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Why is the electricity still on in severely flooded areas?
Posted on 8/27/17 at 9:56 pm
Posted on 8/27/17 at 9:56 pm
I'm being told areas of Texas have several feet of water and rescues are occurring with people in the water.
In all the videos/interviews the electricity is on. Street lights, red lights, store electricity.
So...isn't there some sort of procedure where electricity is cut when Waters rise a certain amount when rescues are ongoing?
In all the videos/interviews the electricity is on. Street lights, red lights, store electricity.
So...isn't there some sort of procedure where electricity is cut when Waters rise a certain amount when rescues are ongoing?
This post was edited on 8/27/17 at 9:57 pm
8
Posted on 8/27/17 at 9:57 pm to theunknownknight
Posted on 8/27/17 at 10:00 pm to theunknownknight
Water conducts electricity.
Well, mineralized water at least
Well, mineralized water at least
Posted on 8/27/17 at 10:00 pm to LaBR4
Did I stump the OT? 
Posted on 8/27/17 at 10:01 pm to theunknownknight
I was wondering the same...I have talked to folks who have power, cable, water, and sewer all still working...yet there is 4 feet of water on their street.
Posted on 8/27/17 at 10:01 pm to fr33manator
Yeah - so...why leave the lights on when thousands of people are in the water during an active storm?
Posted on 8/27/17 at 10:01 pm to theunknownknight
I'm guessing it's hard for them to isolate cutting power to just flooded areas AFTER they flood, without cutting off power to those who really need it?
Posted on 8/27/17 at 10:04 pm to theunknownknight
quote:
Yeah - so...why leave the lights on when thousands of people are in the water during an active storm?
From what I understand...
Water rises above the breakers. Water completes the circuit. Some lights stay on. That was my understanding during the flood
Posted on 8/27/17 at 10:04 pm to PrivatePublic
How hard is it to cut the power? What if a waterlogged tree falls on a line while people are canoeing people around?
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.
Posted on 8/27/17 at 10:06 pm to fr33manator
So 220 electricity is flowing through the water? No one seems to feel the effects? :-|
Posted on 8/27/17 at 10:08 pm to theunknownknight
Where are your circuit breakers located?
ETA: At your feet? Knee high? Waist high?
I'm guessing at least 4 ft high.
ETA: At your feet? Knee high? Waist high?
I'm guessing at least 4 ft high.
This post was edited on 8/27/17 at 10:12 pm
Posted on 8/27/17 at 10:22 pm to ThatMakesSense
I'd guess that in an open body of water you'd have to be almost touching a live wire for it to do you any harm. Electricity wants to take the path of least resistance, and making an oblique turn to go through you instead of just going straight to the ground doesn't seem like the ideal path.
Posted on 8/27/17 at 10:23 pm to theunknownknight
I was wondering this as well.
Posted on 8/27/17 at 11:00 pm to theunknownknight
Maybe their technology is better...or they bury their cables. I dunno. What I do know is that I have lived in Louisiana all my life and the basic equation looks like this: hurricane/flood = no power for 2 weeks. The folks in Texas must have it figgered out better than we do here in Louisiana.
Posted on 8/27/17 at 11:12 pm to Cracker
quote:
No 240 actually
240?...241?....whatever it takes...
Posted on 8/27/17 at 11:13 pm to theunknownknight
electricity always takes the path of least resistance.
Posted on 8/27/17 at 11:51 pm to SlapahoeTribe
quote:
in an open body of water you'd have to be almost touching a live wire for it to do you any harm. Electricity wants to take the path of least resistance, and making an oblique turn to go through you instead of just going straight to the ground doesn't seem like the ideal path.
BINGO! We have a winner!
Electricity takes the path of least resistance. It's not going to jump out and get you even when submerged in a flood.
I've been through many floods so that's not just speculation.
Posted on 8/27/17 at 11:56 pm to airfernando
quote:
electricity always takes the path of least resistance.
Not really, electrical current will flow through any and all conductive paths available, the current will divide among all paths in proportion to the resistance of the path.
Posted on 8/28/17 at 12:01 am to EA6B
The dirtier water is, the closer you have to get to exposed electrical to get electrocuted. Water isn't naturally conductive, it's the impurities that give it that property.
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