By Lookout Staff

January 14, 2015--When a major earthquake or other disaster strikes, electricity will be one of the first things to go — so how will first-responders be able to see in the dark?

Anticipating such a scenario, Santa Monica emergency management officials received City Council approval Tuesday to purchase eight portable solar light towers from Solar Services Center Inc. of Corona.
 
The solar towers will provide “eco-friendly” light sources in the event of a widespread power outage, according to a staff report from the city’s Office of Emergency Planning.

“From the 2003 Farmers’ Market tragedy to the June 7, 2013 Santa Monica shooting incident, field responders have needed…emergency lighting that can be transported to multiple sites in a short amount of time,” the report said.

Portable solar lights would provide emergency lighting in a “quiet, long-term, sustainable, and eco-friendly” fashion, the report noted.

Santa Monica, along with Beverly Hills, Culver City and West Hollywood received a State Homeland Security Grant in 2013 to buy portable solar light towers. In October 2014, city officials solicited bids from solar light tower providers.

After reviewing bids, officials selected Solar Services Center and submitted the proposed contract to the council for approval Tuesday.

Solar Services Center will receive around $22,800 for each of the eight solar towers. The total contract should not exceed $200,000, the staff report said.