A destructive line of severe thunderstorms tore across the central United States this week, racing eastward at 50 mph with wind gusts to 60 mph, multiple tornado warnings, and hail up to golf-ball size. Roughly 50,000 customers lost power in Wisconsin alone as the front advanced, and follow-on storms brought large hail and additional outages to northeast Ohio a day later.

Speed Kills Preparation Time

Fast-moving squall lines can cross an entire state in a few hours, leaving little time between the first watch and the first downed line. When storms move this quickly, preparedness has to already be in place. There is no window to fuel up, test equipment, or shop for a generator once the sky darkens.

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

Severe weather season is accelerating. Keep wireless emergency alerts enabled and review your family’s shelter plan this week.