With weather forecasts predicting record rainfall over the next few days across much of South Carolina, the state's electric cooperatives are issuing a reminder about possible flooding and electrical equipment that could be energized and in contact with water.

'Electricity and water never go together, and when you're dealing with floodwater, you're in an especially risky situation,' said Todd Carter, vice president of loss control and training at The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina. 'Keep safety in mind every step of the way.'

Here are some flood safety measures to keep in mind:

• If you see a downed power line, stay away and call 911. If you're driving and a power line falls across your vehicle, stay inside until help arrives.

• If floodwaters are approaching your home, turn off electricity at the main breaker or fuse box and unplug appliances.

• If water covers electrical outlets or plugged-in cords, stay away. The same goes if you hear buzzing, snapping, crackling or popping sounds.

• Before entering a flood-damaged home or building, make sure the power is off, and don't attempt to reset circuit breakers until all water has receded.

If your home loses power, call your local electric cooperative to report the outage, and make sure your utility has your current phone number and an email address.

Additional safety and storm-related information is available at www.ecsc.org/storm-center.

The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. is the state association of independent, member-owned electric cooperatives. More than 1.3 million South Carolinians in all 46 counties use power provided by electric cooperatives. Together, the co-ops operate the state's largest electric power system, with more than 70,000 miles of power lines across 70 percent of the state. More information is available at www.ecsc.org.