Recovering from a disaster, whether it was a natural or man-made disaster, requires careful planning in order to mitigate damages from future events. Rebuilding smart can help save you money, but more importantly, it can help save lives.

Your first step after a disaster should be to hire a qualified first-response service provider with experienced personnel for the equipment at your facility.

Electrical equipment that has been submerged should never be re-energized without being thoroughly inspected by an accredited professional. Equipment that has been submerged is likely to have debris disrupting its operation and damaged electrical insulation that can cause fires and shock hazards when the devices have been energized.

Technological innovation in the power industry is advancing by leaps and bounds. If you are rebuilding after a disaster of any sort, consider upgrading your systems rather than replacing damaged components. Some components, such as circuit breakers, are required to be replaced after being submerged. The benefits associated with upgrading rather than replacing flood damaged components include availability, access to newer technologies, and long-term reliability of the components.

For more information on how to recover from a storm or natural disaster, please read the National Electrical Manufacturers Association’s Storm Reconstruction Guide.