We can never be too complacent. Be prepared, read our Wet Season check list.

A blocked or covered overflow relief gully (ORG) could turn your lounge room into a swamp. Take five minutes to check your ORG.

Unplug during storms. It's the only way to ensure your electrical appliances won't be damaged during an electrical storm power surge.

Trees touching or near powerlines cause a lot of power outages and can be dangerous.

Keep your air conditioners' filters clean and save energy and money.

Every year in the Territory our communities, towns and cities are affected by severe storms and the possibility of flooding and cyclones. Luckily most will pass by causing little or no damage, but we can never be complacent.

MTSAT-1R: Satellite image originally processed by the Bureau of Meteorology from the geostationary satellite MTSAT-1R operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

> Home > Cyclones, storms and floods > Getting reconnected

Getting reconnected

Power and Water's first priority after a cyclone, storm or flood is to restore services to public health and community facilities. Then we work to reconnect the greatest number of customers – for more details see our restoration plan.

If damage is widespread we will be on our way to make the area safe, repair and restore services. Before calling us to report a power outage, water or sewerage problem check whether your neighbours have services. If they don't, it's likely that we are aware of the problem. If they have services and you don't, call our 24 hour faults line on 1800 245 092.

If there is a life-threatening situation such as a powerline on the ground or other threat to public safety from damage to our infrastructure please contact us immediately on our emergency line 1800 245 090 or via the 000 emergency line. If the situation is not life-threatening please phone 1800 245 092 so our emergency line is available for those calls.

In some cases there are certain things you or other authorities can do to help in the restoration process.

Electricity

Damage to electricity supply lines

If the powerline attached to the fascia (outside) has pulled away from your house or business due to storm, cyclone, tree or other damage, it is your responsibility to have a Northern Territory licensed electrician check your property and issue a Certificate of Compliance before we can reconnect your power. This is to protect you and your property. The certificate of compliance confirms that the house is safe to re-energise, ensuring we don't endanger your life by re-energising a house with damaged or water-logged wiring. You can notify us that you have this certificate by calling 1800 245 092. We will assign a crew as soon as possible to restore your power supply. The crew will need to see the certificate. If the powerline has come away from the power pole, we will restore your service directly.

After flooding

If your home suffered water damage due to flooding, your electricity supply would have been disconnected for safety reasons. The combination of electricity and water is extremely dangerous and we advise you to take extreme caution when returning to your home.

For your safety and the safety of others, you will need to engage the services of a Northern Territory licensed electrical contractor to inspect your property. They need to ensure that it is electrically safe and issue a Certificate of Compliance before we can reconnect your power. You can notify us that you have this certificate by calling 1800 245 092. We will assign a crew as soon as possible to restore your power supply. The crew will need to 'sight' the certificate. If the powerline has come away from the power pole end, we will restore your service directly.

Water and sewerage services

If you have damage to your water and or sewer systems listen to your radio for any and all directions such as boil water alerts. Do not drink water from streams, creeks, etc. It is also important not to use excessive water to wash down houses, driveways, cars, etc as we may still be restoring water supply to other areas.

Avoid flooded waterways that may contain overflow from the sewerage system and do not go near any dislodged sewer access opening (manhole). Please report all damage, leaks and dislodged access openings soon as possible by phoning on 1800 245 092.

Removing storm debris

We will remove storm-damaged trees or other materials on private and public property, across powerlines, power poles or affecting water services, with the help of other authorities. Storm-damaged trees not impacting on Power or Water services across roads and other public areas will be assessed and removed by local authorities. Storm-damaged trees and other materials not impacting on Power and Water services on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. In widespread damage the local authorities will usually offer debris removal for the community as part of their disaster recovery program.