In a flooding event (i.e. hurricane, etc.), do officials preemptively shut off electricity to prevent electrocution from downed power lines? If not, how don’t people get injured?

Question

In a flooding event (i.e. hurricane, etc.), do officials preemptively shut off electricity to prevent electrocution from downed power lines? If not, how don’t people get injured?

In: Earth Science

Answer 1

People do get injured from electrical equipment. The first death from Ida has already been reported (although that was a downed tree). There will be many more, and some will be from electrocution. Other people will die from lack of electricity because they need it to power medical equipment. New Orleans has reported that its entire power grid is out, including the pumps for sewers. That’ll be fun for weeks to come.