What is the role of street lighting in disasters and emergencies?

1. Improve safety: In the event of an emergency, such as a fire, earthquake, flood, or other natural disaster, it is crucial to be able to evacuate quickly and safely. Street lighting provides critical visibility, allowing residents to more easily discern their surroundings, especially during power outages or darkness. For example, after an earthquake, the power grid may be damaged, causing widespread power outages in the city. Street lighting can provide vital light to help people escape safely from dangerous areas.

2. Evacuation routes: Street lighting can be used to indicate escape routes in emergencies. For example, escape routes, emergency exits, and evacuation routes within buildings are often equipped with emergency lighting systems. These systems provide directional guidance in the event of a fire or other disaster, helping people escape from dangerous areas quickly and safely. This is especially important for places such as large buildings, shopping malls, hotels and hospitals.

3. Improve visibility: At night or in low-visibility conditions, street lighting can improve the visibility of rescue and emergency services personnel. For example, rescue teams and medical personnel need to reach the scene quickly in an emergency, and proper lighting can help them accurately identify the location and perform tasks. Additionally, traffic management can be more efficient during disasters if traffic signals and road signs can maintain lighting.

4. Providing information: Smart lighting systems can be integrated with emergency notification and messaging systems to provide residents with important information such as evacuation routes, temporary shelter locations and emergency contact information. This helps raise awareness among residents and enables them to better respond to emergencies. For example, during natural disasters, some cities use smart street lighting systems to send emergency notifications to mobile phone apps to remind residents to take necessary measures to ensure safety.

5. Community connection: Street lighting can also serve as a rallying point for community residents during emergencies. People can connect with each other under lighting, organize mutual aid activities, wait for rescue or share information. This community connection is critical in responding to emergencies as it provides support, security and solidarity.

6. Crime prevention: During emergencies, cities may become more vulnerable to criminal activity. Adequate lighting reduces the chance of crime and improves the overall safety of the community. For example, during power outages, street lighting can reduce dark corners and reduce criminal activity. This helps maintain order and stability in the community.

7. Improve medical services: In disaster situations, medical facilities, hospitals and emergency rescue centers must remain operational. Street lighting ensures that these facilities are illuminated and powered to provide emergency and medical services. For example, emergency lighting systems can provide the power and lighting needed by medical equipment during a power outage.

8. Provide psychological support: During emergencies, people often feel anxious and panicked. Adequate lighting can reduce people's tension and provide a kind of psychological support. When people can see their surroundings, they may feel safer and calmer.

FUNCTIONAL LIGHTING / D-221S