A tree or limb on a power line can kill in an instant. Here is exactly what to do, the safe distance to keep, and who to call first, step by step.

A tree or heavy limb that has hit a power line is one of the most dangerous situations a homeowner can face after a storm. It rarely looks as dramatic as a tree through a roof, and that is exactly why people underestimate it and get hurt. As certified arborists who respond to these emergencies around the clock, we want you to know precisely what to do, because the right actions in the first few minutes save lives.

Treat Every Downed Line as Live

The single most important rule is simple: assume every downed or contacted line is energized and deadly. Never touch, approach, or try to move a tree or branch that is on a power line, not with your hands, a pole, a rope, or a chainsaw. Electricity does not need you to touch the wire directly. A tree in contact with a live line can energize the whole tree, the ground around it, and anything touching it, including fences and puddles.

Keep Everyone Back at Least 50 Feet

Voltage spreads outward through the ground from a downed or contacting line, creating a shock hazard several feet in every direction. Keep everyone, including children and pets, at least 50 feet away from the tree, the line, and anything they are touching. If you must move away from a line that is very close, shuffle with small steps, keeping your feet together, so you do not bridge a difference in voltage across the ground.

Call 911 and Your Utility First

Before you think about the tree, get the right help dispatched:

Call 911 to report the hazard, especially if there is any fire or injury
Call your electric utility immediately so they can de-energize the line
Warn neighbors and passersby to stay well back
Do not drive over downed lines

Only the utility can confirm a line is dead and make it safe. Lights being out does not mean a line is dead: automatic equipment can re-energize a line without warning, and a neighbor's improperly wired generator can backfeed current into lines you believe are safe.

If a Line Falls on Your Car

If a line comes down on your vehicle while you are inside, stay in the car. The safest place is usually right where you are, until utility crews tell you the line is de-energized. Only leave if the car catches fire, and if you must, jump clear so no part of you touches the car and the ground at the same time, then shuffle away with tiny steps.