Severe storms are nothing new to those of us living in Florida. As ironic as it may seem, the Sunshine State actually experiences rain 119 days every year on average. Many of these rain showers bring with it high winds, thunder and lighting. In fact, Florida has earned the title of being the lighting capital of the United States.
Florida’s Electrical Weather
According to the Live Science website, the electric weather in Florida is unmatched by any other U.S. state. The Weather Channel lists Florida as the most prone state for lightning strikes with 24.7 strikes per square mile and a total of 1,414,284 strikes per year.
Experts attribute Florida’s propensity to thunderstorms and all its accompanying dangers due to its location. Since the state’s borders are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, the moisture makes the state a perfect breeding ground for thunderstorms all year round.
Sea breeze fronts are a prolific producer of summer thunderstorms each afternoon. During late fall and all through the winter and into early spring, Florida may experience cold fronts slicing through its interior, which will bring bouts of storms.
Hazards Following Severe Weather
There are many different types of hazards that may arise following severe weather. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), some of these include the following:
1) Flooding: Excessive amounts of water in and around Orlando luxury homes and other properties, can result in electrical hazards. When exposed to water, electrical equipment can be extremely dangerous if reenergized without property reconditioning or replacement.
2) Chemical Exposure: Flood waters may become contaminated with sewage, oil, chemicals and other debris. Not only can these types of chemicals cause damage to electrical equipment in and around Orlando luxury homes, the contaminated water also can be dangerous to people and pets.
3) Wind Damage: Downed powerlines are just one of the possibilities that homeowners of Orlando luxury homes may be faced with as a result of high wind. Tree damage also is a risk, since loose limbs may be ready to cut loose at any minute.
Safety Recommendations
Keep in mind, water and electricity don’t mix. Submerged electrical equipment can be deadly, and it’s not just power lines to be aware. So there are many precautions everyone should take after a serious storm:
1) Don’t use electrical appliances that have been wet until they have been examined by a qualified service repair dealer. Some might be salvaged by through reconditioning, while other may just have to be replaced. This decision should be made by a professional.
2) Discard the following items if submerged in water: fuses, circuit breakers, plugs, receptacles, switches, and ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). These types of items may malfunction once water has penetrated inside them. It is not worth the chance to have a serious electrical issue develop days or months later.
Although living in Orlando luxury homes is like living in paradise, even nirvana has precautions. As the song says, along with the sunshine, there’s got to be a little rain sometimes.
