Blackout Survival

Are you ready for winter storms and the power outages that come with them?

“ Midwest Storm Brings Record Snowfall.” Remember that CNN headline from December, 2004? Or how ‘bout the January 23, 2005 AP headline “Ohio Whacked with another Winter Storm?” Ohio was pummeled with a series of storms from December 22, 2004 through February 1, 2005. According to the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness, ice storms, heavy rains, severe snow storms and flooding affected 62 of Ohio’s 88 counties. More than 400,000 Ohio homes and businesses lost power in the December 22nd storm.

With Ohio already experiencing colder than normal temperatures, this year’s winter weather predictions are all over the place. The Farmer’s Almanac predicts a heavy storm in mid-December, while the National Weather Service says El Nino will moderate our winter weather. Which means nobody really knows. But there need be no such uncertainty when it comes to your preparedness for winter weather and its accompanying power outages.

In September of this year the 3-D Service Generator Division launched its Blackout Survival Program. This program prepares a business in advance for the safe and efficient transfer of service to a temporary rental generator during a power outage. How does the program work? A 3-D Service technician visits your business and performs a site survey to determine generator needs, required voltage / amperage / phase, cabling needs, power distribution points and any auxiliary equipment that may be needed. (A nominal fee may be charged for survey depending on the size of your facility.) We can also install transfer switches or you can use an electrical contractor of your choice. This information then is stored in our database. Once you have received your welcome packet, you can rest easy knowing you’re ready for the next outage.

The availability of a transfer switch and the manpower necessary to install equipment under emergency conditions is in most cases very expensive and in some cases not possible, such as in the December 22, 2004 storm. By participating in the Blackout Survival Program, a business is prepared in advance. In the event of a power outage, with a single phone call to 3‑D Service we can reference your stored information and then deliver and hook up mobile generators, quickly restoring power.

3-D Service also offers a full line of permanently installed stand-by generators with automatic transfer switch as well as predictive maintenance and load bank testing. Routine maintenance including load bank testing is the only way to make sure your backup generator will provide power quickly and reliably when you need it most. Call 330-830-3500 for details about our Blackout Survival Program and our standby generator services.