What is the Hummer?

The Hummer is a specially equipped 4-wheel-drive disaster communications vehicle donated to the American Red Cross by AM General Corporation. The Hummer has been outfitted with state-of-the-art telecommunications equipment to support a Disaster Relief Operation anywhere in the world.

How many Hummers are in the national fleet?

There is one Hummer maintained by Disaster Services at Falls Church, VA

What is the Hummer used for?

The Hummer can be deployed to the scene of such disasters as floods, fires, hurricanes and tornadoes to assist with the implementation of telecommunications in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. The Hummer's unique design makes it particularly suited to operations where extensive infrastructure damage makes travel in conventional vehicles difficult. The Hummer is capable of being deployed anywhere in the world. It can be airlifted to island territories by a C-130 military transport as needed.

What types of support can the Hummer provide?

The Hummer has been designed to provide communications support to a disaster relief operation. Its onboard equipment includes:
Transworld mobile HF transceiver
Vertex 110 watt VHF transceiver
Vertex 25 Watt UHF transceiver
Kenwood dual band amateur radio
Full complement of portable communications equipment
Weather Eagle scanning weather receiver
Mitsubishi satellite telephone
Trimble "C" satellite data transceiver and GPS
Magnaphone "A" satellite telephone
Two Motorola cellular mobile telephones with data interface jacks
Two Motorola portable cellular telephones with mobile adapters
FAX machine
IBM laptop computer to provide the following:

Modem communication via satellite or cellular for internet access
Data interface device for Trimble "C" satellite unit
Field programming of radio equipment
ARDIS wireless communications system (IBM PC radio)

Cannon ink-jet printer
12 volt dc to 110 volt ac power inverter
Two Honda generators
Misc. communications tools and supplies