We all take the little things for granted like the use of electricity to run the refrigerator, microwave, TV, and other appliances or electronics in our homes. Why? Because most of the time power is on and its not something we think about. But what about those times when there are power outages? That is when we realize that electrical power is a great necessity and we need it to provide lights, heating, hot water, and cooking. For people who have realized the importance and have bought a home standby or portable power generator for their home, the idea of a prolonged outage is not as scary.
Why does every home need a power generator? Well lets take a look at the ice storm of 1998 that plagued the North Eastern part of the United States and Canada. Many casualties from hypothermia to other causes effected the people of the region as prolonged blackouts kept homes without electricity. Those that had power generators were lucky as they were still with power and could perform everyday functions like laundry, heated baths, and other everyday activities you could not imagine going without. Those without power generators had to suffer through the storm and blackouts or find someone who had a generator to bunk with. This indecent alone, shows the need for power generators in every home. Many other incidents besides ice storms, like the 2003 power outage in the northeastern United States that caused several power plants to shut down, can render an area without power for up to a week. Other natural disasters such as tornado’s, hurricanes, floods, and mudslides can cause the same crippling damage to power lines and effect homes all over a region. Many businesses have power generators to protect their assets.
Massachusetts is one of many states that has had several major outages. The October 2011 Ice Storm, the Western
Massachusetts Tornado of June 2011, and most recently Massachusetts 1st ever February tornado in 2017, which left 4000 residents without power. It is a great insurance policy and piece of mind to purchase a home standby generator or at the very least a small portable generator for emergency use.