Sumter County is a designated storage area for 5,500-watt generators purchased by the state Division of Emergency Management for emergencies such as hurricanes.
County Administrator Bradley Arnold said the county was chosen due to its “centralized location.”
The 30 Generac GP5500 generators assigned to Sumter County will be used to operate traffic signals when electrical power goes out. The county is responsible for the cost of storing, maintaining and fueling the generators.
The generators were purchased to operate traffic signals during Hurricane Michael, which struck the Florida Panhandle earlier this year.
In return for storing the generators, Arnold said, the county is free to use them for local emergencies. The generators could last up to 19 years.
“We have a definite need for generators for traffic signals,” Arnold said.
Generac generators are highly rated and larger ones have up to 45,000 watts. They also are popular with homeowners who want to keep appliances running during power outages.
Under the contract with the state, the county is required to provide a report on April 30 each year on the number of generators and their location, along with maintenance and testing records.
State officials also have looked to Sumter County for emergency vehicle storage.
