Generators Play Key Role in Natural Disaster Relief

Following a large natural disaster, like a hurricane, speed is key to restore services and prevent additional damage. Getting to the damaged region fast with portable power is key to a quick recovery.
 
Storms can damage roofs, tear open exterior walls, flood, disrupt local utilities, and/or destroy external structures. With wind and water events, structural integrity of buildings is often comprised. Additional water can cause further damage. The longer that the structure remains open to the elements, the worse the damage becomes.

As the armies of emergency workers, insurance adjusters, reclamation firms, and utility crews flood into a disaster zone, restoring power is a pressing need! Power requirements enable operations (after preservation of life and prevention of theft/looting).

Linemen focus on safely returning the electrical grid by clearing debris, repairing lines, and tackling dangerous situations.During an outage, portable diesel generators are used to provide temporary power for a variety of tasks. Generator Source's premier team has supplied diesel generators to such organizations in trying times of strife.

Standby Natural Gas, Diesel, & Portable Generators
In the prepared locations and organizations, permanently installed diesel and natural gas generators can be immediately put to work. When paired with an automatic transfer switch (ATS), backup generators can sense the grid outage and automatically begin powering a facility.

Widespread flooding may hamper automatic operation of generators, especially if the generator and distribution equipment is not properly elevated. Locations with sufficient generator capacity can quickly return their focus to core operational tasks.

When permanent backup generators do not exist or are not sufficient, organizations bring in temporary rental generators to power a variety of tasks.

Temporary housing / command centers - when emergency workers and restoration teams arrive in a disaster area, they need a place to work from. Portable generators can be hooked up to remianing buildings, such as hotels, to provide shelter, a place to coordinate from, and protection from the elements.
More mobile teams may work out of RVs (recreational vehicles) powered by smaller portable generators or using a single trailer mounted generator to power multiple RVs.

Government agencies, such as FEMA or the National Guard may set up tents or trailers requiring power. Larger power module generators (gensets in ISO containers) may be brought in to power hotels or resorts.

Emergency water (including toilets / showers) - as soon as people return to the disaster area, water for drinking, cleaning, bathing, and bathrooms is an immediate need.
Portable generators can power the pumps, lighting, and purification systems needed to care for people before the utility water system is fully operational. Emergency crews bring in water reclamation equipment, such as the Water Fleet Water Rig, to provide potable water while boil notices exist for utility water.

Drying units - Recovery firms use desiccant machines and air movers (large industrial fan systems) to remove moisture from flooded or damaged buildings. This drying process is conducted in conjugation with contractors temporarily (e.g., covering damaged roof with tarps) or permanently repairing the structure to prevent additional rain from coming in.

Supplemental HVAC - When permanent heating and air conditioning equipment is damaged or unavailable, recovery teams may bring in containerized HVAC units to heat or cool buildings during the recovery effort. These power-hungry HVAC units require substantial portable or diesel generators to power them.

Mobile lighting - The nights after a disaster can be very dark as streetlights and other ambient Mobile-Command-Center.pnglights remain off. Mobile lighting units increase safety at key road intersections and in areas where emergency crews are staying. This temporary lighting can also help reduce theft in damaged commercial buildings.

Communications nodes - Generators are used to power both existing cellular phone towers as well as mobile telecom equipment that is brought into the area. These units allow recovery workers to more easily communicate within teams and with outside assets.

Getting a portable generator on-site is the first part of restoring power but a few other key items to consider include:
Moving generator to use location - Once the generator has arrived in the general facility a large pickup truck or forklift may be needed to move the unit to its operational location. Portable generators on trailers make this task easier but generators larger than 100 kW may require a heavy-duty vehicle.

Distribution from generator to end user - After getting the generator to it's operating location, distribution cables will need to be run from the generator to the area where power will be used. This might be large cables running to a manual transfer switch or smaller cables running local distribution boxes (lovingly called spider boxes) for end users. This task is generally accomplished by an electrician, with special care to ensure the natural gas, diesel, or portable generator isn't back feeding to the local utility.

Fuel for generator - Rental generators are generally shipped with minimal fuel so the end customer will need to establish a solution for diesel. As the generator runs, it will be important to fill the diesel tank regularly. Fuel consumption varies by engine size and electrical load on the generator. Fuel companies, such as Sun Coast, often set up emergency fuel distribution networks to enable the use of diesel generators after a disaster. Portable natural gas generators, such as the Mesa 350 kW, can be connected to the utility natural gas connection and run like any other portable generator.

Generator maintenance - Like any engine, running the generator's engine will eventually require maintenance. For short-term use (<1 week), the rental company will generally take care of this maintenance. In longer, constant use scenarios, field technicians may need to perform oil changes at the job site to keep the generator operational.

Story Summary

How quickly can portable generators be deployed after a disaster?
Portable generators can be rapidly deployed to disaster areas. They can provide immediate emergency power while utility crews work on restoring the electrical grid.

What types of facilities typically need emergency generator power first?
Critical facilities like hospitals, police/fire stations, emergency shelters, and water/sewage treatment plants are usually prioritized for emergency generator power after a disaster. Generator Options

What are the main types of generators used for disaster response?
The main options are:

• Standby generators permanently installed on-site
• Portable rental generators brought in temporarily
• Mobile generators mounted on trailers for easy transport

What size generators are typically used for disaster relief?
Generator sizes can range from small 5-10 kW portable units up to large 500+ kW units. The size depends on the specific power needs. Applications

What are some key uses for generators during disaster recovery?
Common applications include:

• Powering emergency shelters and command centers
• Running water pumps and purification systems
• Powering drying equipment for flood damage
• Providing lighting and communications
• Operating temporary HVAC systems

How are generators used to support emergency responders?
Generators can power temporary housing, command centers, communications equipment, and lighting to support emergency response teams working in disaster areas.

What fuel considerations are there for emergency generators?
Diesel is commonly used and requires refueling. Natural gas generators can connect to utility lines if available. Fuel supply and storage are important logistical factors.

What's involved in setting up a portable generator on-site?
Key steps include:

• Transporting the generator to the site
• Positioning it properly
• Running power distribution cables
• Connecting to the building's electrical system
• Fueling the generator
• Ongoing maintenance

Kyle Smith | 9/21/2020 2:29:39 PM | 0 comments