After a storm in The Gap, in this order
Stay clear of fallen lines
Treat every fallen line as live, including one pulled down by a branch onto a fence or car. Keep well away and call Energex on 13 19 62, or 000 if someone's in danger.
Work out if it's just you
If the street's dark too, it's an outage: report it on 13 62 62 or check Energex's Outage Finder. An electrician can't fix the network.
If only your house is off
Look at the switchboard through the meter box door without touching anything inside. If a safety switch has tripped and you're dry and safe, reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off.
Water or tree damage inside
Anything that got wet, and any fitting near roof damage, stays off until a licensed electrician has tested it. The SES helps with tarps and fallen trees on 132 500.
Why The Gap is different
The 2008 microburst
The 16 November 2008 storm brought gusts up to 130 km/h and more than 6,000 lightning strikes, and it brought down 33 kilometres of powerlines. Two days later, around 7500 homes and businesses were still without supply.
Floods off the ranges
During the February 2022 floods, Enoggera Dam in The Gap reached a record 270% of capacity.
Family houses
At the 2021 Census, 92.0% of homes were separate houses, averaging 3.7 bedrooms, and only 15.2% were rented. Schools opened in 1960, 1970 and 1979 as the valley filled.
Jobs that follow a storm
Lightning and surges can take out a single circuit, an appliance or a solar inverter, even when the rest of the house seems fine. Water through a damaged roof can reach light fittings and ceiling fans. An electrician who does storm and flood repairs tests the lot and gives you something in writing for the insurer. If surges are a worry, ask about surge protection at the switchboard.
Our take for The Gap
Know where your main switch is and keep a torch near the meter box before storm season starts. After a storm, leave anything wet or damaged off, report lines and outages to Energex, and book an electrician for what's inside your fence.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.