In August, as Hurricane Irene aimed for the U.S.'s Eastern Seaboard, residents along the coast went shopping. Stores were cleaned out as people bought essentials to help them get through the storm and clean up in the aftermath. In a few hours, flashlights, batteries and essential food items were in short supply across the region.

As Hurricane Irene roars toward the East Coast, demand for portable generators produced by Briggs & Stratton Corp. is on the rise

Kohler Power Systems, a premium manufacturer and marketer of world-class generators and automatic transfer switches, has announced the launch of two new generators - a 6 kilowatt variable speed generator which takes Kohler into the renewable energy and light commercial markets, and a 38 kilowatt generator that expands the company's residential and light commercial product offering.

Briggs & Stratton Corp. has donated 240 generators to help provide power to areas of Haiti still devastated by the Jan. 12 earthquake.