Fuel Transfer During a Natural Disaster: Are you Prepared?

In 2024, there have been 15 confirmed weather and climate disasters alone so far. Losses from these disasters have exceeded $1 billion each in the United States according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. In the face of natural disasters, maintaining a steady and safe fuel supply is critical. Whether it's for powering emergency generators, vehicles, or other essential equipment, efficient fuel transfer becomes a lifeline during these challenging times.

Image: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), all rights reserved.

Importance of Fuel Transfer in Natural Disasters

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and wildfires can disrupt fuel supply chains, making local reserves vital. Emergency service, hospitals, and shelters rely on consistent fuel availability to operate without interruption. Therefore, having a reliable fuel transfer system in place is essential for: 

• Powering emergency generators
• Fueling rescue and transport vehicles
• Running essential equipment

Great Plains Industries offers a range of high-quality fuel transfer pumps designed to meet the demanding needs of disaster response. 

Known for its durability and reliability, this pump offers a flow rate of up to 15 GPM and is ideal for transferring fuel quickly and efficiently. Its lightweight and portable design make it perfect for emergency situations. 

For manual fuel transfer needs, the HP-100 is an excellent choice. Its robust construction ensures long-term reliability, and it can be used in any location, regardless of power availability. 

In need of a fuel transfer pump quickly? Check out our Where to Buy page to find a store near you!  

When a hurricane makes landfall, GPI has seen increased demand for fuel products in the surrounding areas. At our Wichita warehouse, we have emptied our warehouse twice during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017. GPI gets a few emergency orders to ship out pallets of our 12-volt fuel pumps every year. What makes our 12-volt DC pumps unique is that they can run off the power from a truck battery. Fuel stations in an affected area may be inoperable due to loss of power or storm damage. If the service stations are operable, the roads may make it challenging to get tanker trucks to resupply due to flooding. In addition, fuel inventory is often rapidly consumed by rescue efforts and evacuating the public. If the power grid is damaged, the loss of power could leave fuel storage inaccessible due to the inability to pump it out of the underground storage tanks. A DC-powered pump, powered by a vehicle charging system, can allow service station owners and emergency personnel access to fuel when the power grid is down. A way to transport and dispense fuel during a natural disaster provides the owner with options during recovery or escape.

As terrible as natural disasters are, GPI is always on the frontlines, ready to help our customers with our products. We believe our products increase rescue time and decrease barriers in rescue missions. In times of disaster, you can count on our fuel pumps to help you fuel forward.