The role of propane delivery in emergency preparedness plans

When an emergency strikes, taking the necessary safety steps comes first. Later, once customers are safe at home, keeping warm, fed and connected, and having access to essential services, move to the top of the list.

It’s a message that Wildhorse Propane & Appliances shares with its community – and one with which it can help.

“Propane is an ideal fuel for emergency preparedness,” says Steve Dodson of the California company.

Emergency services in disaster zones are widely powered with propane. When customers add propane delivery or access to a reliable propane service to emergency preparedness plans, Wildhorse says, they ensure that propane is on hand to power essential appliances for meals, staying warm and charging electronics during a grid failure.

Propane-powered generators provide electricity to keep lights on, refrigerators running and medical devices operational during extended outages. Regular delivery ensures that generators have sufficient fuel to function when needed most.

For homes not relying on propane for the primary source of power, emergency preparedness can include a propane-powered backup generator to temporarily run the household.

Propane grills, camp stoves and propane heaters – all used under the appropriate safety operations – can also be useful in the aftermath of an emergency.

A steady supply of propane is an assurance that families can be safe and comfortable during emergencies. Propane’s clean-burning qualities also make it an environmentally responsible choice for disaster preparedness.

“We tell all of our customers to have an emergency preparedness plan,” says Dodson.

Plan templates can be downloaded from the internet or obtained from local emergency services, Wildhorse notes. Families can modify the plan to fit their individual needs or add propane readiness if it’s not already included. It’s also a good idea for families to work with neighbors to create a neighborhood emergency preparedness plan.

The Propane Education & Research Council also offers safety tips for families to follow during severe weather and other natural disasters. They can visit propane.com/safety/propane-and-weather-safety.

Wildhorse delivers propane to Carmel, all of Monterey County and communities in San Luis Obispo, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. Most propane providers give their regular delivery customers priority, the company says, and when storms are forecast or wildfires are threatening a region, extra deliveries can be arranged to keep propane tanks full.

Featured homepage image: Urupong/iStock/Getty Images Plus

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