How to Prevent Electric Shock During Typhoon Flooding? Which Areas Should Be Avoided?
TyphoonSays·防御问答 · Security Rescue · 更新 at 2026-10-18
Heavy rainfall brought by typhoons can easily cause urban waterlogging. Murky floodwaters are not only a traffic hazard but can also become an "invisible killer" due to electrical leakage from power facilities. Since water is a good conductor, if the insulation of streetlights, distribution boxes, or other facilities is damaged, electric current can rapidly spread through the water, creating deadly step voltage or causing direct electric shock. Therefore, when wading through water, you must remain highly alert and strictly follow these safety principles.
Identify High-Risk Areas and Detour Strictly
When walking through flooded areas, the core principle is to "avoid high-risk spots and stay away from metal." The following areas pose extremely high risks and must be avoided:
- Around Electrical Facilities: This includes streetlight poles, traffic signal poles, transformers, and residential distribution boxes. If you notice abnormal ripples, bubbles, or hear a "buzzing" sound around the base of a pole, it indicates electrical leakage. Evacuate in the opposite direction immediately.
- Base of Building Exterior Walls: Hanging equipment such as outdoor air conditioning units and advertising light boxes may have aging wiring or loose fixtures. Rainwater infiltration can easily cause electrical leakage. When passing by, keep a safe distance from walls and avoid touching any metal attachments.
- Areas with Fallen Cables: Regardless of whether wires are submerged, assume any fallen cable is live. Do not approach them, and never attempt to handle them yourself.
Master Correct Postures for Scientific Self-Rescue
If you must pass through shallow flooded areas or unfortunately find yourself in a suspected electrical leakage environment, adopting the correct posture can significantly reduce the risk of injury:
- Protective Gear: Always wear rubber-soled shoes. Never wade through water barefoot or in soaked cloth or leather shoes, as dry rubber provides good insulation. It is advisable to use a long-handled umbrella or a wooden stick to probe the way, testing water depth and checking for obstacles ahead, but do not touch metal poles directly with your hands.
- Responding to Signs of Electric Shock: If you feel numbness in your feet or muscle spasms, these are precursors to electric shock. Do not run, as large strides create a greater potential difference (step voltage). The correct action is to stop moving immediately, keep your feet together or stand on one foot, and slowly move out of the danger zone using small shuffling steps or hops.
- Emergency Rescue Prohibitions: If you see someone collapse due to electric shock, never pull the victim directly with your hands. First, cut off the power source, or use insulating objects such as dry wooden sticks or plastic pipes to push the wire away. Only after confirming the area is safe should you administer first aid and call emergency services (120).
Strengthen Source Prevention and Monitor Alerts
Prevention is better than disaster relief. When meteorological departments issue red warnings for heavy rain or high-level typhoon alerts, the risks of urban waterlogging and electric shock increase significantly. In such cases, citizens are advised not to go out unless necessary, and employers should arrange work and school suspensions in accordance with regulations (specific implementation standards are subject to local government announcements).
During home confinement, check electrical circuit safety. During severe thunderstorms, it is recommended to unplug appliances to prevent lightning surges from damaging household electronics or causing fires. Meanwhile, closely monitor official disaster warning information, plan your itinerary in advance, and avoid being trapped in low-lying areas.
Real-time typhoon tracks can be queried at TyphoonSays (taifengshuo.com)
This article is original educational content from TyphoonSays. Please refer to the latest official announcements from local governments for policy standards.