Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/117833
Tactical (���When Disaster Strikes, Dealers are Power-ful��� continued from page 34) visible with our increased reliance on computers, it is still a challenge to get customers to fully anticipate what their power needs will be once the disaster is over. Since 2001, the Caterpillar dealer has supported customers through seven hurricanes, three major power events and the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. He also knows all too well that conditions created by disasters can sometimes wreak havoc on generator systems as well as the dealership support teams sent to look after them ��� dealers and their employees are far from immune to the impact of disasters. As Sandy rolled in, the company���s fleet of 200 generators and 300 associated support devices poured out and was virtually depleted by the Thursday before the storm hit. H.O. Penn lost four service vans due to fast-rising floodwaters and had to set up a temporary command in a hotel conference room when their phone and Internet switching service went out. Safety is the No. 1 concern when sending technicians out to monitor generator systems on customer sites, where they can sometimes remain for days. Management is in constant communication and ensure their techs get adequate relief from their Considerations H.O. Penn lost four of its service vehicles due to fast-rising floodwaters during Sandy, a reminder that even as they rush to help others, dealers, too, suffer hardships in times of disaster. duties when their services are at peak demand. Callahan calls on other company resources to step up and help manage his Group���s workload. ���The most important thing for dealers, for anyone, is to have an emergency plan,��� said Callahan. This begins with a site audit. Among those aspects to be considered in a site audit are how much power is needed and when; connection points and whether or not the emergency power generation will need to power the entire operation or just critical functions. Other considerations include determining where the generator should be located, accessibility to service and fuel, and the effects of sound and emissions. ���Emergency power can sometimes stretch out weeks,��� said Callahan. ���Over time, the sound and exhaust will affect neighborhoods.��� While H.O. Penn is experienced in dealing with disasters, Callahan says ���every circumstance is different.��� They learn from every experience. After Hurricane Sandy the company is now working on developing a better alternative should the phone and Internet go out again. Why Generators Fail While manufacturers pointed out the reliability of diesel, participants in the webinar wanted to know why generators often fail during emergencies. ���At Cummins, the No. 1 reason we see gen-sets fail during an emergency situation is because they have been neglected on maintenance,��� said Matt Menzel, application engineering team leader with Cummins U.S. and Canada. ���Within that category, the No. 1 cause is battery failure,��� he added. Other experts agreed. Battery failure could be alleviated up front with proper maintenance or a properly functioning battery life indicator. Wear and tear from shipping can also cause some problems as the units are often in transit to meet local demand. In other situations, generator failure can sometimes be due to other issues within the electrical system. Power Outages on the Rise The loss of electrical power due to storms, natural disasters and high power demands are occurring with increasing frequency. The cost estimates for outages in the U.S. amounts to approximately $80 billion to $100 billion annually. Two-thirds of the outages are weather related, ranging from ice storms, hurricanes, lightning strikes and other incidents. Our economy���s growing dependence on technology and interconnected systems that require electricity means increased demand for portable power to ensure reliability in the event of a power outage. Hospitals, data centers, water and sewage facilities, fueling stations, and communication and transportation systems require continuous power to protect public health and safety. Whatever the reason for an increase in weather-related disasters, it represents a tremendous opportunity for dealers with power solutions. With each catastrophic event, emergency responders review problems and look for new best practices. As a result of fuel shortages after Hurricane Sandy, New Jersey is considering a legislative bill that would require generators to be installed at gas stations. In New York, a recently proposed bill would provide financial incentives for stations that voluntarily install generators. For dealers in the power systems business, all of this means one thing ��� growing demand for equipment and services. n Portable Power in an Emergency Important Considerations for Dealers Where will it be located? What is the distance to the connection point? n Is it accessible to service and fuel? n How will the sound and the exhaust affect the surrounding environment? n n 36 | www.cedmag.com | Construction Equipment Distribution | April 2013 34_Emergency_Feature_KP.indd 36 3/25/13 12:40 PM