The pleasures of summer on Long Island are truly an experience to behold. Beach weather, hiking, road trips. Unfortunately, these activities are brought down by the increased likelihood of hurricane weather. As all of us Long Islanders know, hurricane weather can bring widespread power outages and other weather-related obstacles.
We’ve already gone over why you should purchase a generator before the troubles of hurricane season begin. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the other preparations you can take to avoid power outages and minimize property damage. Early storm preparation is the only way to give yourself the peace of mind you need to keep yourself and your family save through high winds and potential flooding. Be sure to stay aware of potential storms, and keep this information in mind during the summer and early fall.
2017 Hurricane Season: Install Your Generators!
Having an in-home generator is crucial during the summer months, especially as hurricane weather is becoming increasingly likely. The New York Electric Company takes your home through every step of the residential generator installation process, removing the need for several contractors to be involved.
With the correct transfer switch configuration, standby generators will automatically power on during a storm. This eliminates the need for the homeowner to travel outside in dangerous conditions to power on the generator. However, be sure to practice transfer switch safety!
Generators are a strategic purchase for businesses as well. If you do purchase a generator, be sure to exercise it.
Be Prepared: Understand Weather Terms
During hurricane season, it’s important to know when your generator installation will come in handy. These are the three classifications of storms generally associated with hurricane weather.
Tropical Depression: The least severe of the three, tropical depressions have winds between 25-35 mph.
Tropical Storm: Beyond the increased wind speeds of 39-75 mph, tropical storms also become more organized in form than their less intense counterparts.
Hurricane: After a tropical storm reaches 74 mph, it officially becomes a hurricane. As wind speeds increase, the hurricane category increases, and consequently the danger associated with it. This is when your generator installation becomes truly important.
By observing the path of the storm, meteorologists and other professionals can issue specific weather alerts:
Watch: A tropical storm or hurricane watch is generally issued 48 hours before experts predict that conditions might affect the area. Hurricane watches have the potential to evolve into hurricane warnings, or dissipate altogether.
Warning: A tropical storm or hurricane warning is more serious in that conditions are expected within that particular area. Warnings are generally issued 36 hours before anticipated weather. County/state officials may direct local residents to evacuate, should conditions become that bad.
Post Generator Installation: Hurricane Prep Tips
Even by scheduling a generator installation, there are still some conditions that cannot be avoided. Be sure to take these precautions after learning of a potential storm:
- Clear your back and front yard of all loose debris, potted/hanging plants, and trash cans. Secure yard furniture and grills inside of a garage/shed. This will prevent objects from becoming airborne during a storm.
- Move cars away from trees that could potentially fall
- Clear gutters to allow for easy drainage
- Take pictures of your home to prove potential insurance claims
Regardless of the weather, or whether your generator installation will prove useful, it’s always good to keep the following items on hand for potential emergencies:
- Food- It seems obvious, but keeping a stock of dried and canned food (in addition to regular groceries) is key to maintaining your regular life during emergencies.
- Water- Hurricanes can potentially affect water supply purity. Bottled water will be useful for drinking, cooking, and more.
- Medical Supplies- Keep inventory of standard first aid supplies, as well as prescription drugs.
- Tools- Even when your generator installation kicks in during storm conditions, your home may still endure unpreventable damage. For these situations, keep tools on hand to make any potential home repairs, or clear storm debris.
- Gas- During desperate situations, gas after hurricanes can be expensive, or unavailable altogether. Some standby generators and most portable generators require gas to operate. Thus, purchasing gas before the storm is the only way to sustain the worth of your generator installation.
- Toiletries- Storm conditions can potentially limit or prevent travel altogether. Having toiletries on hand is necessary for ensuring comfort during storms.
With a proper generator installation procedure, these precautions will likely not be necessary. However, keeping these details in mind during storm preparation is key to living in optimal conditions.
New York Electric Company specializes in providing full service generator installation, tune-up, as well as many other electrical related services for both homes and office buildings. Our electrical professionals are capable of covering all of your generator and electrical needs. Contact us for a price quote, or for more information about our services.