What to know about generators when the power goes out

AccuWeather meteorologist Tony Laubach discusses the perks of having a generator when the power goes out.

Transcript

00:00Power outages are common when severe weather strikes, and you could either be stuck in sweltering heat or the bitter cold.

00:09As a result, hundreds of dollars of perishable food can be spoiled, and that's when a power generator comes in handy.

00:15A gas-powered portable generator is the most basic backup and can get you through short-term power outages and is the most economical.

00:23Place it in your yard, then plug it into your home using extension cords.

00:26These require manual intervention to operate. Only use these generators outdoors and away from windows to protect from carbon monoxide fumes.

00:34A standby generator is much more powerful and convenient, but are 5 to 10 times more expensive than a gas-powered one.

00:41These are permanently installed and turn on automatically when the power goes out without any manual intervention.

00:47For more safety and preparedness tips and tools, visit AccuWeather.com slash ready.

00:52For AccuWeather, I'm meteorologist Tony Laubach.

00:56AccuWeather.com