Tropical Storm Ernesto swept past Puerto Rico this week, and even without a direct hurricane-strength landfall, the storm left well over half a million utility customers in the dark across the island. Ernesto has since strengthened into a hurricane over open water and is taking aim at Bermuda.

A Reminder About Fragile Grids

Ernesto shows how a glancing blow from a tropical system can still produce a massive outage. Gusty squalls, heavy rain, and lightning are enough to take down lines and trip equipment, especially where infrastructure is already stressed. Mainland homeowners should take note. The same thing happens every year in coastal and inland states alike.

Preparing for the Peak of the Season

• Inspect your standby generator now, before the busiest weeks of hurricane season arrive.
• Run a test cycle and confirm the automatic transfer switch operates properly.
• Verify natural gas or propane connections are serviced and your fuel plan covers multiple days.
• If your home still lacks backup power, whole-home systems from Generac and Kohler can be installed before the season peaks.

Stay Informed

The climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season arrives in early September. Watch National Hurricane Center outlooks daily, and finalize your family’s outage plan now.