It’s arguably the most famous scene from the entire “Dirty Harry” film series. Detective Harry Callahan, in the final moments of a tumultuous street shoot-out, stands over an injured bank robber and states, “I know what you’re thinking. Did he fire six shots or only five? … You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya …?”
For folks living along the Atlantic Seaboard, the setting is different but the question so ominously posed by Clint Eastwood is a familiar one each and every hurricane season: Do I feel lucky?
Random chance may work fine in the movies, but in the real-world storm preparations require a more purposeful and methodical approach. The official onset of the Atlantic hurricane season in June should spur the region’s households and businesses into action if they haven’t already taken steps to deal with extreme weather, said Glen Presson, director of operations for Community Electric’s RECORE energy solutions subsidiary.
“We are entering the time of year when the threat of tropical storms and hurricanes is common. We can’t let that ‘familiarity’ desensitize us to the dangers that will arise if and when the threat of a major storm becomes a reality,” Presson said. “I urge every household to have an emergency plan and kit in place and to take timely action to have a backup power supply at the ready if they intend to have that additional layer of protection available.”
Community Electric Cooperative’s member-owners receive 10 percent discounts on backup power generators available from RECORE, Presson noted. Installed permanently outside a home or business, these systems:
- Automatically detect power loss and start within seconds
- Power essential appliances—or even the entire property
- Run on reliable fuel sources such as natural gas or propane
- Eliminate the need for manual setup during dangerous weather conditions
Hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University are anticipating an Atlantic basin storm season of “somewhat below-normal activity.” The projection the CSU researchers released in April states, “We are forecasting a below-average probability for major hurricane landfalls along the continental United States coastline and in the Caribbean. As with all hurricane seasons, coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season. Thorough preparations should be made every season, regardless of predicted activity.”
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season was considered to be “above-normal” with 13 named storms, five hurricanes and four major hurricanes. Three hurricanes reached Category 5 intensity (Erin, Humberto and Melissa). The CSU forecast for 2026 isn’t vastly different: 13 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
One good online resource for tips on emergency on planning before, during and after a storm is ready.gov/hurricanes.
As for standby power generators, homeowners often make the mistake of waiting until a storm is forecast to think about backup power, Presson said. By that time, generator demand surges, installation schedules fill rapidly, and equipment availability may become limited.
“There’s no time like the present to contact RECORE to explore standby power options,” Presson said.
For a free quote and more information, visit: https://www.comelec.coop/energy-solutions/standby-power/