Emergency preparedness and recovery is a critical component to safeguarding our communities. As we grow ever more reliant on the utility grid, we are delivered with a stark reminder of how imperative it is to have access to fuel, cash, and food when severe weather knocks out our electrical power.
The Bad News: Outages are Expensive
There is often a large cost impact for businesses without backup power in the event of an extended utility power outage. One year ago Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on Northeast America. In addition to having no
power for nearly a week, Sandy became the second-costliest hurricane in U.S. history to date, according to CNN Hurricane Sandy Fast Facts report. Estimated losses attributed to lost revenue and increased operating costs are nearly $246 million.
“We learned firsthand during Superstorm Sandy that a reliable fuel supply is critical in a disaster to support essential facilities and emergency response operations,” says New Jersey state Governor Christie.
The Good News: States are Taking Action
In the aftermath of Sandy, it was evident that businesses needed to be better equipped in these situations. New Jersey, New York, Florida, Louisiana, and Maryland are among the states that are taking action either through incentive programs or legislation. “We learned firsthand during Superstorm Sandy that a reliable fuel supply is critical in a disaster to support essential facilities and emergency response operations,” says New Jersey State Governor Christie.
- Grant Programs
New Jersey, Maryland, and New York have implemented grant programs to address extended utility power outages. Eligible service stations can receive grants ranging from $13k to $65k to assist with quick connect equipment upgrades, including generators and permanently-installed transfer switches. More information on these programs can be found at ready.nj.gov, energy.maryland.gov, and stormrecovery.ny.gov. - State Legislation
New York, Florida, and Louisiana have implemented legislation requiring motor fuel retail outlets located along evacuation routes to be generator ready with a prewired transfer switch. More information on these laws can be found at stormrecovery.ny.gov, leg.state.fl.us, and legis.state.la.us.
Cost-effective Quick Connect Alternate Generated Power
Being diligent and taking appropriate steps to minimize operational downtime is good business practice.
While some standby power solutions can be quite costly, ESL’s pre-wired emergency quick connect equipment is very cost-effective when comparing all the separate pieces of alternate solutions. In addition, it provides users with a very safe and simple operation to connect portable power in minutes.
Additional information on State Emergency Preparedness legislation and incentives can be found at http://eslpwr.com/manual-transfer-switch-preparedness/.
