Electricity can be as dangerous as any hazardous weather condition, and it is inside of everyone's home. Safety concerning home electronics is often taken for granted. Ignoring electrical safety instructions may put your safety and property at risk. Below are a few ways to make sure your house is electric safe.

Outlets
Check for outlets with loose-fitting plugs, exposed wires or broken plates. If you have any of these, have them repaired by a qualified electrician. Use safety covers on all outlets accessible to children.

Surge Protectors
Only use surge protectors with internal circuit breakers. To prevent overheating, these units will trip the breaker if the power strip is overloaded or shorted to prevent overheating. Do not plug a surge protector into an existing surge protector. When the surge protector is not in use, unplug the unit. Make sure surge protectors are free of dust, water, and other particulates that may cause them to spark.

Cords
Don't place appliance cords where they will come into contact with any heated surface such as a stove. Don't hang appliance cords over counter tops, where they might be accidentally pulled down.

Frayed Appliance Cords
Exposed appliance cords can cause fire, electric shock and even electrocution. Inspect and replace chords with tears, bends and breaks.

How Many Appliances can a Circuit Handle

Knowing how much wattage a circuit can handle can prevent many household complications. Follow the Home Appliance Amp Reference to make sure you don't overburden your breaker.

Generator Usage and Safety

Generators a great way to keep important appliances on when a storm hits. If you plan to use a generator when the lights go out, reference this Red Cross Guide on Generator Usage and Safety videos.

Lightning Safety

Lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times a year. Although most lightning occurs in the summer, people can be struck at any time of year. Lightning kills an average of 49 people in the United States each year, and hundreds more are severely injured.

Lightning: What You Need to Know

• NO PLACE outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area!
• If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.
• When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter: a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up.
• Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder.

Indoor Lightning Safety

• Stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity.
• Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets.
• Do not lie on concrete floors, and do not lean against concrete walls.

Last Resort Outdoor Risk Reduction Tips

If you are caught outside with no safe shelter anywhere nearby the following actions may reduce your risk:

• Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges or peaks
• Never lie flat on the ground
• Never shelter under an isolated tree
• Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter
• Immediately get out and away from ponds, lakes and other bodies of water
• Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.)

Helpful Links

• Lightning Safety
• Lightning Science: Five Ways Lightning Strikes People
• Tornadoes, High Winds, and Sever Thunder Storms

Facts and statistics provided by NOAA