Once again, storm season is here. From August to October, severe weather marks the transition from summer to fall. Lawn mowers get ready for their season’s end service, while leaf blowers are doing 3x as much work. And it’s time to schedule a tune-up for your generator.
Most families already know what to do when a thunderstorm comes to town, but it’s easy to miss a step amid all the summer fun! Thunderstorms can produce hail, wind gusts, heavy rain and lightning, flash flooding, wind damage, fallen trees, and widespread power outages. So if there’s a bad thunderstorm on the rise, refresh your memory with our Thunderstorm Preparedness Guide:
- If thunder roars, go indoors! If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be in danger of lightning. Stay inside at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap, and stay out of the water!
- Listen to a NOAA battery-operated weather radio for critical information from the National Weather Service.
- Avoid using plugged-in electrical equipment and telephones. Use battery powered TVs and radios instead. Break out the flashlights, coloring books, and board games too.
- Metal pipes conduct electricity. Do not take a bath, shower or use plumbing during the storm.
- Shutter windows if possible, close doors and keep away from windows.
- Unplug all appliances, including air conditioning, before the storm hits.
- All of these tips can also be applied to a more serious weather condition… get your generator tuned-up now, because there’s 13 hurricanes on the 2022 calendar!
Here’s a few more tips from our Hurricane Preparedness Guide:
- Purchase water and non-perishable, nutritious, and protein-rich staples that do not require refrigeration or heat.
- Ensure all electronic devices are fully charged, and check weather conditions daily to stay current with emergency information. Make sure you’re stocked up on battery-powered lanterns too!
- If you have a portable generator, keep it ready with off-season maintenance. Start and run the generator for a few minutes monthly to keep components lubricated throughout the engine.
- Be sure the fuel in your portable generator is stable and ready for use. As a rule of thumb, a portable generator will run between nine and 11 hours on 6 to 7 gallons of fuel, if operated at 50 percent loads.
Remember: If you don’t have a portable generator or if you need a new one, now’s the time! Don’t wait until it’s too late. Make sure you are prepared for both hurricanes and thunderstorms with a fully serviced and stabilized, freshly-fueled generator from A to Z.
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