Hurricane Don becomes first Atlantic storm of the season

The first hurricane of the season spun up as Hurricane Don took shape in the Atlantic while the chance for a new tropical depression or storm from a Caribbean-bound system remains, according to the National Hurricane Center.

As of 5 p.m., what has been an up-and-down-and-up-again life cycle for Don soldiered in a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph sustained winds and higher gusts.

Hurricane Don cone of uncertainty as of 5 p.m. Saturday, July 22, 2023. (NHC)

It’s located about 480 miles south-southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland moving north at 12 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend out 15 miles with tropical-storm-force winds extend out 70 miles.

Continue reading

Westinghouse 9500DF Dual Fuel Generator with a Natural Gas Conversion

The Westinghouse WGen9500DF Dual Fuel Portable Generator produces up to 12,500 peak watts and 9,500 running watts. The WGen9500DF is a dual fuel generator that operates on gasoline or propane (LPG). The heavy duty 457cc 4-Stroke OHV Westinghouse Engine is constructed of a durable cast iron sleeve and runs for up to 12 hours on a 6.6 gallon (25 L) gas tank, keeping you powered through the day with built-in fuel gauge, automatic low oil shutdown, and GFCI outlets.

Living in Central Florida has some advantages. 30 minutes to the Beach, an hour to the attractions which include Disney. We enjoy practically year round sunshine with relatively few freezes. Having said that, there is one disadvantage that can be quite a life changing event. Of course I’m speaking of Hurricanes. I have been through some major storms in my life. 2004 was a whopper where 4 hurricanes crossed central Florida in 3 months time. It was devastating.

Naturally, with the storms, comes the loss of power. There are a few creature comforts that you instantly appreciate when you lose power. Cold water is a much needed requirement and hot showers. Having a generator can be quite a convenance and a gigantic pain at the same time.

When you own a generator, there are considerations that you must address when operating. Gasoline and the ability to obtain and store, power cords and re-fueling the generator at 2 or 3 in the morning to keep the portable air conditioner going. After several major hurricane events, my wife and I decided to pull the trigger on a natural gas, whole home generator to eliminate all the fuss.

Continue reading