While the number and severity of hurricanes and tropical storms will vary from year to year, hurricane season is a constant. Residents along the Atlantic coast are guaranteed to experience some level of heavy rains and intense wind, which often result in power outages. That is why it is important to take steps to prepare your home and your family. With the right tools in place, including Generac generators, you can better weather the storm and mitigate risks.
Hurricanes can be a difficult disaster to handle because the storm is usually just the beginning of the problem. A hurricane can trigger flooding, wildfires, tornados and extensive power outages that can make it hard for emergency personnel to reach people. All of these factors complicate evacuations. For those who need access to food, water, and medical supplies, even a few days without power can be dangerous.
While many cities have tried to strengthen their infrastructure in order to better support residents during a hurricane-related disaster, these solutions don’t always work. That is why many people are turning to home generators that can provide features including carbon monoxide detectors, fuel monitoring systems, remote monitoring capabilities and WiFi-enable standby. There are also solar and battery storage options. These affordable Generac products are designed to provide reliable and resilient performance during an outage.
Choosing the Right Generator
Generac has a wide range of generator products that are designed to meet the various needs of home and business owners. Choosing the right generator for you depends on several factors:
- Do you want the generator to automatically engage when there is an outage? Your generator can be hardwired into your home for continuous power or you can choose a portable option that you will manually start when the power goes out.
- Do you want to power the whole home or just a few key appliances? Powering a few appliances can provide a more budget-friendly option that will still keep you safe and relatively comfortable if a hurricane knocks out the power. You can also opt for a larger generator that can power the entire home.
- How large is your home? The experts at Alternative Power can help you choose the right generator based on the size of your home and what you would like to power. Making sure you have a generator capable of handling the job will put less strain on the generator, provide more efficient power and prolong the life of your generator.
Equipping your home with the right Generac generator is the first and most important step when it comes to preparing for hurricanes.
Preparing for a Storm
Once your generator is in place, there are some other precautions you can take to limit damage to your home and ensure that your family is prepared for the unexpected.
- Create and review your emergency plan
- Clean your gutters and remove any debris and outdoor items that can be tossed around in the wind
- Make sure that all gas tanks and cans are full
- Create an emergency communication plan so that you can stay in touch with family
- Board up windows with plywood
- Check to make sure that your insurance policy is up-to-date
It is also important to make sure that you have an emergency kit ready to go at all times. At the very least, your kit should include:
- One gallon of water per person for each day
- Non-perishable food and a can opener
- First-aid kit
- Flashlight and batteries
- Portable charger for cellphones
- Copies of important papers stored in waterproof bags
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio so that you can monitor the weather and receive emergency updates
- Moist towelettes and garbage bags to help with sanitation
- If you have pets, make sure that you have enough food and water for them as well.
Hurricanes are a part of living along the Atlantic Coast. While these storms can be dangerous and destructive, you can do your part to mitigate the impact on your family by taking deliberate steps to prepare for power outages and other challenges. Work with the team at Alternative Power to find the right Generac generator for your home so that you aren’t stuck in the dark. In addition, take the time to prepare your home and build an emergency kit before the hurricane season begins. Remember that a little preparation can go a long way.
