5 TRAITS YOU NEED IN AN EMERGENCY FUEL PROVIDER

Admin • May 2, 2017
Fuel Tanker Truck — Jacksonville, FL — Paul Murray Oil Inc

With the devastating hurricanes hitting many parts of the country, people are thinking more about emergency preparedness. During these events, access to fuel is often disrupted, and if you want to be ready, you need a company to meet your fuel needs during an emergency.

How do you choose a company to provide you with emergency fueling? Well, here are some of the attributes you need.

1. PRE AND POST-STORM RELIEF

Ideally, when choosing an emergency fueling company, you want a specialist who can help you both before and after the storm. That way, you can ensure all your bases are covered.

For instance, as a residential customer, you may want to have about 30 gallons of fuel on hand in case of a disaster. That's generally enough to run a generator for a week as long as you're just using the essentials. You can store fuel for three to six months or for about a year if you add a stabilizer.
In other cases, you may need an emergency fuel company that can meet your needs after a serious storm. For example, if you are a commercial company that needs to keep a fleet of vehicles on the road, you may need a company that can help with the emergency fueling of those vehicles.

2. 24/7 SERVICES

When disaster strikes, it doesn't necessarily come on a Monday through Friday, nine-to-five schedule. To be effective, your fuel company can't keep that schedule either. Ideally, you need a company that is willing to meet your needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year.  

3. ABILITY TO SET UP EMERGENCY FUELING STATIONS

If you are a city manager or anyone else tasked with helping bring fuel to the community, you may also want a company that has emergency fueling stations. After an emergency, the usual networks of fuel lines and trucks are often shut down. To get fuel to essential vehicles or to businesses with generators, you need emergency fueling stations.

Even before an emergency, emergency fueling stations can be essential. As people try to evacuate, regular fuel supplies may be depleted. If you have a trusted emergency fuel provider waiting in the wings, that company can set up emergency fueling stations along evacuation routes.

4. WIDE NETWORK

You also need a fuel provider with a large network of trucks and fuel. The larger the network, the easier it is for these companies to meet your needs. A company with limited resources may only be able to meet some of your needs, and then, you have to start the search for help over again.

5. EXPERIENCE WITH DISASTER WAIVERS

In the days leading up to and following a disaster, you may find it necessary to bend the usual rules a bit. In that vein, you may want to choose an emergency fueling company that is experienced with disasters.

In particular, you may want a company experienced with obtaining waivers. For instance, there are waivers that allow truck drivers to log more hours on the road than drivers are usually allowed to do. More time on the road can help because of the time it takes to set up emergency fueling stations, refill existing stations and deliver fuel to residents and businesses with generators.

In some cases, you may need to get waivers to bend other rules. This can include rules restricting out-of-state companies from selling fuel or regulations related to the quality of fuel being used. It helps to have a company who is experienced with this process.

Emergency oil is essential during a disaster, and you need a reliable provider. Let Paul Murray Oil, Inc step in and fill that role. We have dedicated trucks, an extensive network and the experience you need.