Using Solar Energy in Disasters Program Offered

When disasters strike, emergency agencies are usually prepared for the initial need for immediate response. But how does a community reeling from the impact of a major disaster manage when its source of electrical power is gone?

Cocoa, Florida – March 19, 2003 [SolarAccess.com] Because the loss of electrical power impacts emergency management and disaster relief organization operations in response to and recovery from disasters, the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) is presenting a seminar on “The Basics of Using Solar Energy in Disasters” on March 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at FSEC in Cocoa. The fee is US$50 per person. The program will provide strategies for communities to use as they recover from disasters; this seminar will benefit agencies and relief organizations. Designed for representatives of emergency management agencies, disaster relief organizations, government agencies and the related industries, the course will offer valuable information to the general public as well. This seminar will be led by Bill Young, Senior Research Engineer at the Florida Solar Energy Center. It will focus on the viability of various solar energy sources and their capability to satisfy energy needs after the loss of electrical power in a disaster. Participants will discuss the benefits of solar energy for backup power for buildings as a means of establishing disaster-resistant communities.