Storms have a way of catching you off guard. One minute you’re enjoying a peaceful summer evening, and the next you’re watching hundred-year-old trees topple across your property or dealing with a power outage that stretches for days.
At Ty’s Outdoor Power, we’ve seen firsthand how quickly weather can change everything for homeowners and businesses across the Omaha metro. That’s why we believe the best time to prepare for storms isn’t when you see them on the radar—it’s right now, when you have time to think clearly and make smart decisions about the equipment you might need.
What Storms Hit Our Area Hardest?
“I would say the biggest thing that affects homeowners and commercial guys would be anytime we have a giant windstorm that goes through Omaha,” explains Cameron Belt, who has spent five years helping customers at Ty’s prepare for and recover from severe weather.
“We know lots of Omaha has some pretty old trees that are really big, and those trees are prone to having a lot of branches fall or uprooting.”
Cameron remembers 2024’s devastating windstorm on July 31st. “The day after, we were in here early [and] made sure we had as many chainsaws together as we could [so] we were ready for the public when they came in to get them in and out of here as fast as we could.”
Essential Storm Equipment for Your Home
When severe weather strikes, having the right equipment on hand can mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major crisis. Here’s what Cameron and our team recommend every homeowner consider:
Chainsaws and Pole Saws
“I say chainsaws are probably number one. Any kind of pole saw. Those are really the biggest two things that a lot of homeowners are looking for, especially when we do have a storm roll through.”
These tools become essential when you’re dealing with:
- Large branches blocking driveways or walkways
- Trees that have fallen across property lines
- Debris cleanup that needs to happen quickly for safety
Portable Generators
“We do have a wide variety of generators. We carry Honda and Hustler in stock as well,” Cameron notes. “If any power outages occur, we definitely make sure we have plenty of portable generators on hand.”
For first-time generator buyers, Cameron’s advice is straightforward: “Biggest thing is just knowing what you want to power and how much wattage each one of those appliances is going to take. That’s going to be the biggest thing because you don’t want to overload that generator.”
Do You Really Need a Generator?
One of the biggest challenges homeowners face is knowing whether they actually need storm equipment like generators. Cameron suggests looking at your history: “I would tend to kind of look back at previous years, see how many times I’ve lost power. If it’s been for a long period of time, if it’s happened quite a bit and it’s for long periods of time, then maybe I would look into getting a generator.”
“If it’s sporadic, maybe once a year, and it’s only off for a couple of hours, then maybe you could get away with maybe not having one.”
But as Cameron points out, “There’s no definitive answer on when a storm’s going to go through and what’s going to happen either.”
Preparation Tips Before the Storm Hits
The key to storm readiness isn’t just having equipment—it’s making sure that equipment will actually work when you need it most.
- Store Equipment Properly: “If you have any chainsaws that you already have or any generators that you already have, just make sure that you’re storing your chainsaws properly [and] you don’t leave fuel in them,” Cameron advises.
- Don’t Let Fuel Sit: “Or if you do have fuel, that it’s a canned fuel that can be shelf-stable. That way, later on, when you do need to start it, you’re not going to have a fuel issue.” The same principle applies to generators: “We don’t want that fuel sitting in that generator for a long amount of time, or else it’s going to break down and cause carburetor issues.”
- Start Up Your Generators Monthly: Cameron’s simple maintenance tip: “Generators definitely don’t hurt to start them up once a month, make sure they’re running, making sure everything keeps running the way you need it to for when that storm does hit.”
Commercial Storm Preparedness
For businesses, landscaping crews, and municipalities, storm preparedness takes on even greater urgency. Downtime isn’t just inconvenient—it can be costly and impact the communities they serve.
At Ty’s, we understand these higher stakes. That’s why we maintain an extensive inventory and have systems in place to help commercial clients get back up and running quickly.
Why Choose Ty’s for Storm Preparedness?
When storms hit, you need equipment that works and a team that understands the urgency. At Ty’s, we’ve built our reputation on being ready when our community needs us most.
We maintain a deep inventory of essential storm equipment, including chainsaws, pole saws, and generators from trusted brands. More importantly, we know how to help you choose the right equipment for your specific needs without overselling or leaving you unprepared.
Get Storm-Ready Today With Ty’s Outdoor Power
The best time to prepare for the next storm is before you need to. Whether you’re a homeowner who wants to be ready or a business owner who can’t afford downtime, our team is here to help you make smart decisions about storm preparedness.
Stop by our Gretna location or browse our online inventory. We’ll walk you through your options, help you understand what equipment makes sense for your situation, and make sure you’re ready for whatever weather comes our way.
