Power Out or Storm Damage? Electrician Help in Council Bluffs, IA

Check the street first. If neighbors are dark too, it is a utility outage. In Council Bluffs that means MidAmerican Energy; in La Vista, Papillion and Elkhorn it is usually OPPD. An electrician cannot restore the grid. If only your house is out, or half of it works and half does not, the trouble may be at your panel, meter or service entrance, and that is a job for an electrician, sometimes working with the utility.

Treat every downed line as live. Keep people and pets away, do not drive over it and call the utility or 911. If wind tore the service mast or meter off the house, stay back and call the utility first.

Run portable generators outdoors, away from windows and doors, and never plug one into a wall outlet. For after-hours help, ask about extra fees before the visit; availability depends on the provider.