Donna Fagersten had taken refuge at a friend’s home on the top floor as Hurricane Helene tore through northern Florida, leaving a devastating trail of destruction and more than 100 casualties in the southeastern U.S.
As the storm appeared to calm, the 66-year-old teacher, just days away from her retirement, made a fateful choice to return home to rescue her cat.
When Hurricane Helene hit Florida on September 26, 2024, around 11 p.m., the Category 4 storm triggered flash floods, forcing residents to scramble for safety. One of the hardest-hit areas was Pinellas County, particularly in the Tampa Bay region, where at least 11 people lost their lives.
Among the victims was Donna Fagersten, a second-grade teacher from Ponce De Leon Elementary in Pinellas County.
According to her best friend Heather Anne Boles, Donna was set to retire the following week after dedicating 35 years to teaching. When the storm hit, Donna sought shelter with Boles and her partner, Mike Moran. As the storm surge rushed in, they retreated to the third floor of Boles’ mother’s home, across from the beach where Donna lived.
Boles recalled that as the storm seemed to settle, Donna insisted on going home to check on her cat, despite Boles’ pleas to stay. Tragically, another surge and high winds returned, battering the coastline.
A neighbor later came to their shelter, reporting that someone had been found floating in the parking garage. They quickly pulled Donna from the water and began CPR, but despite their efforts and the arrival of fire rescue by boat, they were unable to revive her.
Detectives later confirmed that Donna had drowned in her home, which had been flooded with water.
Family and friends have since remembered Donna as a “beautiful person” who was deeply committed to her students and community. In a Facebook post, Mary Gleason Lyons, a colleague and friend, described Donna as a dedicated teacher with a big heart, touching the lives of many students over her 35-year career.
Online tributes poured in, with former students and friends expressing their sadness at her passing and remembering her kindness and warmth.
While Boles and Moran are now left to clean up after the floods, which destroyed most of their belongings, the loss of their best friend is what hurts the most. “This is the worst we have ever seen,” Boles said, reflecting on the storm’s destruction compared to Hurricane Irma, where they managed to keep their home and belongings intact.
On a positive note, Donna’s cat survived, and her friends are working to find him a new home.
Hurricane Helene, which cut a destructive 800-mile path northward, left more than 2 million homes without power and claimed over 100 lives, according to USA Today.
My electrician just told me never leave a charger plugged in without your phone!
In today’s tech-driven world, leaving a phone charger plugged in without a device attached seems harmless. Many of us do it out of habit, convenience, or simple forgetfulness. But according to electricians and safety experts, this common practice carries hidden risks that could damage your charger, waste energy, and even create a fire hazard.
If you’ve been doing this for years without knowing the potential dangers, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Let’s dive into why you should stop leaving chargers plugged in when not in use and what you can do instead to keep your home safe and energy-efficient.
How Chargers Work: The Science Behind the Risk
To understand why leaving your charger plugged in without a device is a bad idea, it’s important to know how chargers function.
- AC to DC Conversion – Your phone charger takes the alternating current (AC) from your wall outlet and converts it into direct current (DC), which is safe for charging your device’s battery.
- Continuous Power Draw – Even when your phone isn’t connected, the charger still draws electricity, albeit at a low level. This is known as vampire energy or phantom load—small amounts of wasted energy that add up over time.
Now, while this might seem insignificant, the long-term effects can be serious.
The Hidden Dangers of Leaving a Charger Plugged in Without a Phone
You may not notice any immediate issues, but the cumulative impact of keeping chargers plugged in all the time can be costly and even dangerous. Here’s why:
Video : Don’t Leave a Charger Plugged in Without a Device, Here’s Why
1. Fire Hazards: Overheating and Electrical Fires
One of the biggest risks of leaving chargers plugged in is the potential for overheating, which can lead to electrical fires.
- Chargers that are cheap, damaged, or low-quality are more prone to overheating when left plugged in for long periods.
- Heat buildup can weaken internal components, making them more likely to short-circuit and spark a fire.
- If the charger is plugged into a damaged or loose outlet, it can increase the risk of fire even further.
While modern, high-quality chargers have built-in safety mechanisms, older or counterfeit chargers may lack these protections. Unplugging your charger when it’s not in use is the simplest way to eliminate this fire hazard.
2. Wasted Energy: The Cost of Phantom Power Consumption
Did you know that leaving your charger plugged in contributes to your electricity bill?
- Chargers still consume electricity even when no device is connected—this is known as standby power drain.
- A single charger might use only a small amount of electricity, but when millions of people leave chargers plugged in worldwide, the wasted energy becomes staggering.
- Over time, this unnecessary power consumption increases your electricity bill and contributes to higher carbon emissions.
While the cost per charger may seem small, it adds up—especially if you have multiple chargers and devices around the house.
3. Wear and Tear: Shortening Your Charger’s Lifespan
Leaving a charger plugged in 24/7 puts unnecessary strain on the charger and the outlet.
- Internal components degrade faster, reducing the lifespan of your charger.
- The outlet can loosen over time, increasing the risk of electrical arcing, which can lead to sparks and fires.
- Chargers left plugged in for long periods can become less efficient, meaning they might take longer to charge your phone over time.
By unplugging your charger when it’s not in use, you extend its life and reduce the risk of damaging your electrical outlets.
4. Increased Risk of Power Surges and Electrical Damage
Power surges happen more often than you think—whether due to lightning, faulty wiring, or sudden voltage spikes.
- When a charger is plugged in without a phone attached, the surge can damage the charger itself.
- If the surge is strong enough, it can spread to other connected devices and fry your phone or tablet the next time you plug it in.
- Using a surge protector can help, but the safest option is still to unplug chargers when they’re not in use.
What Experts Say: The Importance of Electrical Safety
Electricians and safety experts consistently warn against leaving chargers plugged in when they’re not needed.
- Many fires linked to electrical malfunctions start from overheating chargers.
- The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) advises that small electronic devices should be unplugged when not in use to reduce fire risk.
- Experts recommend using high-quality, certified chargers and avoiding cheap, knockoff brands, which often lack safety features.
If you want to protect your home and your devices, it’s time to make a small but impactful change.
How to Safely Manage Your Chargers
Now that you know the risks, here are some simple ways to safely handle your chargers:
- Unplug chargers when not in use – This is the easiest and most effective way to prevent fires, save energy, and extend your charger’s lifespan.
- Use a power strip with a switch – If unplugging is inconvenient, use a power strip with an on/off switch to cut power to multiple chargers at once.
- Invest in high-quality chargers – Choose brand-name or certified chargers that meet safety standards. Avoid cheap, off-brand versions.
- Inspect your chargers regularly – Look for frayed wires, overheating, or any signs of damage. If a charger feels too hot, it’s time to replace it.
- Keep chargers away from flammable materials – Never place them on beds, sofas, or carpets where heat can build up and start a fire.
Video : What If Charger Is Plugged Into Supply But Not Connected To A Device?
Final Thoughts: Small Habit Changes Can Make a Big Difference
It might seem harmless to leave a charger plugged in without your phone attached, but the risks outweigh the convenience. Overheating, wasted energy, charger damage, and fire hazards are all real concerns that can be easily avoided with a simple habit change.
By unplugging chargers when they’re not in use, you’re protecting your home, saving money, and reducing your environmental impact. It’s a small step that makes a big difference in the long run.
So, the next time you unplug your phone, don’t forget to unplug the charger too!
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