Published on August 06, 2020
The Morris County Office of Emergency Management is cautioning county residents who are using generators to provide emergency power to their homes due to storm-related power outages to be sure to properly ventilate the generators.
OEM officials say that hospitals in the county have been handling cases of people who have been sickened due to inhaling exhaust from generators due to poor ventilation.
(JPG, 63KB) Generator should be positioned away from your residence
Portable generators made for household use can provide temporary power for appliances or lights. Commercial generators can help prevent service interruptions at businesses and critical infrastructure facilities, such as hospitals, water treatment facilities, telecommunications networks, and emergency response agencies.
However, there are also safety issues involved with generators, especially those used infrequently by homeowners.
Make sure you position generators outdoors and well away from any structure. Running a generator inside any enclosed or partially enclosed structure can lead to dangerous and often fatal levels of carbon monoxide. Keep generators positioned outside and at least 15 feet away from open windows so exhaust does not enter your home/business or a neighboring home/business.
The federal government also suggests the following:
For more specific information, visit the federal Office of Energy Security and Emergency Response or First Energy.
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