When the Power Fails, Compassion Prevails

A devastating storm has left Tamerlaine Sanctuary & Preserve without electricity for days. With the outage now stretching into day six, we are operating without reliable running water, a fully functioning well pump, septic service, and critical barn ventilation across the farm.

We were not unprepared. We had backup power in place. But this storm, and the length of this outage, has pushed our current system beyond what it was built to handle.

As the sanctuary has grown, so has the infrastructure required to care for more than 250 rescued animals. Our current generator and portable backup units can help us get through short-term emergencies, but they cannot safely or reliably power the essential systems of an expanded farm for a week-long outage. During this emergency, our generator overheated, and we had to take systems offline to keep it from failing completely.

That means making impossible choices about which critical needs can be powered at any given time: the well pump, septic system, water supply, barn ventilation, cooling stations, refrigeration, lighting, and other equipment the animals depend on in extreme weather.

This is the reality of sanctuary work in a changing climate. The storms are stronger. The heat is more dangerous. The outages are lasting longer. We have lost power many times before, thirteen times in the last year, but we have never faced anything like this.

Now, we have to make the next responsible investment: permanent, farm-wide automatic backup power that can support the essential infrastructure our animals rely on in both summer and winter.

Because our farm has expanded across multiple buildings and systems, this will require a properly designed backup power system, including two 200-amp transfer systems, so our critical operations can remain online during extended outages, including our well pump, septic system, barn ventilation, cooling areas, refrigeration, lighting, and emergency care spaces.

This is not just about convenience. It is about safety, preparedness, and protecting the animals who depend on us completely.

Your gift is an investment in the long-term resilience of Tamerlaine Sanctuary & Preserve and the well-being of every rescued resident who calls this farm home.

When the power fails, compassion prevails. Help us build the backup power system our animals need to stay safe.