June is closing out with two major weather stories. Days of heavy rain have pushed rivers and streams over their banks across parts of the Midwest, forcing evacuations and damaging infrastructure. Meanwhile, in the Atlantic, Hurricane Beryl has become the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record, an ominous signal for the season ahead.

What This Means for Homeowners

Flooding can knock out substations and underground electrical equipment, producing outages that last long after the rain ends. And when a hurricane reaches major status this early in the season, forecasters take note. Warm ocean waters are primed to fuel powerful storms for months to come.

Prepare Now, Not Later

• Schedule a maintenance check for your standby generator before peak hurricane season arrives.
• Run a full test cycle to confirm your transfer switch moves your home to backup power seamlessly.
• Verify your fuel plan. Natural gas and propane systems should be connected, serviced, and ready.
• If you rely on portable equipment, consider stepping up to an automatic whole-home system from Generac or Kohler for hands-free protection.

Stay Informed

The National Hurricane Center issues regular advisories on all active tropical systems. Keep an eye on the forecast, and make sure your home is ready before the next storm has a name.