Warminster Braces For Potential Power Outages, Flooding

WARMINSTER, PA —With heavy rainfall and high winds expected from a storm starting Tuesday, the Warminster Fire Department is alerting residents to be prepared.

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly said that the region could receive up to 4 inches of rain with the heaviest rainfall expected between 6 p.m. Tuesday and 2 a.m. Wednesday.

After this past weekend's storm, the National Weather Service said that saturated ground will make rivers and creeks run higher with Tuesday's rainfall, thus causing flooding throughout the region.

Meanwhile, there is a wind advisory for inland areas with winds forecast up to 65 mph in some areas, the weather service said.

The Warminster Fire Department said with Tuesday's threat of severe weather, there becomes an increased risk of flooding and downed wires due to strong winds.

The fire department said that residents should never walk or drive into flood water.

It can take as little as 6 inches of water to knock an adult down and sweep them away, the fire department said.

Last year, 77 people died in flash flooding in the United States, 62 percent of whom drove or walked into the water! Never drive around barricades, they have been put there for a reason.

"Turn around —don't drown," the fire department said.

With soil saturation rates at 100 percent due to the recent wet weather and with more rain forecasted, the possibility for trees to fall over, potentially contacting wires becomes even greater.

Never Touch a Downed Power Line

Never touch anything or anyone in contact with a power line. You could be shocked by contact with the line or a secondary object or person.

When a live wire touches the ground, electricity fans out through the ground, similar to when a pebble hits water. You could be shocked when in the area of a downed power line. The minimum safe distance from a downed power line is 35 feet.

Consider all wires energized and dangerous. Even de-energized lines may become energized at any time.

Stay at least 35 feet away from downed lines.

Electricity can travel through the ground, fences, hoses, and playscapes. A live wire, either on the ground or in trees, can harm you, even if you don't directly touch the line.

Electricity can also travel through tree limbs. Never remove tree limbs or other items touching or near a downed wire. Call Austin Energy at 512-322-9100 to report the tree limb.

Never use any object to move a downed wire. Rubber gloves and rubber-soled shoes will not protect you from electrocution, the fire department said.

Do not try to rescue someone who makes contact with a downed power line. You risk becoming a victim yourself. Call 911.

If you have an emergency, call 911! To report an outage call PECO at 1-800-841-4141