Storm Season in Skiatook: The Electrical Problems I See Every Year

Tornado's Disrupting Power in Skiatook

By Terry Davis, Electrician & Owner of Davis Electric & Design

Let me shoot it to you straight—living in Skiatook, Oklahoma means dealing with some wild weather. I’ve been wiring homes and helping folks around here for years, and if there's one thing I know, it's this: our thunderstorms and tornadoes don’t play nice with your home’s electrical system.

When that sky turns green and the wind starts howling, I know the phone’s about to start ringing. Here’s what I see most often:

Power Surges from Lightning Strikes
It doesn’t even have to hit your house directly. A bolt can strike a nearby tree or power line, and boom—your electronics are fried. I’ve seen TVs, fridges, gaming systems, and even well pumps get cooked from a nearby hit. A whole-house surge protector? Worth every penny.

Outdated Electrical Panels
If your panel's still the original from when the house was built—or one of those old Zinsco or Federal Pacific ones—it’s not built to handle today’s tech, let alone storm-related surges. A lot of folks don’t even realize their breaker box is a fire hazard until I open it up and show 'em.

GFCI and AFCI Trips
Big storms mean water where it shouldn’t be. GFCIs trip when they detect moisture or current imbalance, which is good—but it also means your garage, bathroom, or outdoor outlets might stop working right when you need ‘em. Add in arc fault breakers, and now we’re really chasing ghosts unless the wiring’s in good shape.

Downed Power Lines and Backfeeds
This one’s dangerous. After a tornado or high winds, I’ve had to deal with homes that had energized lines laying across driveways or trees. Worse, some homeowners fire up a generator without a transfer switch and send power back into the grid—big no-no. Not only illegal, but it can kill a lineman.

Generator Misuse or Undersizing
Folks love to run to the big box store during storm season and grab a portable generator—but most don’t wire it right. They run extension cords through windows, overload circuits, or skip grounding it. I install backup generators with proper transfer switches, and I size ‘em right for the house. If the juice isn’t balanced, you’re asking for blown circuits or damaged appliances.

Burned Out HVAC and Well Systems
I can’t tell you how many A/C units I’ve seen fried after a big surge. Same for well pumps. Storm hits, voltage spikes, and bam—there goes your cool air or running water. I always recommend surge protection at the breaker panel and on the equipment itself.

Water Damage to Wiring
When a tornado pulls siding off or rain pours in through the roof, water can find its way into junction boxes, outlets, and light fixtures. Water and electricity don’t mix—so if your lights are flickering after a storm, it’s time to get a pro in there and check for corrosion or arcing.

Lightning Rods and Grounding Issues
Some of the older homes in Skiatook either don’t have proper grounding or it’s been compromised over the years. I’ve seen houses hit by lightning that didn’t have a proper path to ground—guess where the energy went? Through the wiring, the appliances, the walls. Don’t cut corners on grounding—it’s what saves your house.

Storm Chaser Contractors
This isn’t an electrical problem—but it’s a big one. After a storm, some out-of-town crew shows up promising fast fixes. They’re gone just as fast, and a few months later I’m redoing their rushed or unsafe work. Always hire local, licensed, and insured—someone you can call back if things go sideways.

If you're in Skiatook and your home’s been acting funny after a storm—or if you just want to be proactive--give me a shout. I’ll treat your house like it’s my own, and I’ll make sure you and your family are safe before the next big one rolls in.

Stay safe,
Terry Davis
Davis Electric & Design