An emergency backup power generation system includes a housing comprising a main body portion, a top cap, and a bottom cap. Inner and outer surfaces and the main body portion, the top cap, and the bottom cap define a generally hollow interior volume within the inner surface. A shaft within the housing is substantially perpendicular to the top cap and the bottom cap about a rotational axis. A plurality of air guides affixed to the outer surface of the housing are adjacent openings in the main body portion to admit and direct moving air. One or more vanes are coupled to the shaft and rotatable within the housing. An electrical generator is coupled to the shaft such that the electrical generator is operable to generate electrical power when moving air impinges on the vanes to thereby cause the shaft to rotate within the interior volume of the housing.