The Power of Preparedness: A Lesson Learned

As I sat reading my book, I was suddenly interrupted by a sudden power outage. The lights flickered and then went out, plunging me into darkness. Panic set in as I frantically searched for a flashlight, only to realize that the batteries were dead too. "Jack? Jack?" I called out, hoping he would be here to help.

I heard his voice from upstairs, "Hey, man! What's going on?" He came downstairs, and we quickly assessed our situation. We had no power, no Wi-Fi, no internet, and worst of all, no electric shaver. "But first, let's get some light on in here," I said, handing him a cracker. Jack nodded in agreement, and together we began to set up a portable generator.

The Portable Generator: A Lifesaving Tool

Paul explained that this was a great way to get some lights on in the immediate aftermath of a storm like the one we had just experienced. He told us that we would need to hook it up with extension cords to power our appliances and devices. "Make sure the extension cord can handle the total amps of the appliances and devices you plan on powering," he warned. "Use a heavy-duty extension cord that's OK for outdoor use, and if you want to plug multiple devices into one cord, use a splitter or surge protector." He also emphasized the importance of checking the entire cord for cuts and ensuring the plug had all three prongs to protect against a shock.

Once we had connected the extension cords to our appliances, Paul showed us how to start the generator. "Longer term, you really want to get an electrician out here to install what's called a transfer switch or interlock device," he explained. This would allow us to hook up the cable directly to the front of the machine and power whole circuits, including overhead lights and central AC. But for now, we just needed to take care with the generator.

Safety First: Generator Precautions

Paul stressed the importance of using the generator only outdoors, at least 20 feet away from our house. "And you should locate the exhaust port on the generator and make sure it's pointing away from the house," he said. This was crucial because generators produce carbon monoxide just like cars, and for safety's sake, we needed to ensure that fuel for the generator was stored in a safe container, away from our home. He also warned us about storing gasoline on hand, as it could burn half a gallon or even a full gallon an hour, depending on the capacity.

Getting Back to Normal

As we started up the generator, I exclaimed, "Hey, Jack! Your lights are back on!" The sudden return of electricity was almost overwhelming. We quickly got warm and cozy inside our home once again. Paul thanked me for my cooperation and told me that he was glad he could help. As we settled in, I turned to him and asked how one should even begin to get a generator. He explained that there were three types of generators: gas-powered portable generators, quieter and more efficient inverter generators, and more expensive stationary or whole-house generators.

The Three Types of Generators

Paul explained that these need to be installed by a professional. "So glad you brought that generator if not, I'd still be in the dark," he said. But there was one more thing Paul had brought to show me in case something like this ever happened again. It was called a Go Bag. "Basically, as you would probably guess from the name, it's everything you would want to grab if you ever had to go in a hurry, like a power outage or a natural disaster," he explained.

The Go Bag: A Preparedness Essential

Paul took me through what we needed to pack in the Go Bag. "First, you always want to grab a blanket," he said. "Stay warm and comfortable." We also grabbed phone and device chargers, as well as a power strip like the one Paul was holding. If we ended up in a hotel or had access to a single port on a generator, this would allow us to charge all our devices in a single shot. Next up were some expired passports. "These are actually good enough form of photo ID," Paul explained. "You don't have to be worried that you're going to be tempted to go in and grab it and forget to return it to the Go Bag."

First Aid Kit: A Must-Have

Paul also emphasized the importance of always carrying a first aid kit with us. "Always," he repeated, as if it was a mantra we needed to remember. We should keep one on hand at all times. I asked him what else he had in his bag and was surprised to find an electric razor!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enAh, it's been a long day.Glad I can read my book.Oh, no.Wait a minute.No.Ah!The power's out.Where's my flashlight?I did not prepare for this.Oh, no.Not the flashlight battery, too!Jack?Jack?You in here, buddy?Jack?Paul.So glad you're here.Is that you?How you doing man?We haven't seen youin three days at work.What's going on here?I have no power.I have no Wi-Fi.I have no internet.I have no TV.And I don't have anelectric shaver, man.I can see that, yeah.You want a cracker?I'd love one.But first, I think weshould probably set you upwith a generator.I've got one with me from work.You want to give it a try?That's a great idea.I need some power inthe house like now.Yeah, I can tell.Let's go.Come on.Oh, yeah.Let's go, man.So this is the generator.This is it.So this is a portable generator.And it's a great wayto get some lightson in the immediate aftermathof a storm like we had.We're going to hook it upwith extension cords here.That's going to get usplug in some table lamps,get your fridge going,some phone charges.Paul says use aheavy duty extensioncord that's OK for outdoor use.If you want to plug multipledevices into one cord,use a splitter ora surge protector.Make sure the extensioncord can handlethe total amps of theappliances and devicesyou plan on powering.Check that the entirecord is free of cutsand that the plug has all threeprongs, critical to protectagainst a shock.First, connectthe extension cordto the applianceyou want to power.Then run the cordoutside to your generatorthrough a window or door crack.Start the generator and finallyconnect the extension cord.Longer term, you really wantto get an electrician out hereto install what's called atransfer switch or interlockdevice.That's going to let you hookup this cable right hereto the front of the machine.And you can powerwhole circuits.So you get thingslike overhead lights,central AC, things like that.Not that you need that right nowBut you need to takecare with a generator.We're obviously usingthis only outdoors.It should be a minimum of20 feet from your house.And you should locate theexhaust port on the generatorand make sure it's pointingaway from the house.And why is that important?That's importantbecause this actuallyproduces carbon monoxidejust like a car.And for safety's sake, Paulsays fuel for the generatorshould also be stored farenough away from your home.You want to make sure to storea lot of gasoline on hand.It can burn half a gallon,even a gallon, an hour,depending on the capacity.So you want to makesure you keep itin safe containers like theseand mix it with fuel stabilizerto keep the fuel from going bad.OK.All right.You ready to fire it up?Yes.Let's do it.Hey, Jack, I think yourlights are back on.What?I said I think yourlights are back on.What?Your lights are back on!Paul!The lights are back on.What?The lights are back on.All right.Time to get backinside and warm up.Paul, thank you somuch for saving me.You're very welcome.You're very welcome.So listen, how do I evenbegin to get a generator?Right.So you've got this one on loanfor a little while longer.But the first questionyou really wantask yourself is what you'd wantto power if the power went out.Paul says there are three kindsof generators and ConsumerReports tests all three types--a gas poweredportable generator,like the one Paulbrought with them,a quieter and more efficientinverter generator whichthrottles up anddown to match demand,and the more expensivestationary or whole housegenerator whichstarts automaticallywhen the power goes out.These need to be installedby a professional.So glad you broughtthat generator.If not, I'd stillbe in the dark.Absolutely.So there is onemore thing I broughtto show you justin case somethinglike this ever happens again.What is this?It's called a Go Bag.And basically, as you wouldprobably guess from the name,it's everything you wouldwant to grab if you everhad to go in ahurry, like a poweroutage or a natural disaster.So the first thing thatyou always want to packis a blanket.Stay warm.I think I'll have that.Absolutely.Especially if you get strandedon the side of the road.Next up, you want tomake sure that yougrab any prescription ordaily medications on your wayout the door.You certainly want to have phoneand device chargers with you.You want to grab a powerstrip like this one.If you end up in ahotel or with accessto a single port on a generator,you can charge all your devicesin a single shot.Next up, ID.So we've got somepassports in here.These are actually expired.The idea here is that byusing an expired passport,you've got a formof photo ID but youdon't have to beworried that you'regoing to be tempted to go in andgrab it and forget to return itto the Go Bag.You can leave it inhere permanently.OK.First aid kitalways a good idea.Always.So keep that on hand.I do have one morething in here.What's that?And I bet you mightbe happy to see this.An electric razor!Just what I needed.\n"