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Hurricane Prep: How Confident Are You in Your Generator?

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The Gulf coast is being threatened by Hurricane Michael, which is currently a Category 4 storm. During Hurricane Florence I told you to Prepare for the Hurricane, and showed you FEMA’s guide to getting yourself ready for a major storm. Today I’m bringing you more information, this time from generator builder, Kohler Power Systems. In an email to generator owners, Kohler wrote:

If you are potentially affected by Hurricane Michael, please review our best hurricane preparedness tips for your generator:

  1. All internal combustion engines consume oil, so it is important to check the engine oil every 8 hours of continued operation.
    Instructions:
    – Open the output breaker
    – Turn off the generator
    – Add additional oil as needed to maintain the proper oil level
    – Restart the generator by placing it in “Auto” mode
    – Close the output breaker
  2. Make sure that the battery is operational and charged by running an additional exercise. The procedure to run a manual exercise can be found in your owner’s manual.
  3. Do not overload the generator with non-essential power. Turn off all non-essential loads at the home circuit breaker.
  4. Close and lock your generator’s lid when not checking the oil.

For more information, please see our frequently asked questions at http://www.kohlerpower.com/home/faq/index.html

This information is good for owners of any brand of generator. If you are even marginally concerned about the reliability of your generator, I encourage you to go through the steps recommended by Kohler immediately. It could be too late once the storm has hit. Don’t let inertia hold you back, preparation happens before a disaster, reaction happens afterward. You get to choose between the two. Stay safe.

Originally posted on Yoursurvivalguy.com.

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E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

Preparing your investments and family for when disaster strikes.
E.J. Smith is the Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH, where he completed course-work in Practical and Defensive Handgun, Conceal Carry Pistol, Shotguns, Precision Scope Rifle and Kidnapping Prevention. E.J. plays a Yamaha Recording Custom drum set with Zilldjian cymbals. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zilldjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@youngresearch.com. Sign up here to receive all the best content from Richardcyoung.com each week.