Electrical equipment that got wet should stay off until a qualified electrician has assessed it. Drying it does not make it safe, and damage often sits where you cannot see it. If power is off, leave it off.
Key takeaways
- Drying alone does not make flooded electrical equipment safe. See ESFI’s water-damaged equipment guide.
- Floodwater can leave sewage, chemicals and debris inside boxes and devices, so damage can sit where you cannot see it.
- ESFI says to keep the power off in a flooded home until an electrician has inspected the system.
- ESFI lists receptacles, switches and molded-case breakers as typically replaced, and says some panelboards and motors may be reconditioned by a trained professional.
- CDC says to have a certified electrician check electrical equipment you doubt.
- Photograph the damage and keep receipts. Ask your insurer about coverage.
Last checked: October 13, 2026, 3:40 AM PDT. Alerts, closures and outage maps change quickly, so use the live links in this guide before you act.
Why can flooded electrical equipment look dry and still be dangerous?
ESFI states that drying alone does not make water-damaged equipment safe. Floodwater can leave sewage, chemicals, oil and debris. Moisture can sit inside outlet boxes, behind faceplates and inside breakers and appliances. Equipment that is not properly reconditioned can fail later, including by shock or fire. A panel or outlet that looks and smells normal after a day in the sun may still carry a hidden fault.
Who might be dealing with this now?
Tropical Storm Rachel, later described as a post-tropical system, brought heavy rain, coastal flooding and high surf to parts of Southern California between about October 9 and 12, 2026, and its remnant moisture reached Las Vegas. San Diego County’s alert page listed Tropical Cyclone Rachel on October 9, and the City of Newport Beach declared a local emergency for it. Impacts were not the same everywhere. Flooding was most visible along the coast and in low streets. Newport Beach reported flooding on Balboa Peninsula streets, and an October 10 report mentioned damage to a boardwalk and five structures in Long Beach. San Diego saw storm drain and culvert rescues, and Las Vegas had street flooding on October 11 and 12. Not every property was affected.
“… do not turn on or plug in appliances unless an electrician tells you it is safe”
Flooded electrical panel, outlets and wiring: what to leave untouched
- Outlets, switches, light fixtures and ceiling fans that were wet or sit near water stains.
- The main panel and any subpanel that took on water or sat in a flooded room or garage.
- Appliances, HVAC equipment, water heaters, sump pumps and garage door openers that were submerged or splashed.
- Extension cords, power strips, chargers and electronics that were in water.
- Anything that smells burnt, buzzes, sparks or feels warm.
Do not plug in, switch on or reset any of these. Do not open a wet panel. Do not stand in water near electrical equipment.
What is the assessment process before power is used again?
- Make sure it is safe to be there. Do not enter standing water. If reaching the main switch means entering water, call an electrician instead.
- Document the damage with photos and notes before anything is moved.
- Contact your utility if the meter or service line looks damaged or flooded: SCE at 1-800-611-1911 or SDG&E at 1-800-411-7343.
- Have a qualified electrician inspect the system, test circuits and check each affected device.
- Expect item-by-item decisions. ESFI lists receptacles, switches, molded-case breakers and outlet boxes as typically replaced, and says some panelboards, switchboards and motors may be reconditioned by a trained professional.
- Ask your local building department whether a permit or inspection is needed before power returns. Rules vary.
- Use affected equipment again only after the electrician says it is safe.
CDC’s flooded home guidance says to dry electrical equipment completely and have a certified electrician check anything in doubt. ESFI’s flood guide goes further: keep power off in a flooded home until an electrician has inspected it.
Records and insurance
Keep photos, receipts and notes about what was wet and what was replaced. Contact your insurer about coverage. This guide cannot advise on policies.
Numbers to have on hand
- Emergency: fallen lines, fire, shock injury, carbon monoxide symptoms: 911
- Southern California Edison: outages and public safety hazards: 1-800-611-1911
- SDG&E: downed power lines (after 911) and outages: 1-800-411-7343
- Electrical Garage electrical assistance line (24/7 call center): (844) 502-1411
Official resources for updates
Visit these pages for live alerts, closures and outage maps.
- NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard (Los Angeles, Orange County, Long Beach)https://www.weather.gov/lox/Live watches, warnings and advisories for the Los Angeles area.
- NWS San Diego (San Diego, parts of Orange and Riverside counties)https://www.weather.gov/sgx/Live alerts and forecasts for San Diego and nearby inland areas.
- City of Newport Beach newshttps://www.newportbeachca.gov/trending/newsThe city’s latest storm and coastal flooding announcements.
- Alert Long Beach (City of Long Beach)https://www.longbeach.gov/disasterpreparedness/alert-long-beach/Explains the city’s emergency alert system. Sign-up is at https://accountportal.onsolve.net/alertlb
- AlertSanDiego (County of San Diego)https://www.alertsandiego.org/Regional emergency updates, including the County’s Tropical Cyclone Rachel notice.
- Southern California Edison: report an outage or safety issuehttps://www.sce.com/outages-safety/report-outage-safety-issueReporting outages and hazards. SCE lists 1-800-611-1911 for outages and public safety hazards.
- SDG&E: power outage safety and reportinghttps://www.sdge.com/safety/power-outage-safetyDowned line reporting, outage steps.
- ESFI: Water-Damaged Electrical Equipmenthttps://www.esfi.org/water-damaged-electrical-equipment/Which flooded equipment is typically replaced or reconditioned.
- ESFI: Flood Electrical Safetyhttps://www.esfi.org/flood-electrical-safety-high-water-high-stakes/Electrical safety before and after flooding.
- CDC: Reentering Your Flooded Homehttps://www.cdc.gov/floods/safety/reentering-your-flooded-home-safety.htmlReturning to a flooded home safely.
- Ready.gov: Floodshttps://www.ready.gov/floodsFEMA flood safety, including floodwater and power line hazards.
News reports and other sources cited
- KPBS: San Diego storm clears out, high surf and coastal flood warnings linger (October 12, 2026)https://www.kpbs.org/news/living/2026/10/12/san-diego-storm-clears-out-high-surf-and-coastal-flood-warnings-lingerNews report used for San Diego conditions, the coastal flood advisory and weekend impacts.
- Fox LA: Newport Beach flooding and local emergency, Tropical Storm Rachelhttps://www.foxla.com/news/newport-beach-flooding-emergency-tropical-storm-rachel.ampNews report used for Newport Beach, Long Beach and San Onofre impacts.
- News3LV: flash flooding near the Las Vegas Strip (October 11 to 12, 2026)https://news3lv.com/news/local/flash-flooding-sends-water-rushing-through-streets-near-las-vegas-strip-rain-storms-hurricane-tropical-storm-rachel-linq-promenadeNews report used for Las Vegas street flooding and road blockages.
- AlertSanDiego: Tropical Cyclone Rachel noticehttps://www.alertsandiego.org/en-us/incident-page.1567.htmlCounty of San Diego incident page for the storm.
- City of Newport Beach: local emergency declared for Tropical Storm Rachel (October 9, 2026)https://www.newportbeachca.gov/Home/Components/News/News/44930/2720City announcement of the local emergency.
Need an electrician for storm damage?
Electrical Garage’s call center is open 24/7 at (844) 502-1411. Our electricians are available specifically for storm-related electrical problems during this critical period. In the areas we serve, we aim to reach customers within minutes to a few hours, depending on your location and how many calls are ahead of yours. You can also use our contact page. This is our electrical assistance line. For fallen power lines, fire, shock injuries or carbon monoxide symptoms, call 911 first.
