Dec 14, 2008 5:12 pm US/Eastern
Important Ice Storm Safety Tips
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Westminster, MA
Ashley and Pete/WBZ
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Westminster, MA
Ashley and Pete/WBZ
As hundreds of thousands of people cope with
power outages amid freezing temperatures, there is a warning for residents to be extra careful with downed power lines and other dangers associated with ice storms.
NEVER TOUCH DOWNED POWER LINES
Probably the most important warning for people during ice storms is to never touch a downed power line, even if it appears electricity has been cut off. Officials say to leave the lines for experts the remove. Never try to move them yourself.
ONLY OPERATE GENERATORS OUTDOORS
Many resort to using generators to heat their homes during power outages. Generators must never be operated indoors, including garages.
TURN OFF ALL APPLIANCES
Once power is restored, all appliances that were left on before the outage could trigger a surge and cause the power to be lost again. Experts recommend leaving one light switch on but turn off all others during an outage.
DO NOT USE STOVE FOR HEAT
Officials are worried that people without power could resort to unsafe methods to heat their homes. A 49-year-old man in New Hampshire died
of carbon monoxide poisoning when he apparently tried to heat his home using a portable generator inside his powerless home.
In an effort to help people who have been left in the cold,
shelters have been opened up throughout the state. The Red Cross says 21 shelters have been set up throughout the area to help people forced out of their homes. They were bracing for as many as one hundred people to check into a shelter set up at Shrewsbury High School.
TURN OFF WATER TO FROZEN PIPES
Some homes may experience frozen pipes from hot water being off for several days. Experts recommend checking your pipes to see if they are frozen.
If pipes are frozen, the water should be turned off at the service entrance, faucets opened, and pipes defrosted with a hair dryer or space heater, officials say. People should never use a torch or other open flame to thaw pipes because of the fire danger.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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