Safety and Recovery

Many residents are using home generators during the power outage. This has lead to long lines at area gas stations. APD asks drivers to use caution around gas stations with lines that extend into the street and asks drivers in line to avoid blocking the streets.

Here are some tips regarding generator safety:

• Never run a generator in an enclosed space, including a garage with the door closed.
• Always run the generator at least 20 feet from your home.
• Always direct exhaust away from your home.
• Before refueling, turn off gas-powered generator and let it cool.
• Use proper extension cords. Only use heavy-duty, outdoor-rated cords. Overloaded cords can cause fires or equipment damage.
• Connecting a portable electric generator directly to your household wiring can be deadly to you and others. A generator that is directly connected to your home's wiring can 'back feed' onto the power lines connected to your home and injure neighbors or utility workers.
• Do not use your generator in the rain or in a wet area.
• For information about Carbon Monoxide Poisoning visit: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/carbonmonoxide.html
• For more generator safety tips visit: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/power-outage/safe-generator-use.html#:~:text=Using%20a%20Generator%20at%20Home,-The%20primary%20hazards&text=(Learn%20more%20about%20carbon%20monoxide,the%20generator%20with%20wet%20hands.