If you live in a hurricane prone area, it’s important to make emergency preparations long before a storm is on the horizon.

Emergency preparations should include:

• Stockpile water and nonperishable food.
• Storm shutters or plywood to protect windows.
• Tarps and roofing nails to cover a damaged roof.
• Automatic standby generator or portable generator to deal with power outages.

A backup generator is a good idea even if you don’t live in a hurricane prone area, since the average utility customer in the U.S. experiences on average about 214 minutes of power loss a year. Automatic standby generators, like those from Generac, are the best option, since they’re:

• Fueled by natural gas or propane.
• Hardwired into your home’s electrical system.
• Safer to use than a portable generator.
• Turn on automatically within seconds of a power outage.

Portable generators are a less expensive option, but be sure to:

• Choose a quality brand, such as Generac, with a good safety record.
• Only operate outdoors in the open away from your home.
• Equip your home with carbon monoxide detectors to alert you in case of a buildup of CO gas.

Taking these steps now, before a hurricane or severe weather strikes, will ensure that you and your home are prepared in the event of an emergency. For more information, visit our Severe Weather Preparedness page.

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