How Alternative Energy Can Help With Better Hurricane Relief Efforts in Florida

Natural disasters like floods and hurricanes cost billions of dollars in insurance. What’s worse, depending on the intensity, these disasters can negatively affect economic growth and raise gas and food prices. And that is precisely what the state of Florida is experiencing at the moment. The region is still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Irma, which has officially been deemed the 10th most widespread natural disaster in American history (Source: www.businessinsider.in). And with relief efforts still underway, now might be a good time to discuss how alternative energy can help the affected in the Tampa Bay region, the Keys, and southwestern Florida.

Better Alternative Technology Means More Power

Power is usually the first thing to go once a disaster strikes. Generators and electricity lines sustain damage, and there is no energy left to run machines that can help bring everything back to normal or clean up the mess. Thankfully, innovative solar technology can turn the situation around. Equipment such as flexible solar panels makes amazing first-response emergency solutions for hurricane-affected areas. They act as a source of emergency power. One can roll them out from trucks like a carpet to ensure energy security. The flexible and creative designs allow you to recharge your vehicle by rolling out the solar panels. Being rigid and durable, these flexible solar power systems can withstand numerous roll-ins and roll-outs without any damage.

Fulfilling the Fuel Demand

When you don’t have fuel, it becomes difficult to coordinate statewide hurricane relief efforts. Everywhere you go, you’re greeted with the same "Out of Fuel" sign. Even if you do come across a gas station that’s still functioning, you’ll have to wait in a queue. Such instances not only remind us of how the majority of the transportation industry is still dependent on diesel or gasoline but serve as a wake-up call for Floridians to adopt alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs).

These automobiles improve emergency preparedness and assist with recovery. How? Well, for starters, AFVs operate on battery power while stationary, thereby saving fuel and preventing engine idling. Some vehicle models also run on biodiesel and are equipped with energy tanks for emergency purposes.

Maintaining Telecommunications

Coordinating the operations of emergency services requires a reliable telecommunications network. Unfortunately, hurricanes often knock down rural telecom towers, disconnecting them from the grid network. The worst part is, it takes nearly 72 hours for technicians to reconnect the towers to the grid, especially in hurricane-prone areas of the US like Florida. Thus, telecom operators in the state need to adopt backup power. This backup power is available in the form of fuel cells, which you can attach to generators for an uninterrupted service. These fuel cells offer widespread longevity and availability since they last a minimum of 10 years before requiring any replacement.

The hurricane season in Florida begins in June and lasts until November end. The months between late August and October are the worst affected, and a good way to bolster the relief efforts in cities like Tampa, Fort Myers, Naples, and Miami is to adopt alternative energy technology. Apart from using fewer resources, this technology is more resilient and effective during natural disasters.

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