Buying a generator? Make sure you get what you need. - KOAM TV 7

Buying a generator? Make sure you get what you need.

by JORDAN AUBEY

Many Four State residents are making sure they will have power the next few days.  By Monday morning only about three small generators were still available at Lowe's in Joplin.

Employees say a buying rush began Sunday afternoon.

The store expects another shipment of generators is late tonight or early Tuesday morning.

Store manager Josh Hayes says it is important to ask the right questions before buying a generator because one size does not fit all.

"If a normal household wanted to run, in a situation like this when they're out of power and they wanted to run a light and maybe a fridge to keep their food right and a couple of heaters, a 5500 watt would be fine with that," says Hayes.  "If you wanted to run your fan on your gas heater, that's not going to work for that.  You're going to need more power.  You're going to need like a standby generator."