Hurricanes and Electrocution

Abstract

Hurricane Isabel struck eastern North America in September 2003 killing at least 53 people during and in the aftermath of the storm. One video clip showed downed power lines caught in the trees, fluttering in the breeze, sparking and crackling. Aside from the potential dangers of electrocution and fire, the devastating effects of broken utility lines were shown through the three utility workers who were fatally electrocuted while undertaking repairs. Similarly, in Puerto Rico in 1989, four of the nine fatalities attributed to Hurricane Hugo were occupational electrocutions during the repair of downed power lines. Three other electrocutions occurred, two of which resulted from contacting live power lines. One of those was work-related. Would it be feasible for the authorities to shut down the power grid as a hurricane approaches and refuse to turn it on until the grid is ready? If the grid is not designed to be flicked on and off--perhaps a few times a year--why not? Hospitals, emergency operations centres, and emergency services have their own power supplies, or should. If they know that protocols for a hurricane include shutting down the main grid, they should prepare for it. People routinely board up windows and evacuate for hurricanes, so if it were standard procedure, they could just as routinely prepare for no power. In fact, the hope is that they would be better educated on issues such as not using generators in confined spaces, which caused at least seven Isabel-related fatalities, and monitoring for candle fires, which caused at least one Isabel-related fatality. This increased preparation should occur because power being shut down for hurricanes would happen more frequently and because people would know that power would definitely be out rather than being vaguely prepared on the off-chance that power might be cut.