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| Photo by Gene Gallin on Unsplash |
September is National Preparedness Month (NPM), a time to raise awareness regarding the importance of being prepared for disasters and emergencies that can interrupt our lives at any time. The theme this year is "Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love."
Yes, but what does this have to do with diesel? That is what Readiness and Resilience: Preparing for the Next Disaster is all about.
The story, published last week in the Diesel Technology Forum, begins like this:
Diesel is the gold standard for working in difficult conditions, when the most power is needed that can go deep into backcountry and work for hours, being highly mobile and untethered. Diesel’s hidden asset is the supportive and available global network of engine and equipment dealers, mobile and fixed fueling options, servicing, rental and parts networks.
From here the article details various aspects of preparedness, outlining the myriad types of disasters that have occurred and showing how diesel powered equipment has played an important role in helping us address these issues.
Some disasters are weather-related. The heavy floods in Tennessee and Europe are examples. The devastation wrought by wildfires out West have been brought on by drought. Other disasters, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, have made all of us feel uneasy and vulnerable.
The article cites the collapse of Champlain Towers in Surfside Florida as well. Though not really weather related, it no doubt has made some people lose sleep regarding the safety of their own condos and townhouses.
The upside to all these news stories is that they can nudge us into action to think about, plan and prepares for our own readiness should the unexpected occur. Do you have an evacuation plan for emergencies? This is what National Preparedness Month seeks to instill in us, to get us thinking about our own preparedness.
One aspect of preparedness, the article goes on to say, "is having the right tools and technology that you can count on." This, naturally, leads into the real point the DTF wants to get across.
In these kinds of crises we turn to first responders -- those who get the first calls for rescues and getting folks out of critical situations -- jump into action and rush to the scene with trucks, gear and equipment. Their aim is to minimize loss of life and property. They also focus on keeping the power grid intact as well a transportation byways open.
Utilities are a central concern for the response network. Having the equipment ready and personnel -- there are national networks for bringing in personnel -- all contribute to dramatically reducing response times recovery and restoration.
The article outlines the specialized heavy equipment for dealing with fallen power lines or cell towers. Other specialized equipment is used to lift and removed downed trees, drill holes to reset 120-foot poles, replace transformers and more. Sometimes refrigeration and cooling equipment is required. It all adds up to an impressive arsenal.
Coastal cities are dealing with increased flooding, like that taking place in New Jersey and New York right now in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Pumping stations and towable mobile dewatering pumps are part of the readiness inventory, along with backup generators, skid steer loaders and other material handling equipment.
Building collapses, too, require heavy equipment to clean up debris. The initial response team uses specialized equipment and techniques to find and rescue survivors in such tragedies.
Wildfires have their own mix of equipment needs from bulldozers and planes to pumper trucks, water tankers, and all-terrain field fire response vehicles. Those bulldozers may not be fast but they are powerful, and have a remarkable ability to maneuver through challenging terrain. They are a critical part of wildlife response effort. They boldly work to clear fire breaks, often at the fire's edge.
In all these readiness and response activities, diesel power plays a significant role. When dealing with emergencies of such a magnitude, having the right equipment is a must. In most cases it's diesel powered equipment because it's reliable, versatile, available and proven. Diesel power is a central part of being prepared.
The article ends by reminding us that Diesel plays an important role in our world today. You can read the original account here.
