list of jobs, and electricity hides risks in many of them. Slowing down and checking before touching saves lives, equipment and time.

What electrical hazards follow storms?

Storms can bring down lines, damage service entrances, soak panels and motors, flood basements and pits, knock trees onto wiring and damage solar arrays and generators. Lightning can leave hidden damage in wiring and equipment. Standing water may be energized.

Hazards may not be visible. A building that looks fine can have damaged wiring behind walls.

Be careful about animals. Frightened or injured livestock behave unpredictably, and fences may be down or energized. Wait until lines are confirmed clear before moving into fields. Keep a flashlight and a battery radio where you can find them in the dark, and use the radio for updates from the National Weather Service and local officials. Do not assume the fridge, pumps, fans or milking systems are safe to run on restored power until an electrician or the manufacturer has said so, since voltage can be unstable when service returns.

What should you do first?

Check on people. Stay away from downed lines and anything touching them, and call 911 and your utility. Do not wade through water that could be in contact with electrical equipment. Wait for the all clear from officials before going into damaged buildings, and use your senses: if you smell burning, hear buzzing or see sparks, leave and call for help.

Check the forecast from the National Weather Service, since another round may follow.

How do you handle flooded buildings and equipment?

Do not enter a flooded building or touch electrical equipment while standing in water. Power should be turned off only when it can be done safely from a dry location, and otherwise the utility or an electrician should handle it. Flooded motors, panels, wiring, controls and outlets should be inspected by a qualified person before use, and many must be replaced. Do not simply dry things out and restart them.

Ask your insurer and electrician what to document before cleanup starts.

What about generators during an outage?

Generators are useful and dangerous. They produce carbon monoxide, which can kill without warning, so engines should never be run in or near enclosed spaces. They also create shock and fire hazards, and a wrongly connected generator can send power back into utility lines and hurt line workers. Connections should be made by a qualified electrician through a proper transfer arrangement. Use the manufacturer's manual for placement, fueling and operation.

Document damage with photos and notes before cleanup and repairs, and share them with your insurer. Keep receipts for emergency work and temporary equipment.

• Never plug a generator into a wall outlet
• Keep engines outside and away from windows, doors and vents
• Let engines cool before refueling, as the manual directs
• Keep generators dry but not enclosed
• Use cords suited to the load and in good condition
• Have backup plans for equipment animals rely on

How do you restore power safely?

After a utility outage, ask a licensed electrician to look at your system before you switch things back on, especially if there was flooding, a lightning strike or visible damage. Turn off major equipment first so it does not all start at once when power returns, then bring it back step by step according to manuals. Watch for smells, noises and trips.

Do not repair damaged service equipment yourself. The utility and your electrician handle the service line, meter and main connections.

What about cleanup work?

Chainsaws, ladders, tractors and loaders all raise electrical risk near lines. Check overhead before lifting or cutting, use a spotter and keep far away from lines that are down or touching trees. Tree work near lines belongs to trained crews arranged through the utility.

Cleanup is tiring and stressful. Fatigue leads to mistakes, so rest and eat. If the stress feels like too much, in the US you can call or text 988, and in an emergency call 911.

How do you prepare before the next one?

Write a storm plan that covers power loss, animals, water, communication and who does what. Test backup power as the manufacturer directs. Keep important phone numbers and manuals together. Ask your Extension office and emergency management agency for local planning help.

Check on neighbors, especially older or isolated ones, when it is safe to do so. A short call can reveal a hazard that someone else has not noticed.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.