9/18/2017

"Governor's Office ramps up Generator Safety Awareness Amid Crisis"

By Henry Givens, Tampa Tribune

Posted : 9-18-2017

Yesterday morning emergency services found the bodies of two people that died in their home in the town of Wachula. A third is being treated in critical condition at a hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning from an electric generator, the latest such death as people across the state wait for power to be restored after Hurricane Irma. Fire Department officials said on Twitter that a generator was running inside the home early Wednesday. Further details weren’t immediately available.

In nearby Orange County, deputies found three people dead and four others were taken to a hospital for treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning Tuesday afternoon. Carbon monoxide from a generator is also suspected in the death of 3 men in  Volusia county, and a family of 4 in Kissimmee. And authorities say another dozen victims were treated for carbon monoxide on Tuesday in Polk and Brevard counties.

Officials across Florida are warning people to keep generators outside their homes.

The two Wachula residents, whose names have not been released to the press, bring the total number of deaths attributed to tragic accidents involving unsafe use of household generators to 36 over the week since hurricane Irma struck Florida.