disaster 5th 1108_5th ed 2011 - Homeland Security and Emergency ...

Find the right size for your home or business
Generators come in many shapes and sizes. Permanent standby generators
are connected to the main electrical supply of your home or building and
must be installed by a qualified, licensed electrician. Portable generators are
more convenient and less expensive, but you should determine how much
power is needed for your facility before you buy something.
Make a list of the items you’ll need to run during a power outage, then total
up the watts needed for each device. (Check the manufacturer’s paperwork
for each unit or hire an electrician to help you calculate this total.) Also
remember to include both “starting” and “running” wattage requirements.
Starting amounts may only last a few seconds but can cause overloading
and damage your generator or appliances if not calculated properly.
Generator safety tips
• Do not plug a generator into a wall outlet or main electrical
supply coming into a building since it could backfeed
and kill utility workers repairing the lines!
• NEVER use generators in homes/offices, garages, basements
or partially enclosed places. Keep them outdoors
and away from windows, doors and vents.
• Read the manual that comes with your unit and follow the
manufacturer’s instructions.
• Shut off generator and let it cool before refueling, and
store fuel outside of living areas.
• Install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home and
office and test them often.
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has two fact sheets about generator
safety and the dangers of carbon monoxide. Download both at
www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/co/index.shtm
WILDFIRE MITIGATION
As our population continues to grow, more and more people are building
homes in places that were once pristine wilderness areas. Homeowners who
build in remote and wooded areas must take responsibility for the way their
buildings are constructed and the way they landscape around them.
Use Fire Resistant Building Materials
The roof and exterior structure of your home and other buildings should be
constructed of non-combustible or fire-resistant materials. If wood siding,
cedar shakes or any other highly combustible materials are used, they
should be treated with fire retardant chemicals.
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