Fuel safety

Before

• Stretch fuel by combining trips, walking when it is safe, and keeping the tank at least half full so you are not searching for a station in a panic.
• Keep gasoline and diesel in containers made for that fuel. Store them outside living spaces, away from flames, pilot lights, and the generator.
• Rotate stored fuel. Gasoline goes stale in a few months. Use a stabilizer only when the label says it is for that fuel, and still replace old fuel.
• How much you may keep at home is a local fire-code question. Ask the fire department. This site does not set a gallon limit.
• Propane for a grill or a listed camp stove is one alternative. Keep the cylinder outdoors and follow the appliance label.
• A solar generator stores electricity, not liquid fuel. Keep it dry, and charge it before a storm. The off-grid power guide explains panels, batteries, a wood stove, and wood gas as ideas, not as a shop project.
• Wood gas is the idea of turning wood into a combustible gas for an engine. That gas is rich in carbon monoxide. It is deadly in a closed space. This page does not include a build.
• Florida’s evacuation guidance still says to keep a vehicle tank at least half full in season, or an electric vehicle at least half charged.
• Why we don't recommend making fuel from plastic at home: the attempts people describe online involve fire, explosion, and toxic fumes. This page does not include any steps for that. Buy fuel that is made for the engine, or use propane or a solar generator instead.

During

• Refuel a generator only after it cools, and only outdoors.
• Do not bring a fuel can into the house to “keep it safe” during a storm.
• If you smell fuel in a living space, get people out and call the fire department. Do not look for the source with a flame.

After

• Check cans for leaks and rust. Discard fuel the way your local waste program says.
• Write the date you filled each can so the next rotation is obvious.

Checklist

• ☐Approved cans, stored outside
• ☐Dates on the cans
• ☐Stabilizer only if the label allows it
• ☐Fire department asked about local limits
• ☐Propane or a solar generator as the alternative
• ☐Vehicle tank or charge at least half full in season

Sources

Official pages only. Open them for the full instructions.

• Ready.gov: Power outages
• CDC: Carbon monoxide
• Florida Division of Emergency Management: Evacuation plan
• Florida Division of Emergency Management: Plan and prepare