Not evacuating? Get to know your generator this summer
New Harvard study suggests 33 percent of participants would not evacuate for hurricane
FROM STAFF REPORTS Gulf Breeze News news@gulfbreezenews.com

An increased number of residents of Southern coastal towns have said they would ignore hurricane evacuation orders if a storm threatened their community, a study released in July revealed. In the poll, by the Harvard School of Public Health, 33 percent of participants would not evacuate, compared to 25 percent of participants in the 2006 survey.

Preparation is absolutely vital to those that choose to avoid hurricane evacuations. Relief supply kits should include essential medications, water, protective clothing and nonperishable foods. Those that stay behind will find sudden responsibilities bestowed upon them, especially if there are power failures.

Full preparation entails not only organizing supplies, but securing the means to withstand electricity losses for an undetermined amount of time. With power outages comes the risk of losing important data files; the spoiling of perishables including food and prescriptions; the incapability of keeping air conditioners, refrigerators, and even medical devices operable; and more.

"Many residents will rely on generators for peace of mind and to maintain the continuity of electricity, but there are very important safety precautions to keep in mind," said Eric Johnston, CEO of Americas Generators. "If you're one of those people, it's very important to heed safety precautions to avoid possible dangers involving a generator."

Primary hazards that generator operators should keep in mind are carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, electric shock or electrocution, and fires.

The CO from generators can lead to full incapacitation and death, but CO can't be seen or smelled. To keep CO fumes from collecting, a generator should always be running in the outdoors and never operated in closed areas like a garage, carport, or basement. Batteryoperated CO alarms are an added measure to ensure that CO gas from the generator won't pose a risk inside a home.

If a generator is not completely cooled when it is being refueled, any gasoline that spills on hot engine parts can ignite. To avoid any fire hazards, a generator should always be turned off and cooled down before refueling. Stored fuel should always be kept in an OSHA-approved safety can outside and away from living areas.

To use the electrical output from the generator, appliances should be plugged in to the generator directly, or into a heavy duty, outdoor-rated extension cord that is plugged into the generator. A generator should never be plugged into a wall outlet of a home, because this presents an electrocution risk to other users of the same utility transformer that the home is connected to.

"One of the best precautions is to ensure your generator is operating properly before a storm hits," Johnston adds. "You want to avoid any dangers and mistakes by becoming familiar with your unit, its operations and its capabilities."

This fall, Johnston's Americas Generators will launch a hurricane response team. The team will arrive at the front line of hurricane aftermath to deliver generators to customers that want to get their power back on immediately, without having to wait and rely on the power company to resolve any outages.

For more information about generator safety and maintenance, visit Americas Generators' web site at www.GoPower.com or call them at (305) 592-6800.