More than a million people have lost power during Hurricane Ida and its aftermath, and some are using backup generators to provide their homes with electricity.
"When a storm hits and the power goes out for an extended period of time, people are going to either buy a portable generator to power their home or pull out the one they already have," said Nicolette Nye, a spokesperson for the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
But there are risks: Incorrectly using a generator can lead to dangerous consequences, such as electric shock or electrocution, fire, or carbon monoxide poisoning from engine exhaust, according to the US Department of Energy's Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response.
New Orleans Emergency Medical Services reported transporting 12 patients with portable generator-related carbon monoxide poisoning to hospitals on September 1. The city is still experiencing a blackout due to the storm, and officials say the outage could last for weeks.
If you're without power and thinking of using a portable generator, here are seven tips for doing it safely.
President Joe Biden will sign an executive order Wednesday directing the federal government to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Post time: Dec-17-2021
