Stay safe with these tips for using a power generator after a hurricane or tropical storm
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — As Louisiana prepares for a potential hurricane, consumers are buying and using generators across the state to be prepared for a power outage.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), generators are emergency equipment that provide a secondary power source during an electrical failure. Generators can be useful in the event of a natural disaster and there is a power outage.
Though it can be useful, generators can also be dangerous.
Some generators emit carbon monoxide, which is colorless and odorless but can be fatal for humans and animals. FEMA recommends not using generators indoors or in poorly ventilated areas. Precaution tips include installing a carbon monoxide alarm in your home to prevent toxic buildups.
FEMA says always to use heavy-duty extension cords for appliances. Generators use a huge amount of power and if used improperly can cause injury or power surges to power lines. Fuel for the generator should be stored outdoors.
What items should be in hurricane, disaster preparation kit for your family, pets? See here.
To avoid electrocution, keep the generator dry and away from rain and wet conditions.
When refueling, turn off the generator and allow it to cool down. Fuel spilled on the hot engine parts could ignite a fire.
Read the generator’s instruction manual to use the recommended fuel type and how much is required.
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy reminded Louisiana residents not to use a generator indoors in a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Right now, I’m walking to a vote in Washington and the weather is prettier here than it’s going to be back home,” said Cassidy. “Just a word of advice for people who will be running generators. Have it in a space like this, which is to say, have it outdoors. Do not put it in your house.”
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