As the East coast states and Midwest works to clean up the damage from Hurricane Katia and recent tornadoes, emergency solar is playing an ever increasing role at the home level. We are fielding calls everyday from residence living in the Midwest and coastal states who are updating their home and business disaster preparedness plans and including an emergency solar generator. Not coincidentally, this month has been declared National Preparedness Month by President Barack Obama. As part of it, the Federal Emergency Management Agencies are pushing the past disasters as a means to be ready for future events.
As the April tornadoes and Hurricane Irene showed, people may need to survive on their own after a disaster, which means having food, water and other supplies for each family member for at least three days. Emergency solar generators are playing a bigger role because if the electricity is down so are the local gas pumps. An emergency solar generator with battery backup can keep your refrigerator cold, lights on and allow you to stay tuned to TV or radio information updates.
Recommended items in a basic emergency supply kit should last for up to 5 days before help arrives. These items include bottled water, nonperishable food, a NOAA weather radio, first aid kit and a battery-powered flashlight. Preparedness can also means
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having an alternate source of electricity like having an emergency solar generator to make the initial recovery just a little bit easier. Also, remember the unique needs of family members, as well as any pets, when making the kit and a family emergency plan. Water is life, we recommend a gallon of water per person a day for at least five days be stockpiled somewhere safe on the property.
The first important decision is to create a family plan, depending on the type of disaster and whether you stay put or evacuate. Family members may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations in case of emergency. Emergency solar generators also come in handy by keeping cell phones charged when the power is out to keep in contact or call for help.
If you must evacuate, plan places where family members will meet, both within and outside of your immediate neighborhood. Also, choose several destinations for different emergencies and identify an out-of-town contact. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
Have a family member outside the area as a contact in case others can’t get in touch with you, that person will be the contact. People are also urged to ask about emergency plans at work, day care, schools and other places. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. Also, talk to neighbors about working together in the event of an emergency. If your home is the only one on the block with an off-grid emergency solar generator, you bet your neighbors will appreciate being able to charge batteries and stay in touch as much as your family.
Preparations change according to an area’s most common disasters. People should create a plan for each situation. In each case, an emergency solar generator can go along way in helping to provide security and safety.
Source: Huntsville Times