New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services


Terms to Know
- Transfer Switch: An electrical switch that switches a load between two sources; some transfer switches are manual (operator effects transfer by throwing switch) while others are automatic and trigger when they sense one of the sources has lost or gained power.
- Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI): A safety device on electrical outlets to shut off electricity if the outlet becomes ungrounded, which would create an unsafe condition and could produce an electrical shock.
- Carbon Monoxide (CO): A poisonous gas that is formed when carbon is not burned completely, especially when gasoline is burned in engines, e.g., automobiles and generators.