More than half the deaths associated with Hurricane Laura were caused by the improper use of portabl

[sl8]

From https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/02/us/generator-deaths-hurricane-laura-trnd/index.html

More than half the deaths associated with Hurricane Laura were caused by the improper use of portable generators

Lauren M Johnson
By Lauren M. Johnson, CNN
Updated 9:16 PM ET, Wed September 2, 2020

[ video at link]
Hurricane Laura was so strong it pushed the Mississippi River backwards 00:53

(CNN)More than half the 15 deaths associated with Hurricane Laura were caused by the improper use of portable generators.

Laura destroyed parts of Louisiana's power grid after making landfall as the strongest hurricane to strike the state since 1856. The storm struck with 150-mph winds and shredded houses.

Eight of the state's confirmed deaths have been due to carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

The state's department of health had stressed that generators should be used outdoors and placed away from windows, doors and vents -- all of which can allow carbon monoxide to seep inside. Because carbon monoxide is odorless, it can be difficult to detect and can be dangerous indoors.

[...]

[doc03]

1. Another thing with portable generators if they are connected to the home

electrical system improperly a power company employee working on the outside lines can be killed or injured.

[GulfCoast66]

6. That would be a big assed portable generator. Enough to run your whole house.

Usually from what I have seen one that big is commercially installed by an electrician.

All the people I know have a smaller one that can run the refrigerator and freezer. And a window unit AC with the appliance plugged directly into the generator. You would be surprised at the number of people in Florida who have a window unit packaged away in the garage in case needed. After 13 days of no power after Charlie i swore never again.

And you are, of course, correct. If you connect your generator to you homes power supply without a professionally installed switch you could kill a lineman. After Charlie before the linemen hooked up lines they would walk around listening for generators to insure safety. It funny, after a storm with no power the neighborhoods seemed way more quiet.

[doc03]

10. Some people think you can plug a generator into the dryer receptacle and they don't know

or forget to open the main breakers..

[NutmegYankee]

13. I run my entire house on a 5500W portable.

I connect to a transfer switch that feeds my panel. Only items I cannot run are the central AC (massive load) and the electric oven (Massive load). The dryer can be run on low.

The advantages for me are all lights and fridges work. I can charge anything and keep the tv and computers up.

[GulfCoast66]

14. In Florida after a storm AC is the most important thing!

That why so many people have window units packed away.

Many people run their freezer during the day and then plug in the window unit to sleep at night. The freezer stays frozen for the hours they sleep. Then in the morning switch it up.

The neighborhoods are very quiet except for the symphony of generators!

Luckily where I now live we have underground power and have not lost power thru the last 3 storms. Including Irma which wrecked my roof.

Have a good day. Stay safe.

[NutmegYankee]

15. You can run a 5000-8000 btu at the same time as a fridge.

Just ditch the extension cords and use a transfer switch.

[GulfCoast66]

17. I have heavy load cords. Is the cut off switch better than that?

That said I really don’t need it in my neighborhood but when we retire to a small Florida town I will have to be prepared. If I can afford it I will install a whole house generator supplied by a buried propane tank. Which I will need for my gas stove.

[NutmegYankee]

18. It feeds the entire breaker box.

So you can plug in far more items, only limited by capacity of the generator.

[PCIntern]

2. I believe it, because

I lived in an area which lost power a lot and had a portable generator that I once made the mistake of setting up too close to the house. Within an hour my carbon monoxide detectors went off. It was a real shock to me because I had placed it maybe 6 to 8 feet from the house on a porch under cover. Scared the living daylights out of me.

[doc03]

3. I ran my lawn tractor in the basement for just a minute or two and it set off

the CO detector upstairs.

[greenjar_01]

5. "I ran my lawn tractor in the basement..."

[doc03]

8. Plowing snow LOL

[Wednesdays]

9. Yeah, those basement snowstorms can be real doozies

[greenjar_01]

12. Ha!

[sl8]

11. This is America. He doesn't need to justify his basement lawn to anyone. n/t

[RAB910]

4. I have one thatI ran during Sandy, where I just plugged items in

Ran the cord in through a window. The one thing I did was make sure I used blankets to seal around the cord so there was no way for the CO to come into the home.


Still, I am a bit surprised at 6 to 8 feet you had enough CO coming into the home. Which way was the wind blowing?

[PCIntern]

16. I suppose towardS the house.

[GulfCoast66]

7. I was surprised to hear the family that died had it in an open carport!

Which is common in Louisiana. They, and I, would have thought that safe.

I have a big oak tree 20 feet from the house I will chain my generator to. That will be safe.

CO is nothing to take lightly.