Portable Generator Safety

As many are bracing for the snowstorm, Oklahomans are gearing up by getting supplies. Local stores are swamped with calls for portable generators. There are some important safety tips people should follow when using a generator.

Wednesday, January 27th 2010, 2:29 pm

By: News 9

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- As many are bracing for the snowstorm, Oklahomans are gearing up by getting supplies. Local stores are swamped with calls for portable generators.

"We've had over 50 calls this morning about generators," Bryon Brandon with Osborne Electric said.

A manager at a local Home Depot told NEWS 9, customers waited until 1:30 a.m. Wednesday for more generators to be delivered to the store.

O'Connors Lawn and Garden owner Shaun O'Connor said their shop has been swamped with customers wanting to get their hands on portable generators, but he said he thinks this was only the calm before the storm. He said he remembers the ice storm of 2007 just like it was yesterday.

"A lot of people last time, they were thanking us because we had generators for them because they were without power. Children, a lot of people with medical conditions, wells, a lot of things you don't think about whenever you lose your power, and it was good we were able to help those people," O'Connor said.

O'Connor said he is expecting a few more shipments of generators to come in.

Generators range from about $800 to $2000.

Brandon said there are many things to consider when using a portable generators, and if people aren't careful, their mistake could be deadly.

"The exhaust in the generator is toxic. People a lot of times will try to put it in their garage because it's snowing or icing, and even when you have it in your garage, the fumes will go up and into your fresh air combustion on your furnace units and distribute those fumes throughout the house," Brandon said.

Home Depot Norman and Moore locations said they have about 300 generators as of Wednesday night.

Here are some safety tips for portable generators:

- always use outdoors at least 5 feet away from windows, doors and vents

- keep the surface dry; operate under canopy-like structure; do use under wet conditions

- always store fuel outside and before refueling, turn it off and let it cool

Learn more about portable generator safety.