Disaster preparedness experts agree that solar energy is one of the most effective tools for disaster preparedness. In today’s world, everything runs off electricity. After a hurricane, for instance, you will want to ensure you have power for your cellphone to contact family and friends. It is also an important asset to ensure that various appliances in the home remain powered on. For instance, you can keep the fridge running, which will ensure your food remains fresh during a disaster.
Portable Solar Generators for Disaster Preparedness
A portable solar generator is a great tool to have for disaster preparedness. In case you have to leave your home for higher ground, it will provide you with the power you need while on the go. A solar generator will capture and store solar energy, which you can use to power computers, phones, and other appliances.
The more powerful the generator, the more appliances you can power. For instance, if you have a big enough solar generator, you can power a small freezer to preserve your food until gird power is restored. It can also be used to power the television and cooking stoves to ensure you are updated and you can cook for your family.
Off-Grid Preparation
If you are serious about expecting the unexpected, you need to consider going off-grid. With off-grid solutions, you will need a battery bank to store power produced by the PV panels. An off-grid system ensures that you can meet the power needs of your family for the long term.
It can even mean you will never need to use the grid again to power your home. During emergencies, a fully off-grid system will continue to power the home. It will provide heating, cooling, hot water, and lighting. Since solar power is more affordable today than ever before, going off-grid should be relatively affordable.
Get the Right Panels
During a hurricane, the solar panels will be the most vulnerable part of the solar system. They will need to withstand winds of up to 160 mph. However, if winds go higher than that, it is likely your solar panels will be damaged.
Hail is also going to be a challenge. Depending on the size of the hail, the panels could be damaged. However, this rarely occurs. Most panels are designed to withstand hails of up to one inch falling at 50 mph.
When picking solar panels with disaster preparedness in mind, you will also need to think of the storage system. The grid will likely go down during a hurricane, or it will be spotty. Remember that the quality of your panels will depend on how much you spent on them. If you want high-quality solar panels that can withstand a hurricane, you will also need to make the proper investment. To help you make the right choice, consider reaching out to a solar installer. They will guide you on how to purchase a solar system for disaster preparedness.