When
Hurricane Matthew tore through the Caribbean
and up the coast of the United States last month, the deadly hurricane lasted
11 days and caused record-breaking flooding and sustained winds over 100mph.
After the storm moved through, residents and aid agencies faced the daunting
task of reestablishing access to basic necessities and sanitation. And efforts to recover were impeded in many
areas by
massive power outages and washed out bridges
and roads.
To many of our SUNRNR customers, hurricanes are no
strangers. Over the years their names
have changed, but their impact and threat of impact is familiar and
constant. While a SUNRNR may be a solar
+ storage portable solution for off-grid, agribusiness, or daily use, an
extreme weather event such as Hurricane Matthew exemplifies the crucial need
for emergency power that is safe and reliable.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency identifies
4
Phases of Emergency Management:
Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. Emergencies may give little or no warning and
evacuation is not always an option. This cycle provides a good framework for
identifying when and how to incorporate portable solar + storage into your
emergency plans.
Mitigation
“During Hurricane
Charlie we were without power for two weeks.
We were prepared this time.” - SUNRNR owner, Mark O.
The goal of mitigation is to reduce the damaging effects of
an emergency and to prevent secondary emergencies.
●
What could be the consequences of short term and long
term power outage for yourself, family, neighbors, farm, or business? How will you address food, water, and
sanitation needs, receive emergency announcements, communicate with family, and
refrigerate perishable food or medicine?
●
What have you learned from past events? What could you
improve upon?
●
What power tools would you need for emergency repairs
during or after an event?
Photo courtesy of SUNRNR owners, Gary & Ellen B.
Preparedness
“The storm was
predicted to have 60-70 mph winds here. Prior to the storm, we topped the three
units off to the max with an AC charger, just in case. It’s a good feeling,
knowing that we have this system for everyday use and emergency power!”- SUNRNR owners, Gary & Ellen B.
Preparation enables you to respond more quickly and
efficiently when an emergency is headed your way or is right on your
doorstep.
●
Know your equipment and what your SUNRNR can power. You
don’t want to be reading an owner’s manual when you need to be boarding up
windows or taking care of your family or livestock.
●
Do a test run with your SUNRNR ahead of time and
involve everyone in your household.
●
Make sure your generator is fully charged.
Response
“Here we are in the
middle of Hurricane Matthew...but the good thing is that we have the SUNRNR
generator here giving us light, powering the refrigerator, and running some
fans.”
-
SUNRNR owner, Andrew P.
During the Response Phase of Emergency Management,
preparedness plans are put into action to safeguard lives and prevent further
property damage. As you can see in this
video that SUNRNR owner, Andrew recorded
during Hurricane Matthew, having a portable solar + storage generator and
knowing how to use it can power not only essentials but also provide a degree
of calm during a chaotic situation.
●
Let there be light. Not only does illumination create
an emotional sense of safety for you and your family, but it reduces falls and
accidents and allows you to assess damage and identify imminent hazards.
●
Stay informed. Weather emergencies can often create
cascading events. Power your radio or TV and keep your cell phone charged so
you can learn of any additional hazards heading your way, request help,
communicate with family and neighbors, and stay informed about recovery efforts
in your community.
●
Safety first. A SUNRNR generator can be used indoors
and creates no toxic fumes. You can use your generator to power a fan to
keep your family cool and to keep your perishable foods and medicines safe.
Recovery
After the immediate emergency is over, recovery can be
indeterminate and impaired by a damaged infrastructure and a scarcity of
fuel. As soon as the storm has passed
and it’s safe to do so, set out your solar panels so you can begin recharging
your SUNRNR. With solar + storage you
have the ability to care for your basic power needs.
●
Make repairs around your home with the benefit of power
tools.
●
Keep your food fresh.
●
Give support to family, neighbors, or recovery workers
simply by being able to provide a charging station or a cooling station.
Mitigation
What did you learn?
What could you improve to lessen the impact of the next emergency and
power outage?
Hurricane. Tornado. Derecho. Ice storm... The causes of
power outages are countless, but with the 4 Phases of Emergency Management as a
guide, you can use solar + storage to care for your family and property.
