Ice storm at home: power lines, falling limbs, generators and staying warm

What makes an ice storm different?

The National Weather Service usually issues an Ice Storm Warning for around a quarter inch or more of ice accumulation, the amount it says makes travel dangerous or impossible and is likely to snap power lines and bring down tree branches. That is the combination this guide is about: lines and limbs down, the power out, and pavement glazed. For what the forecast terms mean, see winter storm watch vs warning; for why freezing rain coats everything, see freezing rain vs sleet vs snow.

How far should I stay from a downed power line?

DTE Energy's rule is 25 feet, and to assume every downed line is live, even if it is lying still and not sparking. The distance applies to anything the line touches, too, including puddles and fences. DTE warns that a metal fence can carry current from a downed line even several backyards away.

• Keep children and pets away, and warn your neighbors.
• Do not drive over a downed line or cross yellow barrier tape.
• Do not touch anything in contact with the line, including branches, cars and ladders, or a person who is touching it. Call 911.
• If a line falls on your car, stay inside and call 911. If you must get out, do not touch the car and the ground at the same time; hop or shuffle away.

Call 911 for any emergency. DTE customers can report a downed line or an outage through DTE's Outage Center.

What should I do about iced trees and limbs?

Stay out from under iced trees, and do not park beneath them while the storm is on. The Weather Service ties ice storms directly to falling branches.

• Limbs on or near lines are the utility's job. Report them and stay well clear.
• Cleanup waits. DTE advises not starting storm cleanup in your yard until power line repairs are complete, because energized lines can be hidden in the brush.
• Limbs on the driveway or the car, with no line involved: wait until the ice stops coming down before you go out, and call a tree service for anything large or hung up in the tree. DTE urges using a professional tree service for any trimming near power lines.

How do I run a generator safely?

A portable generator can carry a house through an outage, but its exhaust is carbon monoxide.

1. Outdoors only. Never inside the house or the garage.
2. At least 20 feet away from windows, doors and vents, per the CDC. Ready.gov adds attached garages to that list.
3. Keep it dry, in a spot where rain and snow will not reach it.
4. Use heavy-duty outdoor extension cords, and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
5. Store gasoline outside the house, never indoors.

How do I stay warm without risking carbon monoxide?

• Alarms. The CDC recommends a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector, and Ready.gov says to have working detectors on every level of the home. If one sounds, get everyone outside and call 911.
• No stove or oven for heat. Ready.gov warns that using a gas stove or oven to heat your home increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Space heaters, if you have power: models with automatic shut-off, at least 3 feet from drapes, furniture and bedding, and never left near unattended children.
• Hold the heat. Close off unused rooms, seal gaps under doors and cover windows at night.
• Clear outside vents. Ice and snow can block furnace and water heater vents; see the after-storm checklist.
• Frozen pipes. Let faucets drip, and keep warm air reaching the pipes. If a pipe freezes, thaw it slowly with a hair dryer, never a torch.

How do I report and track an outage?

DTE's Outage Center lets you report an outage or a power line problem, check the status of your outage, view the outage map and sign up for alerts by text or email. If someone in the house depends on electrically powered medical equipment, DTE suggests asking your health care provider about battery backup, and Ready.gov advises having a backup plan for refrigerated medicines and power-dependent devices.

What can plowing and salting do on glaze ice?

Less than people hope. A plow needs something to push, and a quarter inch of glaze bonded to the pavement is not it. Ice is a treatment job, and treatment depends on temperature: rock salt slows badly below about 20°F and effectively stops below about 15°F, where calcium chloride and sand for traction take over. Thick glaze in a cold snap can take time and daytime warmth to release; see how to get thick ice off a driveway and does salt work in cold weather.

Expect the street to stay slick, too. The Macomb County Department of Roads says environmental regulations limit its salting inside subdivisions to entrances, exits, intersections and hills. We quote salting separately from plowing, match the product to the temperature, and say so plainly when waiting is the better answer.