Why Emergency Generators Matter

Emergency generators are crucial during any recovery effort, from natural disasters to simple power failures. Virtually everything we use on a daily basis is dependent on electricity, so whenever people lose power, these types of power generators enable them to keep going. While they may come in the form of mobile generators that are delivered after the emergency has occurred, they may also be stationary power sources that lay dormant until the moment when they are needed.

Mobile Generators and Natural Disasters

In the event of a natural disaster, millions of people can lose power in a matter of hours. Storms like Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012, for example, demonstrated how the infrastructure of a region can be virtually destroyed. When this happens people can lose power for days or weeks at a time, necessitating the use of emergency generators. Portable generators like these are often utilized by disaster relief agencies, because they can moved into an area in just a few hours and may provide power to whoever needs it. In some cases, this may mean that people who would have otherwise not had power can access warm shelter, clean water and the opportunity to recharge portable electronic devices.

Emergency Generators in the Hospital

Places that provide health care, like hospitals, hospices and nursing homes, often have their own on-site emergency power sources. Unlike mobile generators, these are immobile power sources that stay on-site and are not used until they are needed. This way, hospitals do not have to worry about losing the power that keeps people on electricity-powered machines like life support systems and IV drips. These generators are equipped to handle high power demand, so even major institutions are able to continue providing power in an emergency.

How an Emergency Generator Works

Whether stationary or portable, generators don't just create energy out of nothing. They run on fuel, typically gasoline, which they burn to create energy. Think of it like powering your car, except that the energy created from burning case isn't used to run an engine–it's used to dispense electricity for whatever application needs it. This is why natural disasters that cause widespread power loss also create fuel shortages—everybody needs gasoline in order to power their generators.

The Importance of Testing

Fuel-burning emergency generators need to be tested on a regular basis, because if they aren't in working order, the people depending on them may be out of luck when disaster strikes. Generators should be checked to ensure that they have enough fuel, and that they are protected from the elements—for example, if an emergency generator room is vulnerable to flooding, the generator could become submerged in a disaster situation and not function properly. If you don't have an on-site generator, you should understand what your power needs would be during a long-term power loss. This enables you to make plans with mobile generator rental service, so when you do lose power, you know that help is on the way.

If you are scheduling downtime for your own generator or

system,

a company that specializes in mobile solutions to see if they have something the right size for you.

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