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SALT LAKE CITY — Power problems still plague many storm-ravaged areas along the East Coast after Superstorm Sandy. As many as 4 million businesses and homes still have no electricity.
When employees at Bluffdale-based Goal Zero heard about the power problems, they knew immediately they had resources that could help hundreds of people power up.
"It's times like these where we can shine," said James Atkin, the company's interactive media manager.
KSL News met Atkin and other employees at their massive warehouse Thursday as they packed up portable solar power kits that will be sent to storm survivors on the east coast.
Related:
Utahns volunteer to help restore power to the East Coast
Millions of people are still without power throughout the region, but thousands of linemen are coming to the rescue. Volunteer electrical workers from all over the country are spreading out to get the power flowing again, including a group from Utah.Earlier this week they loaded a trailer with hundreds of solar kits. That truck, donated by Interide Logistics of Salt Lake, is already headed to Pennsylvania. Atkin and four other workers will meet the truck in Allentown and hand out the gear.
"This is our Escape 150," he said, showing us a sleek metal canister with a handle. It's a 150-volt battery charged from a portable solar panel.
"(The battery) will power C-PAP machines, some 12-volt fridges, other medical devices; it also provides lighting," Atkin said, holding up a bright LED bulb capable of lighting a large room.
The solar panel can charge the battery in eight to 10 hours. The light can burn 50 hours on that battery, and you can plug in your phone or laptop too.
"(In) cloudy conditions it will still be pulling juice," Atkin said.
It turns out to be priceless equipment in the aftermath of a disaster, like this week's superstorm.
"So wherever power is needed when we get there, we are shooting off to those areas," Atkin said. "We are going to go work with the state and with the cities so that everybody can start getting powered up."
The company is also donating solar-powered flashlights, and lanterns that double as emergency beacons with a bright red, flashing light. In all, Goal Zero is sending $300,000 worth of portable power that emergency workers and storm survivors can really use.
Team Rubicon, a non-profit disaster relief organization already on the ground on the East Coast, will help distribute the kits.
"We are in pretty deep," said Aaron Cook, a regional leader for Team Rubicon. "These guys want to get in there, and we thought this was a great way to get both of us involved."
For the next two weeks, through Thursday, Nov. 15, Goal Zero will let it's customers get involved in the humanitarian aid too. The company has created a Buy One, Give One Sandy Relief Program, tracking purchases made at participating retailers as well as their online store and matching the same amount to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in the form of portable solar-power solutions. You buy a solar kit, and they'll donate one to the relief efforts.
Goal Zero sent portable solar power kits to Haiti and Japan after devastating earthquakes in those countries. This time, their own team will be on the ground to help. After seeing the incredible destruction, and knowing how dependent we all are on electricity, they're eager to get involved.
"It's really motivating, because we have an excess stuff that we can give to them: time, equipment and power — that's lighting," Atkin said. "So, it's pretty easy to make a decision when you see something like that."
The truck is already more than halfway to its destination. The Goal Zero team flies out Friday.
If you want to follow the progress of their trip, follow the link to the Goal Zero website.
