ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The official start of hurricane season is a little more than just a week away, and you may be among those people who are putting together how to best weather the next storm.

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This year, Orange County Fire Rescue is pushing a new message on how to use these generators safely: outside, away from your home and dry.

• Only run generators outside and not in your garage.
• If you plan on using a generator after the next big storm, take advantage of quiet weather days to test it out. Know how to start it, then identify a safe place 10 to 20 feet away from your home to put the generator.

READ: NHC tracking first disturbance of 2022 Atlantic hurricane season in Gulf of Mexico

• Know where the exhaust is so you can point it away from your home
• Have a reliable extension cord ready to use.

READ: What do they mean? Disturbance, depressions, tropical, subtropical storms, hurricanes

• Only refuel when the generator is off and cool, or the generator could catch fire.
• A carbon monoxide detector could add extra protection.
• With a limited power supply, pick the most important items to power up such as your fridge, fans and phones.

WATCH: Severe storms trigger tornado warning, bring strong winds and hail to parts of Central Florida

• You don’t have to run generators 24 hours straight. Pick times you need, such as fans at night.
• If you’re worried your portable generator could get stolen, secure it with a bike chain.

Cleaner air contributes to more Atlantic hurricanes Scientists linked changes in regionalized pollution across the globe to storm activity. (NCD)

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