It’s easy to think of beautiful, sunny weather in South Florida. However, local residents know all too well that hurricanes are part of life, especially from June to November.
For those new to South Florida, continue reading to learn about the stages of a hurricane and how you can prepare by having your home’s backup generator ready before hurricane season.
Table of Contents
What Are the Main Stages of a Hurricane?
A hurricane has six stages, beginning with a disturbance formation and ending with dissipation. Here’s what the main stages look like stage-by-stage:
Disturbance Formation
A hurricane begins with the evaporation that occurs over tropical ocean waters. As water evaporates, it rises and cools, forming clouds of warm air. These clouds begin to heat the air around them, resulting in groups of densely packed clouds.
As the air continues heating up, these warm rain clouds combine to form one large mass that moves over the ocean.
Tropical Disturbance
The formation becomes a disturbance when a large mass of rain clouds begins to develop thunderstorms. The structure needs to be maintained for over 24 hours before it can be considered a disturbance.
During this stage, the danger level is minimal as the wind circulation of the formation is too weak to cause any damage.
Depression
A tropical disturbance changes to a depression when the previous light wind circulation begins to sustain much higher winds of around 23 to 38 mph (miles per hour). At this stage, the high winds slowly become more organized and begin circulating in the middle of the storm.
Read More: Critical Steps to Follow to Prepare Your Standby Generator for a Hurricane
Tropical Storm and Weather
This is where the storm ramps up in power, with the wind speeds increasing to anywhere between 39 to 73 mph.
While not as large or threatening as a hurricane yet, a tropical storm’s weather is nothing to underestimate; they bring torrential rains that can easily flood certain areas.
Hurricanes
Once the windspeeds reach at least 74 mph, the tropical storm is considered a hurricane. This is also when the recognizable eye fully forms in the center of the storm.
You may have heard of different stages of hurricanes before. Hurricanes are categorized by their wind speed, with 74 to 95 mph being a Category 1, 96 to 110 mph being a Category 2, and the scale continues to Category 5, which contains wind speeds over 157 mph.
Dissipation
This is the stage where the hurricane makes landfall and gradually weakens over time, losing its source of warm water from the tropical ocean. Even when dissipating, the hurricane still sends out torrential winds and rainfall that can easily cause severe damage to structures.
As they continue moving over land, the structure of the hurricane begins breaking apart into the previous groups of thunderstorms. After enough time, the storm falls apart completely.
Why Should You Invest in a Backup Generator Before the Hurricane Season?
Of all the possible investments you can make for your home or business before hurricane season rolls around, a backup generator is one of the best you can make. Power outages during hurricanes can last multiple days into weeks, leaving you without any electricity.
An easy way to prepare for future hurricanes is to install a backup generator to gain access to a safety net. A backup system is designed to supply power to your essential electronics and allows you and your family to stay comfortable or continue running your business as usual.
Benefits for Families
Hurricanes can be a frightening thing when you have a family to protect. With a backup generator, you have a reliable ally keeping your home safe and comfortable.
By investing in a generator, homeowners gain access to the following benefits:
- Powers everything from lights, AC systems, and even your cooking equipment
- Backup generators offer superior power output and operate on a more consistent fuel source, compared to portable units
- Units are stationary installations, making it impossible to be stolen
Read More: How to Protect Your Backup Generator During a Severe Storm
Benefits for Businesses
Even in the middle of hurricane season, your business has the reliable backup power to run without any issues.
Backup generators keep operations going by providing benefits like:
- Lighting and security systems are restored in seconds
- Powers HVAC systems to keep temperatures consistent and protect equipment and products
- Provides a stable source of electricity, allowing employees to return to work far earlier
Other Benefits of Having a Standby Generator Installed
When hurricane season is right around the corner, there is no time to wait to get a standby generator installed for your home or business. If you are still on the fence about investing, these benefits might change your mind.
Fully Protect Your Home and Appliances from Outages
Since it’s connected to your electrical system, your generator will provide instant and seamless power. From lighting to HVAC systems, you can stay comfortable, preserve food, and even keep your home at the perfect temperature.
Connected Power Source Means Little Maintenance
With a direct fuel source, either through a natural gas line or propane, backup generators avoid the irritation of having to go back and forth refueling the unit.
Save Money and Prevent Waste
By continuing to power appliances like refrigerators and freezers, generators help prevent food from going bad and your money from going to waste.
Avoid a Shortage in Generators
Generators get snatched up quickly during hurricane season, which means they become much harder to obtain. By getting your generator installation project finished before hurricane season, you can save yourself the headache of dealing with supply and demand issues.
Types of Generators for Hurricane Preparedness
When shopping around for backup generators, you will come across plenty of name brands like Generac and Kohler. From these great companies, there are three main types of generators to choose from: Portable, Standby, and inverter generators.
If you are unsure which one fits your home or business, here is the breakdown of each one:
Standby Generators
A standby generator is a stationary installation that makes up for its lack of mobility with plenty of power. Once installed, these systems provide sufficient power to support entire homes and businesses with minimal to no disruption.
Inverter Generators
For home or business owners looking for a quiet system, inverter generators are the answer. These fuel-efficient systems provide the ideal amount of power for sensitive equipment and smaller-scale electronics, such as laptops, while generating little to no operational noise.
Read More: Top Reasons Your Generator is Blowing White Smoke
Portable Generators
Just as the name suggests, portable generators are smaller, mobile systems that are ideal for short-term power outages. While not providing a considerable amount of power output, these units can easily provide electricity for your essential appliances and electronics.
Top Features to Look for in a Generator
The last thing you want is a generator that doesn’t meet your needs. When shopping for a new generator, consider factors and features like:
Fuel Source
The first thing to note is the fuel source that is most available to you. Modern generator systems run on natural gas, propane, gasoline, or diesel, so the ideal pick is one where you can easily supply your unit without any worry. For example, many times homes have a natural gas line, making that type an easy pick.
Wattage
Generators provide a certain wattage to power electronics. For example, a standby generator provides around 10,000 to 20,000 watts, which can easily power a home’s lights, fridge, and small electronics.
It is vital to calculate the essential electronics that need to be powered during an outage and compare them to the maximum amount that a generator can supply.
Safety Features
While simply looking at the exterior, generators are dangerous tools. Look for safety add-ons, such as low oil indicators or automatic shutoffs for high carbon monoxide levels, as these can help prevent potential dangers when the unit is running.
Professional Backup Generator Installation and Repair Services
Hurricane season is right around the corner, so the best time to get a generator installation is right now. Don’t wait, call our professionals at (561) 408-5147 to receive assistance. Our team offers reputable generator installation services in Fort Myers, Florida and the surrounding areas.
With a variety of models from the industry’s best brands like Generac and Briggs & Stratton, our experts tailor your generator for your exact electrical needs.
If your unit encounters problems, our electricians are equipped to perform comprehensive generator repairs and maintenance, ensuring your system runs better than ever.
Safeguard your home and business with reliable systems you can count on when the weather takes a turn. Contact our team today by phone or schedule your appointment online.
