What Are Disaster Power Solutions?
Disaster power solutions encompass the complete range of equipment, services, and strategies needed to restore electrical service when primary infrastructure fails due to natural disasters, equipment breakdowns, or catastrophic events. These solutions go far beyond simply renting a generator—they represent comprehensive systems that include power generation, safe distribution, fuel management, monitoring, and professional oversight throughout the recovery period.
Unlike permanent standby systems that activate automatically, disaster power solutions are designed for rapid deployment in crisis situations. They scale from small portable units powering essential residential equipment to massive industrial installations sustaining entire facilities for months. The key characteristic is flexibility—adapting power capacity and duration to match specific disaster scenarios and recovery timelines.
Professional disaster power solutions integrate multiple components working together: backup generators of appropriate capacity, transfer switches that safely isolate facilities from damaged utility infrastructure, distribution panels managing electrical loads, fuel supply logistics, and technical expertise ensuring safe, reliable operation throughout the emergency.
Types of Backup Generators and Power Systems
Portable Generator Units
Portable generators form the foundation of residential disaster power solutions, delivering 3,000 to 10,000 watts of electricity for essential equipment. These compact units power refrigerators, medical devices, lighting, and communication equipment during short-term outages. Residential emergency power services can help homeowners select and deploy the right solutions for their needs.
However, portable units have significant limitations for disaster recovery. They require frequent refueling every 8-12 hours, produce substantial noise, and lack the capacity for whole-facility power. Most operate on gasoline, which becomes difficult to obtain during widespread disasters when fuel distribution networks are disrupted.
Towable Generator Systems
Mid-range temporary power needs are best served by towable generator systems mounted on trailers. These units deliver 20 to 100 kilowatts and can be quickly transported to disaster sites and positioned for optimal operation. They’re commonly deployed for commercial buildings, construction sites, temporary medical facilities, and operations centers during extended recovery periods.
Towable systems bridge the gap between portable convenience and industrial capacity. They feature larger fuel tanks enabling 24-48 hour continuous operation, more robust engines designed for extended runtime, and often include integrated distribution panels. Professional providers typically bundle these generators with automatic transfer equipment and safety monitoring systems.
Industrial Generator Packages
Large facilities requiring 100 kilowatts to several megawatts of power depend on industrial generator packages as their primary disaster power solutions. These massive units can sustain hospitals, manufacturing plants, data centers, and multi-building campuses indefinitely with proper fuel supply and maintenance protocols.
Industrial systems require specialized logistics including flatbed transport, crane installations, and complex electrical connections. They incorporate sophisticated control systems, multiple connection points for various circuits, and can operate in parallel configurations with other generators or utility power. While deployment takes longer than smaller units, their capacity makes them irreplaceable for critical infrastructure. Professional commercial emergency power services manage these complex installations.
Mobile Power Distribution Centers
The most advanced disaster power solutions utilize mobile distribution centers functioning as temporary electrical substations. These specialized units receive power from multiple backup generators and distribute it through various circuits with precise load management and voltage regulation across entire facilities.
Distribution centers become essential when disaster damage extends beyond lost utility service to destroyed internal electrical infrastructure. They enable phased power restoration, bringing different building sections online progressively as repairs advance, while maintaining electrical safety standards throughout the facility during the entire recovery process.
| Solution Type | Power Capacity | Ideal Applications | Deployment Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable Generators | 3-10 kW | Homes, small offices, essential circuits | Immediate to 4 hours |
| Towable Systems | 20-100 kW | Commercial buildings, retail, restaurants | 4-24 hours |
| Industrial Packages | 100+ kW | Manufacturing, hospitals, data centers | 24-72 hours |
| Mobile Distribution | Variable capacity | Large campuses, multi-building complexes | 48-96 hours |
How Professional Power Restoration Works
Emergency Assessment and Load Analysis
Professional disaster power solutions begin with comprehensive electrical assessment immediately following the emergency. Power specialists evaluate your facility’s requirements by examining existing electrical infrastructure, identifying critical loads requiring immediate power, and determining safe connection points that bypass damaged systems.
Accurate load analysis prevents dangerous overloading situations while optimizing fuel efficiency. Technicians calculate not just steady-state power consumption but also account for motor starting currents that can surge to seven times normal operating levels. This detailed engineering ensures selected backup generators match actual needs without unnecessary capacity that increases costs and fuel consumption.
Site Preparation and Equipment Positioning
Before backup generators arrive, installation sites require careful preparation addressing both operational and safety requirements. This includes ensuring stable, level surfaces supporting heavy equipment weight, establishing adequate ventilation pathways for exhaust dispersion, and creating safe access routes for fuel delivery vehicles navigating disaster-affected areas.
Professional services handle all preparation aspects including obtaining emergency permits, coordinating with local authorities and utility companies, and implementing safety barriers protecting both personnel and the public. Generator positioning follows strict protocols maintaining minimum clearances from buildings, air intakes, and combustible materials while ensuring operational accessibility.
Electrical Connection and System Integration
Connecting temporary power demands far more than running cables between generator and building. Licensed electricians install transfer switches that safely isolate your facility from utility infrastructure, preventing dangerous backfeeding that could electrocute utility workers or damage equipment when grid power eventually returns.
The integration process includes verifying proper electrical phase rotation, confirming stable voltage and frequency output, testing protective device operation, and balancing loads across all phases. Professional installers ensure every connection meets current electrical codes and safety standards. This methodical approach prevents equipment damage while ensuring reliable operation throughout extended recovery periods.
Continuous Monitoring and Maintenance
Once operational, professional disaster power solutions include 24/7 monitoring and preventive maintenance protocols. Technicians regularly check engine oil levels, coolant temperatures, fuel consumption rates, exhaust temperatures, and electrical output quality. They perform scheduled maintenance including filter changes, battery testing, and safety system verification to prevent unexpected failures.
Many providers offer remote telemetry monitoring that tracks generator performance in real-time and alerts technicians to developing problems before they cause shutdowns. This proactive approach minimizes downtime and extends equipment life during deployments that may last weeks or months during complex disaster recovery operations.
Critical Factors in Choosing Disaster Power Solutions
Determining Adequate Power Capacity
Selecting appropriate capacity starts by distinguishing essential from non-essential electrical loads. Essential loads might include refrigeration, security systems, emergency lighting, critical HVAC, and essential equipment. Non-essential loads like decorative lighting, convenience appliances, or optional equipment can remain offline, reducing required generator size and fuel consumption significantly.
Consider both continuous power requirements and surge capacity for motor-driven equipment. Air conditioners, well pumps, refrigeration compressors, and industrial motors all draw substantially higher current during startup than normal operation. Professional assessment ensures adequate capacity handles these surges without paying for excessive overhead during steady-state operation.
Fuel Selection and Supply Logistics
Generator fuel choice dramatically impacts both operational reliability and logistical complexity during disasters. Diesel fuel offers excellent energy density and efficiency with good storage stability for extended periods. Natural gas systems eliminate refueling concerns entirely but depend on gas line integrity that disasters may compromise. Propane provides balanced characteristics with reasonable storage properties and widespread availability.
During major disasters affecting entire regions, fuel availability becomes the critical constraint. Diesel and propane can be stored on-site in substantial quantities providing days or weeks of autonomous operation. Natural gas systems, when infrastructure remains intact, offer unlimited runtime without refueling logistics. Your fuel strategy should account for likely disaster scenarios and typical recovery timelines in your geographic area.
Expected Outage Duration
Anticipated outage length fundamentally influences equipment selection and deployment strategy. Brief outages measured in hours may only require portable generators with modest fuel tanks. Multi-day outages need towable systems with bulk fuel delivery capabilities and professional monitoring. Extended outages lasting weeks require industrial backup generators with comprehensive fuel management contracts and scheduled maintenance programs.
Historical outage data for your region provides valuable planning insight. Coastal areas facing hurricane threats often experience week-long power losses, while earthquake zones might see more variable but potentially longer recovery timelines. Wildfire-affected areas may face extended outages from damaged transmission infrastructure. Planning for worst-case scenarios prevents unpleasant surprises during actual emergencies.
Deployment Timeline Requirements
Disaster recovery operates on compressed timelines where hours of delay translate to significant losses. Portable generators deploy within hours of contact, towable systems typically arrive within 24 hours, while industrial packages may require several days for specialized transport, positioning with cranes or forklifts, and complex electrical integration.
The fastest deployment involves pre-positioning equipment before anticipated disasters in high-risk regions. Some businesses maintain priority service contracts guaranteeing equipment allocation during emergencies when demand overwhelms supply. This proactive approach can mean same-day power restoration versus waiting days or weeks for equipment availability during widespread disasters.
Safety Protocols for Temporary Power Systems
⚠️ Important: Improper generator installation causes numerous deaths annually through carbon monoxide poisoning and electrical hazards. Always use professional installation services for anything beyond small portable units powering individual appliances.
Carbon Monoxide Prevention
Backup generators produce lethal carbon monoxide concentrations in their exhaust gases. This colorless, odorless gas causes rapid death in enclosed spaces and can infiltrate buildings through unexpected pathways. Professional installations position generators outdoors with exhaust directed away from buildings, air intakes, windows, and neighboring properties while maintaining minimum clearance standards ensuring adequate dispersion.
Even with proper outdoor positioning, carbon monoxide detectors should be installed throughout buildings as an additional safety layer. Battery-powered monitors remain functional during power outages and provide early warning if exhaust infiltrates occupied spaces through cracks, ventilation systems, or other unexpected routes often created by disaster damage.
Electrical Hazard Management
Backfeeding occurs when generator power flows backward through your electrical system into utility lines, creating potentially lethal hazards for utility workers attempting repairs and possibly causing fires. Proper transfer switches prevent backfeeding by mechanically or electronically isolating your system from the electrical grid. Never connect generators directly to outlets or circuit panels without approved transfer equipment.
Ground fault protection becomes even more critical during disaster recovery when water damage often compromises building electrical systems. Professional disaster power solutions include proper grounding electrodes, bonding jumpers connecting all metal systems, and ground fault circuit interrupters that instantly disconnect power upon detecting dangerous fault conditions before injury occurs.
Fuel Storage and Handling Safety
Proper fuel management prevents fires, explosions, and environmental contamination. Diesel, gasoline, and propane each require specific storage protocols and approved containers. Fuel storage must be positioned away from ignition sources, protected from physical damage, and configured to prevent spills from entering buildings, storm drains, or natural water systems.
Refueling while generators operate poses extreme fire risks from fuel vapor ignition. Professional procedures mandate shutting down generators, allowing adequate cooling periods, and using proper grounding techniques during fuel transfers. Many commercial installations include automated fuel delivery systems eliminating manual refueling hazards entirely while ensuring continuous operation.
The Complete Power Restoration Process
- Emergency Response Activation: Contact disaster power solution providers immediately when catastrophic events occur. Providers conduct rapid telephone assessments understanding your situation, available access routes, and facility conditions before dispatching appropriate equipment and personnel.
- On-Site Damage Assessment: Upon arrival, qualified technicians evaluate electrical system damage, identify immediate safety hazards, and determine safe connection points avoiding compromised infrastructure. Assessment includes circuit testing, water damage inspection, and grounding system verification.
- Equipment Deployment and Positioning: Backup generators and distribution equipment are positioned following safety protocols and operational requirements. Heavy industrial equipment may require specialized rigging equipment, while smaller units can be positioned manually by trained crews.
- Safe Electrical Integration: Licensed electricians install transfer switches, run temporary cables following code requirements, and connect priority loads according to predetermined hierarchy. All connections undergo comprehensive testing before energization to ensure safety and proper operation.
- System Energization and Testing: Generators start under no-load conditions allowing systems to stabilize, then gradually assume electrical loads while technicians monitor voltage, frequency, amperage, and system protection devices ensuring proper operation before full load application.
- Ongoing Operational Support: Throughout deployment periods, providers manage fuel delivery logistics, perform scheduled maintenance, troubleshoot any operational issues, and adjust systems as recovery progresses and power requirements change with facility restoration.
- Utility Reconnection Coordination: When utility power returns, technicians coordinate with power companies for safe reconnection, thoroughly test restored utility service quality before transferring loads back, and systematically remove temporary systems after confirming stable grid power.
Benefits of Professional Disaster Power Solutions
Rapid Emergency Response
Professional providers maintain extensive equipment inventories and trained deployment crews ready for immediate response. This preparedness translates to power restoration within hours rather than days or weeks. Pre-established service relationships ensure priority equipment access during widespread disasters when demand dramatically exceeds available supply across entire regions.
Beyond deployment speed, professional services ensure correct installation from the beginning. Experienced crews avoid common mistakes that delay operations, create safety hazards, or damage expensive equipment. Their expertise in emergency permitting and code compliance prevents regulatory issues that could force system shutdowns during critical recovery operations when facilities can least afford additional disruptions.
Comprehensive Safety Oversight
Professional services assume complete responsibility for electrical safety throughout entire deployments. This includes initial hazard assessment, proper equipment grounding and bonding, ventilation management preventing carbon monoxide infiltration, and continuous monitoring for developing safety issues. Their insurance coverage protects property owners from substantial liability associated with temporary electrical installations.
Safety oversight extends beyond installation to ongoing operational monitoring. Professional monitoring systems detect dangerous conditions like fuel leaks, electrical faults, overheating, or ventilation problems before they cause injuries, property damage, or equipment failures. This vigilance proves particularly valuable during disaster recovery when property owners face countless competing urgent demands on their attention and resources.
Operational Reliability
Commercial-grade backup generators maintained by professionals deliver dramatically higher reliability than consumer-grade units. Regular preventive maintenance, quality fuel management eliminating contamination, and prompt repair response minimize unexpected shutdowns. Many providers guarantee uptime percentages exceeding 98% through redundant systems, spare equipment availability, and rapid technical response capabilities.
This reliability proves absolutely critical for operations that cannot afford power interruptions during recovery periods. Healthcare facilities treating patients, food service operations preventing spoilage, data centers maintaining services, and manufacturing operations with time-sensitive processes all depend on continuous power. Professional disaster power solutions provide the redundancy and support infrastructure needed to maintain operations through extended outages.
Flexible Scalability
As disaster recovery progresses through various phases, power requirements change substantially. Professional services adapt quickly, adding generator capacity as damaged areas undergo repairs and reopen, or reducing equipment as utility service gradually returns to facility portions. This flexibility prevents paying for unnecessary capacity while ensuring adequate power throughout every recovery phase.
Scalability also addresses unexpected developments during recovery. If restoration takes longer than initially anticipated, additional damage is discovered during repairs, or facility usage changes, professional providers can extend deployments and adjust systems without disrupting ongoing operations. This adaptability is impossible with purchased equipment sized for specific anticipated scenarios.
| Service Aspect | Professional Solutions | DIY Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Response Time | 4-24 hours with priority contracts | Days to weeks (sourcing equipment, learning) |
| Safety Management | Licensed electricians, 24/7 monitoring | Limited expertise, significant hazard risks |
| System Reliability | 98%+ uptime with redundancy options | Highly variable, no backup if equipment fails |
| Liability Coverage | Provider assumes responsibility and insurance | Property owner fully liable for all issues |
Integrating Power Solutions with Overall Disaster Recovery
Coordination with Restoration Services
Power restoration rarely occurs in isolation from other disaster recovery activities. Water extraction equipment, commercial dehumidification systems, air scrubbers, and reconstruction tools all require substantial electricity to function effectively. Coordinating power deployment with other restoration activities maximizes overall recovery efficiency and prevents conflicts over limited generator capacity or unsafe electrical loads.
Professional restoration companies often integrate disaster power solutions with other recovery services they provide. This integration ensures adequate electrical capacity for all equipment phases while optimizing generator efficiency and fuel consumption. Single-source coordination eliminates communication gaps and scheduling conflicts that commonly delay overall disaster recovery when multiple contractors work independently.
Insurance Documentation and Claims
Proper documentation of emergency power expenses is essential for maximizing insurance reimbursement. Professional providers supply detailed invoices, equipment specifications, deployment timelines, fuel consumption records, and technical justifications supporting claim submissions. Their established relationships with insurance adjusters and claims specialists often expedite approval processes that otherwise drag on for months.
Many insurance policies explicitly cover temporary power systems as part of business interruption provisions or additional living expense coverage. However, policy terms, coverage limits, and documentation requirements vary dramatically between carriers and specific policies. Understanding your coverage details before disasters strike ensures you can access maximum available benefits when you need them most urgently.
Critical Communication System Support
Maintaining communication capabilities during disasters often determines the difference between coordinated recovery and chaotic confusion. Temporary power keeps telephone systems, internet connectivity, security systems, and emergency notifications operational. This connectivity enables essential coordination with contractors, insurance adjusters, emergency services, employees, and customers throughout the entire recovery process.
For businesses, operational communications extend beyond emergency coordination to customer notifications about service status, employee scheduling and safety communications, supply chain management maintaining operations, and financial system access for continued business operations. Backup generators ensure these critical functions continue despite facility damage, dramatically minimizing business interruption beyond physical restoration timelines.
Planning for Long-Term Power Resilience
Pre-Disaster Preparedness Strategies
💡 Pro Tip: Establish service relationships with disaster power solution providers before emergencies occur. Pre-negotiated contracts guarantee priority equipment access, eliminate price uncertainty during crises, and often include discounted rates compared to emergency spot market pricing.
Comprehensive preparation includes thoroughly documenting your facility’s electrical systems with panel schedules, circuit diagrams, and load inventories. Pre-identify critical loads requiring power and optimal generator placement locations meeting safety clearances. Consider pre-installing quick-connect hardware that dramatically simplifies temporary power integration during actual emergencies when time is critically important. Professional disaster planning services can help develop comprehensive preparedness strategies.
Permanent Backup System Evaluation
Properties in high-risk disaster areas should seriously evaluate permanent backup generator installations. While requiring larger initial investments, permanently installed systems provide automatic power restoration within seconds of detecting outages without any deployment delays. Modern automatic transfer systems seamlessly switch to backup power and return to utility power when available without human intervention.
Permanent installations require ongoing maintenance and testing but completely eliminate equipment availability concerns during widespread disasters affecting entire regions. They also provide year-round protection against power quality issues beyond disaster scenarios, including voltage fluctuations, brownouts, and brief interruptions that damage sensitive electronic equipment or disrupt critical processes.
Hybrid Power Resilience Approaches
Many facilities benefit from hybrid strategies combining permanent backup systems for immediate critical load protection with temporary power services providing expanded capacity during extended disaster recovery periods. This approach balances capital investment efficiency with comprehensive coverage for various scenarios ranging from brief interruptions to catastrophic long-term outages.
Hybrid systems might include permanently installed generators sized for essential operations like life safety systems, critical equipment, and basic HVAC, with engineered provisions for connecting additional temporary generators when disasters require extended full-facility power. This design philosophy provides immediate automatic protection while maintaining flexibility for unusual situations requiring comprehensive long-duration power support.
Common Challenges and Practical Solutions
Fuel Supply Disruptions
Regional disasters commonly create widespread fuel shortages affecting multiple facilities simultaneously. Professional disaster power solution providers maintain bulk fuel storage facilities and established supply contracts ensuring continued operations even during severe scarcity. They also prioritize fuel deliveries based on customer criticality, established relationships, and contractual obligations rather than first-come-first-served approaches.
Property owners can enhance fuel security by maintaining on-site storage where local regulations permit. Larger fuel storage tanks extend operational autonomy between delivery cycles, substantially reducing vulnerability to temporary supply disruptions. However, stored fuel requires proper containment, periodic quality testing, and eventual disposal or consumption before degradation affects generator performance.
Generator Noise in Residential Areas
Generator noise can create significant tension with neighbors during extended disaster recovery deployments. Modern sound-attenuated enclosed generators reduce noise levels by 15-20 decibels compared to open-frame units. Strategic placement behind buildings or existing landscaping provides additional acoustic buffering without compromising essential safety clearances or ventilation requirements.
Professional providers understand local noise ordinances and can recommend solutions balancing power requirements with community considerations during difficult times. In some situations, multiple smaller generators positioned strategically create less concentrated noise impact than single large units, improving neighbor relations while providing necessary electrical capacity during prolonged recovery operations.
Permit and Regulatory Requirements
Many jurisdictions require emergency permits for temporary generator installations, particularly for larger commercial systems or extended deployments. Professional services handle all permitting processes, leveraging established relationships with local building departments and emergency management offices to expedite approvals that might otherwise take weeks. Their regulatory familiarity prevents compliance issues that could force costly system shutdowns mid-recovery.
Regulatory compliance extends beyond initial installation permits to operational requirements throughout deployments. Some jurisdictions mandate specific setback distances from property lines, restrict operating hours even during emergencies, or require special permits for fuel storage exceeding certain quantities. Professional providers manage these complex requirements throughout entire deployments, protecting property owners from citations, fines, or legal complications.
Adverse Weather During Deployment
Disaster recovery frequently occurs during continued adverse weather that complicates generator deployment and operation. Heavy rain, extreme temperatures, or ongoing storm conditions create equipment and personnel hazards during installation. Professional crews have extensive experience working in challenging conditions and can implement temporary weather protection for both equipment and workers ensuring safe, successful deployments. Emergency board-up services may be needed to secure buildings before power restoration can begin.
🏠 Home Tip: If you maintain portable generators for home use, store them in easily accessible locations with clear paths to outdoor operating areas. Attempting to move heavy equipment through damaged buildings during storms or darkness adds unnecessary risk and delays power restoration when you need it most urgently.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can disaster power solutions be deployed after an emergency?
Professional disaster power solutions typically deploy within 4 to 24 hours depending on equipment type, disaster scope, and site accessibility. Portable and towable systems arrive fastest, while large industrial packages may require additional days for specialized transport and installation. Pre-established service contracts often guarantee priority deployment during widespread disasters when equipment demand dramatically exceeds regional availability.
Can I handle temporary power installation myself instead of using professional services?
Small portable generators work adequately for basic residential needs like refrigeration and lighting during brief outages. However, for commercial facilities, extended outages, or when powering whole buildings, professional services provide dramatically superior reliability, comprehensive safety oversight, and appropriate capacity. Professional installations include proper transfer switches, load management, and continuous monitoring preventing the serious hazards and limitations inherent in DIY approaches.
What signs indicate I need professional disaster power solutions?
Consider professional solutions when facing extended outages exceeding several days, operating businesses that cannot tolerate power interruptions, managing facilities with life-safety or critical equipment, or dealing with disaster damage affecting your electrical infrastructure. Additional indicators include needing substantial power capacity beyond portable generator capabilities or situations where carbon monoxide, backfeeding, or electrical hazards make DIY approaches extremely dangerous.
How long can backup generators operate continuously during disaster recovery?
Commercial-grade backup generators maintained by professionals can operate continuously for weeks or months with adequate fuel supply and scheduled maintenance. Industrial systems undergo routine service every 250 to 500 operating hours, including oil changes, filter replacements, coolant checks, and comprehensive system inspections. With proper fuel delivery logistics and professional oversight, temporary power systems can sustain operations throughout even extremely extended disaster recovery periods.
Will insurance cover temporary power systems during disaster recovery?
Many commercial and homeowner insurance policies cover temporary power under business interruption provisions, additional living expenses, or equipment breakdown coverage. However, coverage varies significantly by carrier and specific policy terms, so review your coverage details before disasters occur. Professional power providers experienced in insurance claims supply detailed documentation supporting reimbursement requests and often work directly with adjusters expediting claim approvals.
What’s the difference between temporary disaster power and permanent backup generators?
Temporary disaster power solutions are rapidly deployed during emergencies and removed after recovery, while permanent backup generators are pre-installed systems activating automatically during outages. Temporary systems offer deployment flexibility and capacity scalability without large upfront investments, making them ideal for disaster recovery. Permanent systems provide immediate automatic protection but require significant initial capital and ongoing maintenance. Many facilities strategically use both approaches for comprehensive power resilience.
Take Action: Secure Your Power Resilience Today
Disasters strike without warning, and power restoration timelines remain highly uncertain after major catastrophic events. The preparedness decisions you make today directly determine whether your property maintains critical operations or faces extended shutdowns causing cascading losses when disasters occur. Professional disaster power solutions deliver the reliability, comprehensive safety management, and rapid deployment capabilities that distinguish successful recovery from prolonged disruption and losses.
Don’t wait until catastrophic events strike to establish power resilience capabilities. Contact experienced restoration professionals specializing in backup generators and complete temporary power systems to assess your vulnerabilities and develop comprehensive response plans. Pre-established relationships ensure priority access to equipment and technical expertise when every hour of downtime carries significant consequences for your operations and property.
Whether you need immediate emergency power deployment following a disaster or want to develop robust preparedness strategies before emergencies occur, professional restoration services provide comprehensive solutions precisely tailored to your specific requirements and risk profile. Protect your property, your business operations, and your peace of mind with proven disaster power solutions that activate reliably when you need them most.
