HURRICANES. How Electrical Service Providers Prepare NETA Spotlight Stage Presentation

Transcription

1 HURRICANES How Electrical Service Providers Prepare

2 HURRICANES HURT ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS What is a Hurricane and how often do they happen Why is a Hurricane bad for electrical equipment What can you do to prepare your electrical service business to take advantage of Hurricanes and other natural disasters How do you process the job and communicate with the customer

3 WHAT IS A HURRICANE A tropical cyclone is a rotating low-pressure weather system that has organized thunderstorms but no fronts (a boundary separating two air masses of different densities). When a storm's maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph, it is called a hurricane. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating, or category, based on a hurricane's maximum sustained winds. The higher the category, the greater the hurricane's potential for property damage. Hurricanes originate in the Atlantic basin, which includes the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico, the eastern North Pacific Ocean, and, less frequently, the central North Pacific Ocean. "Hurricane Season" begins on June 1 and ends on November 30, although hurricanes can, and have, occurred outside of this time frame. NOAA's National Hurricane Center predicts and tracks these massive storm systems, which occur, on average, 12 times a year in the Atlantic basin.

4 WHY IS A HURRICANE BAD FOR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT First bullet point here Second bullet point here Third bullet point here

5 WHY IS A HURRICANE BAD FOR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT First bullet point here Second bullet point here Third bullet point here

6 WHAT CAN NOT BE RECONDITIONED Equipment that must be replaced: Arc-Fault and Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters Batteries Lightning, ballasts, and LED Drivers Low and Medium Voltage Fuses Molded-Case Circuit Breakers Outlet and Junction Boxes Receptacles Signaling, Protection, Communications Systems Surge Protective Devices Switches and Dimmers Transformers Uninterruptible Power Supply Wire or Cable (for dry area)

7 WHAT CAN BE RECONDITIONED Equipment that may be reconditioned: High Voltage AC Circuit Breakers Low and Medium Voltage Switchgear Low-Voltage Power Circuit Breakers Motors Panelboards Switchboards Wire or Cable (for wet areas that have not been damaged/ends not exposed

8 HOW TO PREPARE Awareness & Scheduling Stock up Be aware of weather predictions and have an understanding of the geographical area likely to be affected Cancel vacations or time off to allow for as many hands on deck as possible create a schedule Be sure you have plenty of incidentals on hand like coffee and toilet paper Be sure you have plenty of needed job materials (like plywood or packaging materials) these items could be scarce Reschedule or redeploy other production or shop work Be aware of freight and shipping logistics Be aware of lodging and transportation issues if sending people

9 HOW TO PREPARE Have an Approved Vendor List Credit & Financial Resources NOT all Vendors are the same A requirement of many Quality Systems is an Approved Vendor List In an emergency situation it could be necessary to spend thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars up front before receiving any money from your customer. Approved Vendors are known in their fields and will be familiar with who you are and why you are calling Typically you already have an open account or line of credit with an Approved Vendor Group CBS is a known vendor for all types of American made electrical distribution equipment and solutions Many products like labor, machine or equipment rental, shop supplies, hotel accommodations, travel will need to be paid at point of impact. Without the proper financial wherewithal it is hard to accept or manage these types of jobs. Having good credit is important along with credit cards and even a Line of Credit.

10 HOW TO PREPARE Make Contacts PRIOR to event Have Credentials & Friends During and immediately after the event is usually the wrong time to make a first contact. In many instances the local employees are worried about their own homes and families and are thus unavailable. Many times, firms from outside the affected area will be called upon to assist. Know who they are prior to the event. Be sure you have interacted with professionals who will be involved in the recovery or revitalization of affected facilities and equipment like NETA companies There are also individuals who have studied or are certified as Disaster Recovery Professionals or Business Continuity Specialists Be sure that local officials also know about your services (FEMA, NETA Companies, TEGG Contractors, Chambers of Commerce)

11 NEEDED TO PREPARE OR RESPOND

12 ITEMS NEEDED TO RECOVER

13 HOW TO PROCESS Communications Financial Considerations It is extremely important that you and your customer have an agreed upon workscope and understanding of the project and the required deliverables. Be sure your customer has the financial wherewithal to finance the remediation and pay your bills on time (many big companies self insure). Many times, you are fighting time as much as the customer and it is important not to forgo normal job processes and Quality Control. Be careful that you do not get caught in the middle of the customer and/or their insurance provider and/or any governmental agency that is funding repairs File a UCC to become a secured creditor

14 SOLVE THE PROBLEMS Our Group has been involved in numerous disaster situations including hurricanes, floods and fires. By having a reactive plan we are able to step in and be a valued resource for customers in this unfortunate situation. These jobs are also some of the most lucrative work we do. Group CBS is here to help.

15 The Electrical Safety Foundation Hurricane Safety Tips Edison Electric Institute Evaluating Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment NEMA Hurricanes, Before and After Munich Re How to Prepare for a Hurricane FEMA Disaster Recover as a Service Sungard Availability Services Disaster Recovery Institute Electrical Disaster Recovery - Shermco SOURCES & PUBLICATIONS