Preparing for the Worst

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Disasters can hit at any moment; just ask those left in the wake of the catastrophic 2017 hurricane season.

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People were without power for weeks, and it had deadly consequences. It was also the costliest season on record, eclipsing more than $200 billion in damage. For 2018, the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University currently projects a slightly above-average season, with 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major (Category 3 or above) hurricanes. When the rain starts pouring down, it is too late to come up with a plan. That is why it pays to be prepared. The 2018 hurricane season is upon us, and now is the time to get ready.

Generac Mobile Products has the equipment needed for disaster preparation and recovery. Generac mobile generators, light towers and pumps offer versatility and flexibility in planning and response, as trailered mobile products can be deployed quickly and moved as needed. This allows your disaster preparation and response to be flexible and agile as situations evolve.

Interruptions in electrical power, even of a short duration, create situations that can affect public health and safety. Gregg Eberhardt, product manager, Generac Mobile Products, said rental companies are well versed in understanding the impact that hurricane season can have.

"They have already prepared their units by running them through their preventative maintenance intervals," said Eberhardt. "Rental companies should then continue to monitor storm activity in order to move equipment from areas that have lower utilization to areas of higher anticipated utilization."

Unit distribution depends on the company and how many branches they have. If a storm is expected in a given area, they will send fleets to that area, if they are available. In the case of a major event, sometimes rental companies may even pre-buy to have the units sent and ready to deploy.

Other than going through the preventative maintenance process, Joseph Norris, field service manager, Generac Mobile Products, recommends fuel polishing. "The units tend to sit around waiting for storms to hit, and load banking to full load for one to two hours can help make sure the equipment is ready for a hurricane."

Norris also said that once the storm is over and the unit is returned, the fleet preparation should begin once again. That way the unit can be deployed at a moment's notice without having to undergo maintenance when the next storm hits.>

Outside of having product available, the biggest advice Eberhardt gives to rental companies in preparation of a storm is to focus on service. "As much as everyone wants everything to run smoothly, something will not work and will need to be fixed," he said. "We have an excellent service team that works tirelessly to meet customer needs with parts and on the ground service issues."

Generac Mobile Products has the experience and expertise to help you select the right equipment for your needs and should you need technical support, our team of seasoned experts are available 24/7/365 to help. Count on us to be there with you every step of the way.