Why Floridian Retirement Communities Should Use Emergency Fueling Services

There are many reasons why Florida is such a popular destination for retirees from all over the country, but most are attracted by Florida's balmy tropical climate. And many retirees choose to move into Floridian retirement communities to enjoy the state's year-round warmth.

Unfortunately, Florida's unique climate can be a curse as well as a blessing, and during the height of hurricane season, Floridian retirement communities and their residents can be particularly vulnerable to hurricanes, tropical storms, and other devastating weather phenomena.

Why Are Retirement Communities So Vulnerable?

Florida is more vulnerable to hurricanes compared to most other states, but it is also uniquely prepared to deal with them. The state's building codes mean that all modern buildings must be able to withstand hurricane-force winds and resist fires caused by broken gas mains and other damages.

As long as the main buildings of a retirement community were built within the last few decades, you can be reasonably certain that they will survive the high winds and driving rains of a hurricane or tropical storm. However, the real danger to the retirees living in these communities appears after the hurricane has passed.

Above-ground power lines are particularly vulnerable to high winds, and after a hurricane or tropical storm passes overhead, the local power infrastructure will most likely be damaged (especially in heavily wooded areas). Consequently, a retirement community may be completely without municipal power for days or even weeks after the storm has passed.

Without power, a retirement community's air conditioning systems will not function, which poses a serious danger to the health of the residents during Florida's notoriously brutal summer heat.

Elderly people are naturally more vulnerable to overheating. And the danger posed by uncontrolled heat in retirement communities was horrifically illustrated during the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in 2017 when 14 residents of a nursing home in Hollywood Hills died of heat-related causes after the facility's air conditioning system lost power.

Extended power outages can also cause other serious problems. Vital medicines and supplements that need to be kept refrigerated can quickly become unusable, and essential life-saving equipment, such as dialysis machines and respirators, will not function. Even seemingly minor problems, like lighting outages, can leave residents more vulnerable to falling or otherwise injuring themselves.

Why Are Emergency Fueling Services Essential for Retirement Communities?

It goes without saying that any retirement community in the state of Florida must be equipped with an emergency generator system, which can power vital equipment and services until municipal power supplies can be restored. In most cases, this takes the form of high-capacity gasoline or diesel generators, which can provide reliable power for extended periods.

However, generators that run on fossil fuels tend to burn through them fairly quickly (although diesel generators tend to be more efficient), and if power to a retirement community is not fully restored within a couple of days, the generator(s) will need to be refueled to continue functioning. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that local gas stations and fuel supply depots will be open and operating.

This is why many Floridian retirement communities hire emergency fueling services to ensure their fuel needs are met during hurricane season. These services specialize in navigating the chaos in the aftermath of a hurricane to provide essential fuel where it is needed; even if roads are blocked by downed trees and power lines, emergency fueling services use specialized cargo vehicles to deliver fuel where it needs to go.

This can quite literally be a lifesaver for retirement communities and their residents. If a community is cut off from local power supplies and has no emergency fuel reserves left, emergency fuelers can provide the fuel needed to get air conditioners and medical equipment up and running.

If the worst comes to pass and a community needs to be evacuated, emergency fueling services will also provide the gasoline needed to power evacuation vehicles.

If you are interested in contracting emergency fueling services for your business or need other expert fueling services, contact the experts at Paul Murray Oil for professional advice.