Hurricane Generator Checklist: What to Do Before the Storm

Test your generator before hurricane season, not during it — start it, run it under load for at least 20-30 minutes, and confirm it starts reliably. Generators that sit unused for a year are a common point of failure exactly when needed.

Stock fuel (with a stabilizer added to gasoline) and spare parts (oil, air filter, spark plug) before a storm is forecast — these sell out fast once a hurricane watch is issued.

Confirm your transfer switch or extension cord setup, CO detector batteries, and your generator's realistic runtime on a full tank before you need any of it under pressure.