Power Outage – Sunday morning

I was visiting a friend on Sunday morning and helping him resolve some landlord-tenant issues, when the power went out in part of Woodstock's north side. When it didn’t come back on within a few minutes and it looked like all the other houses nearby were dark, I telephoned Woodstock Police. The dispatcher was very helpful with information that a power pole and lines had been knocked down near N. Madison St. and Beech St.

And indeed they had been. I drove by and there was a car buried under lines and branches where it had struck a power pole. What was interesting was that the power pole broke off about 10 feet above the ground, not at the point of impact. And a pole across the street snapped off at the ground.

Kind of makes one wonder what quality of poles are being used and how long those poles had been in place? Had termites been at work?

Have you ever considered what you would do, if you were in an accident and power lines were draped over your car? Would you stay put, or would you get out? Is your life insurance paid up?

My guess is your best bet is to stay put, unless you want to give the paramedics and the ER docs some practice. Wait for the rescue people and the power company reps to arrive and tell you what to do. Let’s hope you are conscious and able to follow their instructions.

Maybe this is a good time to have a “fire drill” with your family and discuss what to do in event of such an emergency in your car.