Standby (Backup) Power Systems provide electric power during Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) outages. Systems range from stationary (permanently installed), automatic, whole-house systems to portable, point-of-use generators and inverter generator equipment to just power selected small appliances, or devices directly. As Dave Schnur sings it, we’re talkin’ ’bout My Generator.

Application	Rating 120/240 volts AC	Cost	Fuel @ 50% load
Stationary – whole house or select circuits – licensed electrician	– up to 22 kW+ -automatic, or manual -with electric start option	$7,000-$10,000	-2-1/2 gal/hr LP -options: gasoline, LP, or diesel
Portable – direct or select wired circuits – licensed electrician	-5.5 kW direct power -range 3.5 kW-8 kW+ -manual with -electric start option	$700-$1,000 DIY, plus electrician for wired circuits	-¾ gal/hr gasoline -options: gasoline, or diesel
Portable inverter generator – direct – DIY	-120 volts AC, manual -1000 watts -range 1 kW – 2 kW	$400	7 hrs+/gal gasoline

Stationary systems can be completely automatic and sized to power all of your electric needs. The system constantly monitors the WAPA utility power, senses when it is lost, automatically starts the engine and switches your house from utility to generator, all within a few seconds. Once the utility power is restored, the automatic standby system switches loads back to utility power.

Portable generators are a solution for a more mid-range load and price tag. Systems can be sized and installed to power selected, wired circuits and can be manually operated. This size range could provide stand-by power for lights, computer, television, and even refrigerator, washer and cooking. Air conditioning and electric appliances are possible with proper planning.

Inverter generators and battery inverters are more DIY for small load applications. Portable generators can power tools and small appliances, whereas inverter generators and battery inverters are limited to electronic devices, lights, televisions, and computers. Inverter generators often have USB charger ports.

To determine the generator size you need, list the watts for all electric equipment that will be connected, like refrigerator, range, microwave, washer, dryer, air conditioning, electric water heater, lights, etc. General online resources will help, but try to use actual nameplate ratings from your particular electronics. Motor loads from your refrigerator, washer, A/C, etc. require more starting power so double these watts.

These systems are commonly fueled by gasoline or propane, but can also be diesel. Remember that these fuels are highly flammable and hazardous. Your generator must be installed in a well-ventilated space, outside, away from combustible materials.

Generator tips:

• Routinely test and service your standby equipment.
• Gas has ~12-month storage life. Keep fresh gasoline stored.
• Things to consider when placing your generator: service access, some engine noise while running, fuel source, potential for weather and flooding damage, and wind direction to keep engine exhaust directed away from open windows.

Hurricane season officially starts on June 1 and we’d like to take what we learned last year to help prepare our clients and neighbors with some hurricane advice. St. Croix homeowners should make sure you have all necessary supplies stored well in advance so that the days leading up to a storm can be spent preparing your home and property.

Hurricane Checklist Resources

The U.S. Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are hosting the 2018 Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Expo on Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Sunny Isle Amphitheater on St. Croix. The expo is an educational event designed to promote disaster resiliency, weather awareness, safety and hurricane preparedness to residents and visitors of the territory.

• National Hurricane Survival Initiative – Hurricane Safety Checklists
• Red Cross – Hurricane Safety Checklist
• Department of Homeland Security – Ready.org Hurricanes

Hurricane Prep: Food & Water

Most hurricane preparedness resources will suggest having a three-day supply of food; however, based on our experience with island living, we recommend a minimum of seven days. The same goes for drinking water. Last year, as we prepared for Irma and Maria, grocery stores had plenty of food and water available in the days leading up to the storms, though it may be wise not to count on that. After the storm, stores opened swiftly, though we advise that if you prepare with the provisions you need now, then you may not need to shop in those days immediately following.

Consider stocking up on the types of food that you would normally eat. For instance, if you usually eat organic, don’t buy ramen. Or if you typically have a protein-based diet, don’t stock up on vegetarian soups. In the event of a major storm, you will want to feel as normal as possible and eating foods that are similar to those you’re used to can help with that. And if we are fortunate to not have any storms, you will have food in your cabinets that you will eat anyway. Don’t forget to pick up some comfort food items to get you through stressful times.

If you have an electric stove, you might want to invest in a small grill or camp stove for cooking without power. And don’t forget a manual can opener if you stock up on canned goods!

We all think about stocking up on clean, fresh drinking water, but what about water for other daily activities? Kristi recommends filling your bathtub with water before the storm for flushing toilets and other uses. She also invested in a solar shower bag last year and found it to be very useful during the time she was without power at home.

Hurricane Prep: Supplies

While many stores opened after Irma and Maria, don’t assume that supplies will be available. Get them now. A spare gas can will come in handy for getting fuel for your generator. A battery-powered or solar radio will be a lifeline for information, guidance and even entertainment. A battery-powered fan will provide comfort on hot days and nights. Extra batteries are a must. An external phone charger will be helpful — and if it’s solar, even better!

Ordering emergency supplies online after the fact is not a viable option and you may only have five or so days prior to a storm to get what you need. Have an inventory of at least one-month-worth of any necessity that you typically order online.

Having a tarp or plastic sheeting could help save you and your belongings from disaster. Again, this is something that you don’t want to have to seek out after-the-fact. And, if you don’t need it yourself, you may be able to help someone else who does.

Hurricane Prep: Miscellaneous

There are a few other random things that you might not think of while preparing for a hurricane. For instance, have all of your personal documents (passport, birth certificate, social security card, etc.) in a waterproof bag in a place that is easy to access in the case that you need to make a hasty exit.

In addition to pertinent paperwork, you might plan to put irreplaceable items, like family photos and special artwork, in plastic bags. A good storage place for these items is your dishwasher since it is made to be water tight. A dry bag, found at outdoor recreation stores, is also a good thing to have for storing important items and/or clothing.

Be sure to fill your prescription medications in advance. Depending on your medical needs, it may be smart to have anywhere from one to four weeks-worth in supply just in case the pharmacy is affected by the storm.

Steph suggests keeping your shoes on throughout a hurricane in the event that you need to evacuate or for safety if your floors become wet.

Inspired by this home improvement article — Don’t Put a Freeze on Home Maintenance! Your Handy Winter Checklist Is Here — on Realtor.com, we thought a blog about winterizing in the Caribbean would be fun. Well, to be honest, at first we just thought it would be funny! But after reading the article, we realized they have some great tips, even for the Caribbean. We don’t necessarily hibernate here in the winter, but carving out time away from the beach for these tasks is just as difficult!

The first point in the article is the most pertinent — Get ready for (more) winter storms. Our reasons might not be the same, but getting ready for future storms is important. And the best time to prepare for a catastrophe is before it happens. Especially now that hurricane preparedness is top-of-mind, think about the ways that you could have been more prepared. Make a checklist of the things you’ll want to do real-time when you’re anticipating a storm in the future and purchase the supplies that you might need now, rather than waiting. Trust us, it will be much easier to buy or order a tarp now!

The article specifically mentions making sure your generator is working (which most of us surely know at this point in time!) and to stock up on batteries for flashlights and lanterns. It also recommends a solar- or battery-powered weather radio — another necessity for island living.

Of course, we’ve all been removing broken limbs from our properties. Not because we’re worried about them getting too heavy with snow though! Making sure that no broken or dead limbs can fall on power lines, your house, your belongings or your neighbor’s property is a good way to prevent unnecessary destruction.

Per Realtor.com’s suggestion, now is a good time to remember to clean your oven. Again, we may not need to do this in the winter for the same reasons, but it should be done on a regular schedule and what easier time to remember than at the start of a new year. For the same reason, and definitely not because we’re worried about our space heaters, you may also change the batteries in your smoke detectors.

Whether you run an A/C and keep windows and doors closed or you prefer open-air living, checking for allergens is also a good idea. Cleaning dust build-up on fans and alleviating any opportunities for mold are two good steps to take. Allergen-resistant mattress and pillow covers are also effective ways to protect your home from potential allergens.

As for blocking drafts and preventing pipes from freezing, we’ll leave those tasks to our stateside friends, who might also want to consider adding “plan a trip to St. Croix” to their to-do lists!