OK Generators Emphasizes the Importance of Power Generation and Back-Up to Keep Florida Businesses Up and Running
Leading Florida-Based Generator Company Offers Tips for 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season and Summer Brownouts
Deerfield Beach, FL, July 6, 2011: OK Generators, a provider of emergency power generation systems and service to customers throughout the state of Florida, is advising businesses of all sizes to adequately prepare for both the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season and upcoming hot summer months. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 12 to 18 named storms are predicted, of which six to 10 can become hurricanes, sometime between now and the end of hurricane season, November 30, 2011. In addition, rolling brownouts – or partial, temporary reductions in system voltage – are an ongoing concern during the summer.
“Businesses have a tendency to focus on just hurricane preparedness during the summer months, but it is just as important to be aware of the possibility of rolling brownouts,” says Bob Birdsong, president of OK Generators. “The demand for power in Florida continues to grow but capacity is not. Generators are therefore imperative for businesses of all sizes to protect against hurricanes and potential power outages – especially during the summer.”
According to Birdsong, buildings 55-feet or higher, data centers and any company housing information or employees all need to have a generator in place. A business analysis can help companies determine what it would cost them to be without power or closed for a day, two days, a week or more. This number, Birdsong advises, should be compared to the cost of purchasing a generator to prevent the loss of power and business closures.
“Dollar for dollar, a generator is one of the best investments a building or business can make to increase its value and to protect its worth,” Birdsong adds. “And between the Atlantic storm season and potential for brownouts, the generator will probably pay for itself very quickly.”
Complacency in the minds of business owners – especially in Florida during the past few years – is a major issue and dangerous according to Birdsong. “It takes a hurricane to hit a market hard for people to understand the importance of having a generator and maintaining it correctly,” he adds.
At OK Generators, after a hurricane or big storm hits, the company can receive upwards of 200 calls from businesses requesting a generator. After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, business continued to be strong for approximately 10 years. The company expected the same result following Hurricane Wilma in 2005, but the run was cut short by a challenged economy. The problem with a mass rush following a hurricane, according to Birdsong, is that it can take two to four months to get a new generator installed because of order time, construction and project design.
“Time is money,” Birdsong says. “With the doors closed, your business is not making money. Similarly, if you are the only business in town with power, you can do very well.”
Beyond having a generator, Birdsong says that maintenance on the machine is critical. If the generator is not maintained correctly, it may not be available when a storm hits or able to accommodate a one to two-week power outage. Birdsong adds: “People that currently have generators need to be educated in order to avoid the risks of lost revenue and/or getting sued if an elevator is not working and someone gets hurt.”
Melissa Perlman
BlueIvyCommunications
561-310-9921 (cell)
melissa@blueivycommunications.com
About OK Generators
OK Generators provides emergency power generation systems and service to customers throughout the state of Florida. Founded in 1978 and based in Deerfield Beach, OK Generators now has the largest service fleet in South Florida, which services over 1,200 generators. The Company provides complete services for its customers, including fuel delivery, testing, engineering, installation, monitoring and repair. OK Generators has an extensive service presence that allows it to immediately respond to disasters – often when others are not. Further, the Company has a comprehensive hurricane contingency plan in place so its service technicians can respond right after a catastrophe hits.
According to President Bob Birdsong, thanks to a blend of engineering and field experience, no one knows more about generators than OK Generators. And the business community in Florida agrees. OK Generators has met the backup power needs of organizations and companies, including: Miami Dolphins Stadium, Hard Rock Casino, Broward General Hospital, University of Miami, Department of Transportation, South Florida Municipalities (Palm Beach County, Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, Lauderdale by the Sea), as well as the National Hurricane Center. Learn more at www.okgenerators.com.
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