Briggs & Stratton Provides Generators to Power the Vote

MILWAUKEE, Nov. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Briggs & Stratton Corporation (NYSE: BGG) has responded to Hurricane Sandy by providing powerless Long Island, N.Y., residents with hundreds of portable generators to power polling stations on Election Day. The company partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to distribute more than 800 portable generators in the area, which will allow Americans to cast their vote despite not having electricity at polling locations.

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"As an American company, we're proud to help Nassau and Rockland County, N.Y., residents exercise their right to elect our leaders. Voting is so central to our nation's identity, we felt it was our duty to assist Hurricane Sandy victims as best we could, especially as portable generator inventory and gasoline are scarce in the area," said Eric Loferski, director of marketing for Briggs & Stratton's Portable Power division. 

The Department of Homeland Security reached out to a Briggs & Stratton generator dealer in the Long Island area late last week in search of portable generators. Within the next 24 hours, the company's regional sales managers had provided 804 generators transported by the truckload mainly from Briggs & Stratton dealerships in Maryland and Virginia. By late Saturday night, the Homeland Security warehouse in Nassau County, N.Y., was filled with generator inventory ready to be mobilized for powering the polling stations.

Briggs & Stratton sales managers and technicians and 50 National Guard members have been on-site throughout the weekend and will be on-hand throughout the day Monday to organize shipments from the warehouse to polling stations.

"Safety is a huge priority when operating a portable generator," explained Loferski. "Since workers at polling stations may not be aware how to properly operate a generator, we've attached our safety information and operating instructions to each and every generator so they're front and center when poll volunteers receive them. Portable generators should never be operated indoors or in garages or enclosures even when doors or windows are open, or near windows, doors or openings where fumes could accumulate."

Briggs & Stratton has a long history of helping in times of need. At the start of hurricane season, the company donated $1 million worth of generators and pressure washers to the American Red Cross to assist with disaster relief efforts. 

"We are glad to be in a position to work with the Red Cross and help those on the East Coast who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy," said Laura Timm, Briggs & Stratton director of corporate communications. 

About Briggs & Stratton Corporation

Briggs & Stratton Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the world's largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment. Its wholly owned subsidiary Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group LLC is North America's number one manufacturer of portable generators and pressure washers, and is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of home standby generators, along with lawn and garden and turf care through its Simplicity®, Snapper®, Ferris® and Murray® brands. Briggs & Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed and serviced in over 100 countries on six continents. For more information, visit: www.briggsandstratton.com.

SOURCE Briggs & Stratton Corporation