WIREGRASS: When storms knock out power, line crews are often the first called in and the last to leave. Utility workers say severe weather turns an already dangerous job into one of the most hazardous in the trades.
The core danger is electricity itself. Downed lines can stay energized, and a line that looks dead may be live from back feed or an unexpected reconnection. Storm damage hides the hazards: trees tangled in conductors, broken poles and lines buried under debris. Crews must treat every wire as live until it is tested and grounded.
Conditions add to the risk. Linemen climb poles or work from bucket trucks in wind, rain and lightning, often at night. Wet surfaces, poor visibility and unstable ground make equipment harder to handle. Heat and humidity after summer storms, or bitter cold after winter ones, wear crews down quickly.
The hours are punishing. Restoration can mean 16-hour shifts for days, with crews often traveling from other states to help. Fatigue raises the odds of mistakes where one error can be fatal. Crews also have to wait for a storm to pass before they can safely start, even while customers are demanding power back.
What residents can do
Stay at least 30 feet from any downed line and report it to the utility and 911.
Never touch anything in contact with a line, including fences, puddles or vehicles.
Keep roads clear for utility trucks and be patient. Restoration follows safety and system priorities, with critical facilities and large outage fixes first.
Run generators outdoors and never plug them into home outlets without a proper transfer switch, which can send power back onto lines and endanger crews.
