Storm is "generating" sales

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - They'll supply power, but supplying shelves is another story.

"Generator sales are through the roof," says Jason Crowe at Lowe's. "Can't keep them in."

The Lowe's off State Route 741 had only a handful of generators left when we went there this morning, and restocking them could be tricky with the large demand on the East Coast.

In fact, we're told someone headed out that way actually stopped at this Dayton-area Lowe's to pick up a generator for their family.

"It was extremely thoughtful of them," Crowe says. "If I was that family member I'd be extremely happy."

But too often stories involving generators don't have happy endings.

"The number one issue of generators is the hazard of carbon monoxide," says Lt. Phil Sinewe with the Moraine Fire Department.

Sinewe talked about what to remember before you turn on your generator.

"You cannot safely run a generator in a garage," Sinewe says. "You cannot safely run a generator close to the house."

Sinewe says the other problem with generators is people hooking them up to their home's electrical box without first consulting a qualified electrician.

"What can happen when the power comes back on you can be double feeding everything," Sinewe says.

He says that was the cause of several fires in previous widespread power outages.