ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The official start of hurricane season is a little more than just a week away, and you may be among those people who are putting together how to best weather the next storm.
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This year, Orange County Fire Rescue is pushing a new message on how to use these generators safely: outside, away from your home and dry.
- Only run generators outside and not in your garage.
- If you plan on using a generator after the next big storm, take advantage of quiet weather days to test it out. Know how to start it, then identify a safe place 10 to 20 feet away from your home to put the generator.
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- Know where the exhaust is so you can point it away from your home
- Have a reliable extension cord ready to use.
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- Only refuel when the generator is off and cool, or the generator could catch fire.
- A carbon monoxide detector could add extra protection.
- With a limited power supply, pick the most important items to power up such as your fridge, fans and phones.
- You don’t have to run generators 24 hours straight. Pick times you need, such as fans at night.
- If you’re worried your portable generator could get stolen, secure it with a bike chain.
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