A stalled storm system has battered the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys for days, producing a multi-day tornado outbreak followed by rainfall totals forecasters described as generational. Rivers are surging past major flood stage from Arkansas to Kentucky, and hundreds of thousands of customers have lost power at various points as wave after wave of storms moved through.

Long-Duration Events, Long-Duration Outages

When severe weather repeats over the same area for days, utilities cannot finish restoring one round of damage before the next arrives. Flooded roads then keep crews from reaching what remains. In events like this, being prepared to supply your own power for several days is not a luxury. It is the plan.

Preparing for Possible Impacts

• Inspect your standby generator and ensure it is ready to activate automatically if power is lost.
• Run a test cycle to confirm your system starts and transfers power properly.
• Plan for fuel supply and make sure natural gas or propane systems are fully connected and serviced.
• Consider an upgrade. Whole-home backup solutions from Generac and Kohler deliver seamless power protection during prolonged outages.

Stay Informed

Flooding will continue for days after the rain ends as rivers crest. Follow National Weather Service river forecasts and local officials’ guidance.