Most power outages are weather-related. As the number and severity of extreme weather events rises, so does the likelihood of a blackout lasting 24 hours or more. Some states are more vulnerable to weather-related outages. Others have such severe temperature extremes that power to control air conditioning and heating systems can be essential for comfort and safety. If you live in one of these areas, your risk to the potentially devastating effects of a power outage increase significantly.

According to the FDA, perishable food items should be thrown out once your refrigerator has been without power for as little as four hours. With a standby generator, your refrigerator and freezer will never cease running, so you won’t have to worry about wasting food.

If you work from home, a power outage can disrupt your business and income. A standby generator can keep your essential appliances and electronics running, so you can continue working.

Without electricity, your well pump and filtration systems will quickly lose the ability to provide fresh, safe water for drinking, bathing, heating and more, to your house. A standby generator can power your well pump and filtration systems, so you’ll always have fresh, safe water.

If you or a loved one requires the assistance of a home medical device that runs on electricity, a power outage can be life-threatening. A generator can help keep those devices running, but you also will want to check with a healthcare professional for suggestions on how to weather power outages with your particular medical device.

An extended loss of power may leave you stranded and unable to recharged your primary mode of transportation.

If you are a “snowbird,” frequent traveler or own a seasonal home, having a generator can protect your property from outage-related emergencies — whether you’re in or out of town.

If your basement has a sump pump, you know the importance of keeping your sump pump working. When groundwater levels rise, the sump pump works to drain water from the basement. If extreme storms cause a power outage, your sump pump will stop working—leading to a flooded basement. Luckily, whole-house generators keep sump pumps functioning even during power outages.

Whole-home standby generators will keep your appliances running no matter the reason why your home has lost power. This means your air conditioning and heating system will operate normally to keep your family comfortable in extreme heat or cold conditions. A generator will also continue to power your home’s security system, which means greater peace of mind during troublesome times.