Jun 21 2007
Royal Sovereign International, a manufacturer of portable air conditioners, wants to help prepare the South for this year's hurricane season. The aftermath of recent storms like Hurricanes Charley, Wilma, and Katrina left millions of Gulf Coast and South Florida residents without power for days, and ultimately, without air conditioning during the hot summer months.
"Portable air conditioners can be a saving grace for many hurricane victims without power," commented Brian Murphy, Marketing Manager for Royal Sovereign. "All you need is a generator to power up the unit and a window to vent the exhaust, and you'll have cold air blowing in no time."
Royal Sovereign produces several series of portable air conditioners that can help keep Southerners cool and comfortable during blackouts caused by hurricanes. These portable units are rated from 9,000 to 12,000 BTUs, consume 680 to 1450 Watts of electricity, and retail from $250 to $600. Units can be purchased at Sears, Kmart, and Fry's stores throughout the South, as well as online at Costco.com and Amazon.com.
Why a portable air conditioner? Unlike a window unit, which is built-in and confined to a given room, a portable unit rests on casters and can be moved throughout the home. The mobility of this cooling device makes it more convenient than a window unit, easily providing cooling comfort for storm victims without power.
After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall in southeast Louisiana on August 29, 2005, over six million people had lost electricity. And only a few weeks later, Hurricane Wilma slammed into South Florida, leaving another 6 million people in the dark and in the heat.
With the heat of the 2007 hurricane season just around the corner, residents and business owners still have time to prepare for what will supposedly be a very active season.