When a hurricane is on the horizon, local hardware stores become the go-to place for last-minute supplies.
But how many times have you returned home with an arm load of stuff only to discover that you didn’t have the things that you actually needed when the winds picked up?
Gladwin Grant, the store manager at Masters Home Centre store manager, shared his advice on navigating the pre-hurricane shopping confusion with confidence and efficiency.
You might think that living on an island in a hurricane zone we would be ready to take on the ravages of mother nature at a moment’s notice, but Mr Grant says not.
“Every year, it’s the same story – people rush in at the last minute looking for flashlights and batteries they likely already have tucked away in a drawer but forget to stock up on other essentials such as propane for the camp stove,” he said.
“Instead of impulse-buying, my recommendation would be to shop all year both from a budgeting perspective, and also to ensure that you are prepared for any situation.
“We can get pretty severe winter storms too and people are often caught unprepared.”
If you are new to the island and struggling to figure out what supplies you might need, Mr Grant suggested that you think about what you would need if you went camping.
“Just walking up and down the aisles of will yield plenty of ideas,” he said. “We have everything from rope and buckets for dipping water out of the tank, to barbeques, coolers, water jugs, flashlights, lanterns, rechargeable fans and a selection of generators to meet every need.”
Choosing the right generator
Although buying a generator is a significant investment, Mr Grant said more and more people are seeking a reliable power source to keep at least some essential devices running during an outage.
Masters stocks a range of models to meet the needs of every household:
- The lightweight 2,500-watt Champion Inverter Generator is great for powering small devices. It can run for up to 11.5 hours on four litres of fuel and features a low oil shut-off sensor.
- The heftier 4,550-watt Firmin Remote Start Gas Portable Generator has a five-gallon tank, can run for up to 14 hours, and is equipped with wheels to make it easier to manouevre.
- If you want to power your whole house during an outage, the Generac 8,000watt electric start generator might be for you. It features a durable steel frame, and its 7.9-gallon gas tank provides up to ten hours of run-time at a 50 per cent load.
“If you’re unsure which model to choose, we strongly encourage you to speak with our staff to make sure you’re choosing the right product for your situation because all hurricane supply sales are final,” Mr Grant said.
Generator safety considerations
- Always consult a qualified electrician before attempting to connect a generator directly to your household. A transfer switch is required if connecting to home circuits.
- Never plug the generator directly into a wall outlet as this can send power back through utility lines, endangering Belco workers.
- Never operate a generator inside your house: generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas that you cannot see or smell.
- Only operate a generator outside away from doors, windows and vents.
- Let the generator cool completely before adding gasoline: spilled fuel on hot engine parts can cause a fire.
- Always read the manual for a complete list of operating instructions and safety considerations.
For more information: visit www.master.bm or call 295-4321
