HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS FACT SHEET
70% POWER OUTAGES IN THE U.S. ARE WEATHER RELATED
natural disaster impact
40%
of small businesses won’t reopen
25%
more small businesses will close
75%
of businesses without a contingency plan will fail
Source: 2014 data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and US Department of Labor.
The Effects of hurricanes
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Damaged Equipment A loss in power can cause long-term damage to your equipment. One of the largest sources for the damage is the electrical surge that happens when the power returns. The cost to repair the equipment is unanticipated and can set a company back financially.
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Disturbance of Operations The effects of a hurricane’s damage can linger. Some businesses must close for days or even weeks, which results in a loss of revenue. Having to close down delays manufacturing efforts as well as the ability to sell inventory.
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Power Outages The Department of Energy estimates $150 billion in costs due to power outages. If a business has no power, productivity goes down. Employees rely on electricity and may not be able to complete assignments during an outage. If dealing with food, perishables must be thrown out after as little as four hours.
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Your People With customers all over the world, sales, emails and inquiries don’t slow down. However, your people have plenty on their minds including their personal safety and losses. Employee safety and well-being becomes a top priority in a disaster situation, even above financial concerns.
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Property Damage High winds and flooding stemming from a hurricane can wreak havoc on your business’ property. It could take weeks or longer to clean up after flooding to make sure there is no lingering mold. Other repairs may be necessary from fallen trees or power lines and debris.
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Stored Computer Data Lost Computers and other operating systems need to shut down properly and an outage from a hurricane can cause these devices to shut down unexpectedly. Files that you were working on could be lost or corrupted.
- FINANCIAL LOSSES FROM POWER OUTAGES AT MISSION-CRITICAL FACILITIES RANGE FROM
$20,000 to $2 Million Per occurrence** - in the past decade, an estimated 679 widespread power oUtages occurred due to severe weather, costing the united states an average of $18 to $33 billion***
- the average cost per minute of unplanned outage incReased from $5,617 IN 2010 to $7,908 in 2013 to a current price tag of $8,851
Comprehensive emergency power plan
If your organization is vulnerable to hurricanes, it is important that you understand your risk, develop a preparedness and mitigation plan and take action. FEMA reports that 80% of a building’s value is in its equipment, inventory and other contents. The agency said after a hurricane, 50% of your inventory is unsellable or that 50% of your equipment is damaged. To address if your business is ready, you need to identify the potential impact on your systems/structure, staff, vendors, suppliers and organization staff.
be prepared. plan ahead for power outages
STEP 1: Determine How Much Power Your Business Needs Your emergency standby generator must be able to back up all life-safety equipment in the chance an outage. After that, you can choose what you would like to back up. You can back up your entire facility, or certain critical loads.
Skip Steps 2 & 3 if you do not need a rental mobile unit while waiting for standby unit to be installed.
STEP 2: Plan if You Need Backup Power Now If you need backup power now, Generac offers a line of mobile products that can power your business while your standby unit is being installed.
STEP 3: Determine Additional Equipment/Accessories Needed for Mobile ProductYour mobile generator may require a variety of accessories.
STEP 4: Determine Your Fuel Type All of Generac’s fuel types have their own unique benefits. Depending on your infrastructure, one fuel type may be more ideal than another. Different areas have different laws you must follow, and it is important to make sure the fuel type you choose is code compliant for your area.
STEP 5: Choose Appropriate Set Features for Your Generator Select from a variety of features that meet your business site’s specific requirements
STEP 6: Request a QuoteYou are now ready to request a quote and get in touch with your local Generac distributor. To request a quote go to generac.com/industrial/requestpricing or call 844-ASK-GNRC
STEP 7: Fueling Provider No matter what fuel you have, you will need a supplier. Having a reliable fuel supplier is crucial when the power goes down.
STEP 8: Conduct a Practice RunIt is important to run through your plan before an actual outage occurs. Set a time to run a drill with your generator.
preparation in advance can help limit damage
Visit generac.com/industrial to create a comprehensive emergency power plan that is right for your business.