There’s no avoiding the headlines about the recent spike in natural disasters around the country. Due to resulting power outages, utilities are often thrust into the spotlight in the wake of a major natural disaster. This position primes utilities to take action in raising awareness for disaster preparation for their customers. Since the efficiency kits model has proven success rates in effective customer outreach, implementing an emergency preparedness kit program is a great solution to add to your portfolio.
Which Emergency Kit is Best for Your Region
Just as efficiency kits are versatile, flexible, and highly customizable, there’s an emergency preparedness kit fit for your utility, no matter the corner of the country in which you operate. Your kit could be customized to meet the specific needs for the disasters that strike more frequently in your area. Find yourself in tornado alley? There’s a kit for that. Customers living in wildfire-prone hills of an arid climate? There’s a kit for that, too.
If the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association's map below of 2019 major disasters is any indication, then it's safe to assume that few pockets of the country are strangers to weather and climate-related crises.
Essentials to Pack in Your Emergency Preparedness Kit
1. Emergency Plan Checklist & Safety Tips
When disaster strikes, it’s hard to think clearly about what you should do to protect your family. Providing a guide for your customers to be prepared ahead of time will ensure that all members of the household know how to reach each other and where to meet up in the event of an emergency. Also, it’s important to remind your customers of essential tips like keeping mobile phone usage to a minimum to conserve battery life.
2. Survival Gear
No emergency kit would be complete without a first aid kit and mylar blankets. Although not directly related to utilities’ bread and butter services, these items are essential to providing a well-rounded offering of emergency preparedness tools that your customers will be thankful for when the time comes to use them.
3. Efficient Battery-Powered and Hand-Crank Devices
It goes without saying, but when choosing products to include in your emergency preparedness kit, it’s vital to select items that come in handy in the event of an outage. Battery-powered products like a camping lantern or this battery back-up LED lightbulb are easy to use, come with a convenient hook for safe overhead placement, and charges when the light is on, so it’s always ready to shine. Customers will especially appreciate having access to such convenient and useful items when they need it most.
4. Solar-Powered Devices
It’s not uncommon that after a major natural disaster, the clouds part and the sun shines bright, but customers still find themselves without power. That’s when solar-powered devices are particularly useful. To ensure safe communication, solar-charging power banks are great for keeping mobile phones juiced up and ready to use in case of an emergency.
Thinking about adding disaster preparedness kit program to your outreach efforts? Contact us today!