Preparing for Hurricane Season 2020

BOLINGBROOK, IL (May 14, 2020) - With a busier-than-normal hurricane season expected this year, experts advise that now is the time to begin preparing. Officially, the season runs from June through November, but hurricanes have been known to strike earlier.

To support hurricane preparedness, Power Equipment Direct is equipping the public with educational resources, forecasts, and one of the largest selection of emergency prep products in the country. The company is also giving away a free 8,000-Watt portable backup generator as part of its “Powered for Anything” Contest Giveaway.

This year, proper preparation is perhaps more important than ever. With the Coronavirus pandemic, shortages of healthy repair crews may mean that power outages caused by hurricanes last longer than before. Residents of hurricane-prone states are thus advised to take extra precautions.

Preparing for the Storm
The most important step in preparing for hurricane season is having a family disaster plan to keep everyone in a household on the same page when a storm hits. Power Equipment Direct recommends the following best practices.

• Keep emergency supply kits in the home and car, which include essentials like nonperishable food, water, and a hand-crank radio/flashlight. Also, have an emergency backpack with these essentials to grab on the go.
  
  
• When an evacuation order is given, LEAVE.
  
  
• Have a designated family meetup point when evacuating. If separated for whatever reason, everyone should know where to go and how to get there.
  
  
• Check for flood insurance. Flooding is the leading cause of damage from hurricanes and is not covered under most home insurance policies.
  
  
• Prepare the home. Have a backup generator to power essential appliances like the sump pump and refrigerator. Board up windows and trim trees to prevent damage from falling branches.
  
  
• Plan for pets. If staying at home, keep them inside. If evacuating, leave them with family or friends in a safe zone or at a clinic or shelter.

Do Not Procrastinate
Although it might be tempting to save money and postpone preparations until a hurricane is imminent, experts advise against this.

“We often see a last-minute run on generators before a hurricane strikes,” says Tony Composono, category manager for generators at Power Equipment Direct. “It's true that Power Equipment Direct has one of the largest selections and amount of generators in the country along with a network of convenient distribution centers. Even so, some factors are out of our control, such as shipping lane closures.

“It’s best to order your equipment well before hurricane season to make sure it’s there for an emergency,” he explains. "In the case of standby generators, I also advise checking with local installers to see how much lead time they would need to install a unit because that is another major consideration."

With time still left before the onset of hurricane season, it's best to start thinking and planning for what’s to come now. For a full assortment of storm preparation and cleanup gear, please visit the Power Equipment Direct website.

Since 2002, Power Equipment Direct's mission is to "Make buying technical products simple." Utilizing specially-trained product experts, its wide selection of power equipment and HVAC products, and its U.S.-based support team, Power Equipment Direct provides a streamlined shopping experience designed to save customers time, money, and hassle. Read more about Power Equipment Direct and its family of online superstores.