Stay plugged in and safe when power outage hits

MILWAUKEE, USA: The average US household will lose power five times this year. Many of those outages are caused by unexpected emergency weather situations. This September, the Ready Campaign hopes Americans will honor the seventh annual National Preparedness Month by taking simple steps to prepare for emergencies such as power outages.

Whether it’s a hurricane, tornado, blizzard or another sudden disaster, communication and access to up-to-date information is critical for families during an emergency. Fortunately, with a little planning, there are ways to stay plugged in when the power goes out.

Perhaps the easiest way to stay connected during an extended power outage is by supplying power to your home with an automatic standby generator system.

“With a standby generator system, your household will stay plugged in, even if your neighborhood is left in the dark,” said Harold Redman, president of Briggs & Stratton Home Power Products Group, exclusive licensee of Standby Generator Systems by GE. “This means you can power computers, TV and radio, and charge cell phones or cordless landlines — everything you need to stay connected during an emergency.”

Standby generators provide power to a household’s large appliances when the main power source is down. Common home appliances operated by a standby generator include air conditioners, heaters, refrigerators, clothes washers/dryers and lights.

“A standby generator offers a backup power source for a home, but what it really gives a family is peace of mind that their household will be prepared when disaster strikes,” said Redman, whose corporation is also a National Preparedness Month coalition member.

Even without an automatic standby generator system, families can take steps to stay connected when the lights go dark. Online mobile devices and mobile phones with Internet access allow information to continue to flow into the home.