What to Do

• Stay away from the wire. According to New York State Electric and Gas, just because the line is not throwing sparks does not mean it is dead. A wire that has made it all the way to the ground will not make sparks, and it also does not turn itself off. Try to put garbage cans or something else in a 10-foot diameter around the wire to alert drivers passing by that it is there. It may seem like the right thing to do to try to pick the wire up with a wooden pole and move it out of harm's way, but even wood is a conductor of electricity and you can get hurt doing that. Call the power company immediately and do what the representative tells you to do. If someone drives his car near the wire and the wire causes the car to stall, have him remain in the car until help can arrive.
  
  

What not to Do

• Do not try to move branches or brush out of the way of the wire because the wire may be tangled in the branches. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration remind us that just because a wire is insulated does not mean it is safe to touch. If the wire is lying near a puddle of water then do not step into that puddle. If the wire is touching a metal surface then do not touch or stand on that surface as it may be conducting lethal amounts of electricity.
  
  

Whom to Contact

• If the downed power wire is posing a threat to public safety or has the potential to be a fire threat, contact the local fire department and alert the firefighters of the situation. Alert the local police that it may be dangerous to drive down your street until the situation is taken care of. The power company will make these calls as well, but if the situation requires immediate notification of authorities then it is helpful to make these calls right away.