BE PREPARED FOR CYCLONE SEASON WITH RELIABLE BACK-UP POWER

Australians living in northern parts of the country are being urged to commence preparations for what is expected to be a more active tropical cyclone season. With December nearly upon us, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned residents to expect an average to above-average tropical cyclone season, particularly in light of last year’s low number of tropical cyclones, so access to back-up power is top of mind for those in rural and remote areas of the Northern Territory and Queensland.

According to the bureau, history indicates that an average season sees about 11 cyclones in the tropical cyclone season from November 1 to April 30, with about four of these expected to make landfall. While last year had the lowest number of tropical cyclones on record, itis expected this Australian cyclone season will not be as quiet.

Lighting, high winds and heavy rainfall can cause damage to power grids, leaving residents without the means to power everyday items like fridges, lights and stoves. If outages stretch out to long periods of time, it can leave people severely disadvantaged, so it’s important to consider back-up power options and be prepared for any storm scenario.

Briggs & Stratton, one of the world’s leading producers of portable generators, provides some advice for preparing for the upcoming cyclone season.

1. Have an emergency plan and make sure this is up-to-date. Be prepared with emergency contact details, including that of the SES, and ensure the entire family knows what to do if a storm was to hit.

2. Prepare the house. At the start of storm season, it’s time to make some adjustments to your property, such as trimming nearby trees, clearing downpipes and gutters, and securing any outdoor or garden furniture. Check the roof is in good condition and properly protect glass windows or skylights, which can be major hazards during a storm.

3. Get back-up. Lightening, rainfall and heavy winds can knock out power and it’s not uncommon to experience long outages during a storm. Be prepared with a back-up generator to ensure a reliable source of power so your day-to-day is not significantly impacted. Remember –never operate a portable generator indoors or in enclosed spaces and ensure that the exhaust is pointed away from occupied spaces, windows and doors when in use.

4. Store valuables in plastic bags to keep them from getting damaged and have them all in the one place to ensure easy access in a hurry.

5. Review home and contents insurance. Understanding what is and isn’t covered will keep you from any nasty surprises should this be needed.

6. Weather can change quickly, so be sure to listen for daily updates and announcements in your area.

Briggs & Stratton Portable Generators

Briggs & Stratton’s Power Responder and Elite portable generators are designed to provide a safe, reliable solution to access power in remote locations. Featuring Briggs &Stratton’s petrol-powered engines, water resistant outlets and easy manoeuvrability, these generators provide a reliable source of power to keep daily life going once a storm has hit.