Do you own a generator?

[jbgreig]

We got a generator through Fema! We had to buy what we needed and Fema is supposed to reimburse us.

My tax dollars at work... Christmas in July!

[fwbbreeze]

Have 3 5000 watt coleman generators. One 5KW generator is large enough to run my AC unit at our "escape" house. Its a 1400 sq foot home at our hunting camp. Sure is nice to have AC, lights, and an ice maker when few others do!!!

fwbbreeze

[stormie]

We bought one just this season. It's about 4000 W. We also have a power inverter for our Jeep and a portable power supply (the kind that you can also use to start a dead car battery).

Even if we never have to use it, I'll be glad to be able to let my family or friends borrow it if they lose power sometime and we don't, as was the case last year.

[alicia-w]

we have one and that's all i know about it. dont know what brand or anything else.

[gtalum]

I'm kind of shocked that FEMA would buy generators. Unless there is a medical condition requiring equipment that runs on electricity, they are not necessary for recovery.

[beachbum_al]

Yes. We brought one two years ago. Was glad to have it during Ivan even though our power came within 24 hours after the storm passed.

[cajungal]

Yes, we bought one after Hurricane Andrew hit here in 1992. We were stuck a week without power and could not take it anymore. So, we went to Sears, truck took a wrong turn coming from Houston and got lost. So, we ended up having to sleep in Sears with our dog and everything. They had lots of other families that ended up sleeping in the store also. And some of them also had their pets with them. They ordered pizza for us for supper and had donuts for us for breakfast. Ironically, as soon as we got home with our generator, our power came back on. We never got to use it. To this day, 13 years later, we still never used it. We cranked it up a few times to see if it was working for storm threats like Lili, Isidore, etc.. But, the power has still never been out long enough for us to use it.

[iceangel]

I'm kind of shocked that FEMA would buy generators. Unless there is a medical condition requiring equipment that runs on electricity, they are not necessary for recovery.

We do have a medical condition that requires power. My mom has to take nabulizer treatments 4 times a day. We got it in writing from her doc. Lucily, she was in the hospital for Dennis, because we didn't hear about the generator program until 2 days after landfall .

[baygirl_1]

well, my sister and her family have two and we now are proud owners of a share of one of those generators. we're basically sharing one of them. we'll have power for our freezer and refrigerator if ever needed, thank goodness. do i know its specs or how to work it? nah... that's what spouses are for!

[patsmsg]

I have a 5250 watt Powerbak (DeVilbis) generator. Gas. Gotta have one if I want to be able to get water from the well and run the septic treatment plant without commercially provided eletricity. I paid about $500 5 years ago at Lowes.

[gtalum]

We do have a medical condition that requires power. My mom has to take nabulizer treatments 4 times a day. We got it in writing from her doc. Lucily, she was in the hospital for Dennis, because we didn't hear about the generator program until 2 days after landfall .

If you need it, you need it. My Grandmother needs electricity for an oxygen generator. But I know plenty of people who got them and didn't need them. And even worse, FEMA pays for crap liek TV's.

[Dearby]

Bought a 6500 watt three years ago. Came in great use after Charley. We were out for 5 days. Used it to power TV, Refrig, Freezer and fan for sleeping. Highly recommend - also was able to hook up a pump to our water tank and had a shower everday. Also had neighbors over for coffee and cin. rolls that we cooked in a small oven.

[HoumaLa]

Yes we got one this year. Fact after Cindy Mr. Houma bought one in Dallas as there were none in town. My father has a medical need.

[tropicsgal05]

Yes, we bought one after Ivan came through. What a difference it makes, through Dennis we had tv, lamps, and our refrigerator.

[webke]

Have had one ever since hugo came through, I don't use it hardly at all but it is an investment well worth the money.

[Bob R]

We got a generator last year after Francis and Jeanne. We bought it during the time without electric (after Jeanne), and it came in quite handy. FEMA reimbursed us for 80% of the price (7500 watt unit cost about $1200), but that's all they did (our insurance paid for about $30,000 of the $60,000 damage to our home).

FEMA will only reimburse for generators if you purchase one AFTER the disaster and you are without electric (if you purchase one beforehand in anticipation of being without electric, they won't pay....at least that is my understanding). We happened to be lucky and in the right spot at the right time when Home Depot had a delivery of 150 generators, which were gone within 2 hours.

This hurricane season a generator is essential; my father, who is in Hospice and living with us, has idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is on continuous high flow O2 at 10L/M using 2 O2 concentrators which run on electricity. The big portable tanks are empty in 15 minutes, and Florida Power and Light have placed us on a priority grid in case of electrical outage. Hopefully things will be quiet this, although I find myself spending lots of time on this forum.

[curtinnc]

Got a 10 KW Onan...

[docjoe]

I didnt have one during Ivan (no power for 7 days). I bought one about 3 weeks before Dennis and it is one of the best investments I have ever made. I hooked up a 5000 BTU window unit to it and stayed reasonably comfortable. I could not imagine not having it as i have 18 month old twins and it made things easier for them. Kept them cool and they watched their Dora tapes which kept me and mom cool

docjoe

[Persepone]

...do i know its specs or how to work it? nah... that's what spouses are for!

You don't understand Murphy's Law! Murphy's Law clearly states that when you need to use the generator (or other equipment) your spouse will be across the country on a business trip somewhere! Learn to operate your generator safely and know where all the extension cords, etc. are located and how to hook it up to ground, etc. Also, make sure that you can move it to its safe operating location.

Do see the generator thread in Hurricane Preps for details... You don't want to accidently electrocute an electrical worker, etc. as happened a few days ago.

We have a small generator, equipped with both wheels (for summer) and runners for snow! We have used it--it will power the freezer, the frig, the furnace or a small a/c unit on a rotating basis (unplug items and plug in others). It's a real life-saver and makes for comfort.

But since we have it, we've found it is very handy for other non-emergency uses as well. Any yard project that requires a power source for saws, etc. is often more convenient with the genny--saves stringing extension cords from the house--and doing the stuff outside away often means not tracking up the house! Nice. And it "tests" the genny as well.

My comment is that you don't have time when the emergency is upon you! Buy it when you find a cheap one on sale, learn how to use it, drive in the ground rod(s) where you are going to use it, buy appropriate and correctly rated extension cords for it and ground fault circuit interrupters to use with it for safety). Also, do install wheels (and runners if you are likely to need to use it in winter snow conditions) so that you can move it, etc.

With some lead time and planning, you can learn to run the generator safely and relatively easily--no heavy lifting, nothing really complicated, etc. But you do need to be willing to learn! But a little practice makes this an easy routine! Just pull it out, hook it up and you are good to go! Preso! Electricity where you need it!

Most important, unplug stuff from the house and plug it into the generator! Do not plug the generator into your house as you can electrocute those electric company workers!

[Decomdoug]

Bought a 6.5KW Coleman back in 2002. Came in very handy for Frances and Jeanne last year here in Port St. Lucie. Had no power for 3 days after Frances and then 3 weeks later, no power for 4 days after Jeanne. I was able to run most all essential items to be at least comfortable. It uses about 5 gal of gasoline running non-stop for 10 hours. Was very thankful to have it as after Frances generators were pretty much impossible to get here. I use the gasoline from my boat to fuel the generator.