GILMER, Texas —
Springtime in East Texas brings the possibility for severe weather and the chance for fallen power lines and power outages.
High winds can snap trees, depending on the severity of the storm. That was the case in Gilmer on Monday after straight line winds swept through the city.
"In East Texas we're right in the middle of all these trees, your average pine tree, is very tall, they will fall on the line, and that's usually what causes power outages with storms,” Tony McCullough, Communications Director for Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation, said.
When there is a power outage, Upshur Rural Electric Co-op is responsible for getting power poles and lines back up.
In an exclusive demonstration by McCullough and his team, they showed CBS19 just how dangerous the lines can be.
"We're gonna show you what can happen to a line without the proper equipment,” McCullough said. “You never want to touch a power line and even if you see one lying in the road, the pasture, you always want to assume that is charged and dangerous and can electrocute you."
The voltage inside a line can reach up to three or more volts. One volt is enough to seriously hurt or kill someone.
If a line comes in contact with a ladder workers may be using near a line, it can cause the ladder to reach over two volts.
McCullough used a balloon during his demonstration with CBS19. As soon as the balloon touched the active line, it caught fire.
Advice from Upshur Rural Electric Co-Op
"You want to keep a safe distance. They say 50 feet, I say as far as you can go,” McCullough said.
If a tree is down, a power line could be down with it.
"With your kids your children if they go out to play in the yard," McCullough said. "And they don't see that tree it could be a very dangerous situation."
If your power is out or you smell a burning line, that could be a good indicator a line is down.
The Co-Op recommends you inspect your house first then talk with neighbors.
URECC also says their demonstration is not intended to scare anyone.
Rather they say because of the severe storms that come through East Texas and the possibility of trees falling on top of power lines, knowing and understanding how to navigate around a power line could save a life.
URECC has done several power line safety demonstrations at local schools. If you would like to see one at your school, contact Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative.