Building a backup power plan as storms get stronger and outages last longer

(NewsUSA) - In many communities, the conversations surrounding storm preparedness have shifted from “if” the power will go out to “when,” “how often” and “for how long.” In the past decade alone, the United States has experienced twice as many weather-related outages as it did in the early 2000s because of severe storms and the country’s aging, failing electrical grid. As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season approaches, it is increasingly important for homeowners to have the option of self-sufficiency with a backup power plan in the event of severe weather.

For 2026, forecasters are predicting a relatively active Atlantic hurricane season as Colorado State University anticipates 13 named storms with six expected to become hurricanes. Two hurricanes are expected to reach major hurricane strength of a Category 3 or higher storm, which can result in significant loss of life and damage to property.