downed lines
Storm-toppled electrical cables
Downed lines are power lines or telephone cables that have fallen to the ground, typically from storm damage, accidents, or equipment failure.
The phrase appears most often in emergency warnings and news reports: Stay away from downed lines—they may still be energized.
Downed lines pose electrocution hazards and frequently cause power outages.
- power outageLoss of electrical supply
- storm damageHarm from severe weather
- blackoutComplete power loss
- lights outMandatory sleep time
- utility polesTall posts for cables
tree limbs · high winds · linemen · transformer · first responders · sparking · live wire · stay back · safety perimeter · outage · ice storm · debris · roadblock · electric company · danger zone · caution tape · restoration · road closed
- winter hazardsavalanche, black ice, blizzard, frostbite, hypothermia