EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS RESPONSE VEHICLE -

What is a Emergency Communications Response Vehicle?
The Emergency Communications Response Vehicle (ECRV) is a specially equipped Ford Excursion 4x4 designated as a disaster telecommunications vehicle. The Ford Excursions were donated to the American Red Cross by the Ford Motor Company. Each ECRV has been outfitted with state-of-the-art telecommunications equipment to support a Disaster Relief Operation Headquarters or other facility for the first 72 hours after the onset of a disaster.

How many ECRV's are in the national fleet?

There are nine ECRV's strategically placed around the country. The ECRV's have been pre-positioned in custodial chapters, which have been selected to allow for rapid deployment to the scene of a disaster anywhere in the continental United States within 12 hours.

What are the ECRV's used for?

The ECRV's 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. Additional uses might include hurricane watch headquarters or aviation incidents allowing for temporary telephones to be installed without phone line installation costs.

What types of support can the ECRV's provide?

Each truck is equipped to be fully self-contained with an assortment of specialized equipment to provide telecommunications support to a disaster relief operation for the first 72 hours. Standard equipment allows for the provision of the following:
Temporary PBX phone system consisting of 30 stations and 10 trunk lines
Two-way radios to support Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV's) in the field
Facsimile transmission
Digital satellite TV receiver/dish for weather/news coverage
Satellite data, e-mail, and telephone service
HF and amateur radio operations
ARC UHF, VHF Commercial, UHF Gov't, VHF-Lo and HF radio capabilities
Complete integration of all two-way radio systems
Back-up power for vehicle and facility provided by an on-board 5KW generator

How does the ECRV differ from the Pathfinder?

The ECRV has been designed to provide a wide range of telecommunications support including access to Public Switched Telephone Network, two-way radio communications within the Red Cross and with other agencies, satellite services including weather, voice, and data, and back-up electrical power. The Pathfinder is designed primarily to support Red Cross radio communications during a disaster relief operation.

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

DISASTER FIELD SERVICE CENTER (DFSC) -

What is a Disaster Field Service Center?
A Disaster Field Service Center is a supply depot that stocks a large quantity of a limited number of disaster-related items. Most of the items in the inventory are for use in Mass Care and/or sheltering operations.

Where are they located?

There are currently 13 DFSC's strategically placed around the United States and the island territories served by the American Red Cross.

Atlanta, GA	San Antonio, TX Honolulu, HI	St. Joseph, MO
Indianapolis, IN	Waterloo, IA
Lancaster, PA	Umatilla, OR
Los Angeles, CA	Guam
Sacramento, CA	San Juan, PR
	Saipan

What standard equipment is stocked?

All DFSC's stock the following items:
Cots/blankets
Food & beverage containers
Ice chests
Sandwich bags
Hot cups
Clean-up kits
Comfort kits

In addition to the standard inventory, the Indianapolis DFSC also houses In-Kind contributions such as Beanie Babies, plates, cups, paper goods, etc.

How are items sent to a disaster?

When emergency supplies are needed on a disaster relief operation, a request is forwarded through the General Services Division to the nearest DFSC. The requested items can then be shipped via freight forwarder directly to the affected area. The San Antonio DFSC also maintains a tractor-trailer combination that is normally kept stocked with emergency shelter supplies for rapid deployment.

How quickly can items be shipped?

When needed, in-stock supplies can normally be shipped to arrive on the scene within 24 hours of the initial request, subject to road and weather conditions.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLE (ERV) -

What is an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV)?

Chassis make?	Ford - E350 gas/diesel; E450 - diesel
Fuel Type?	Gas/diesel; '88 - '91 gas; '93 - '00 diesel.
MPG?	7 - 9 gas; 10 - 12 diesel
Box design?	Current model, '93 and later, built to US Government ambulance specifications.
Size?	Box interior approximately 12'L X 7'W X 6'H
Supplier?	Purchased through General Services Administration (GSA) from Wheeled Coach Industries, Winter Park, FL
Cost?	Chassis - approx. $61,000; accessories (radio, cambros, tools, etc.) approx. $3,000.

What is an ERV used for?

Main purpose is to provide mobile feeding to disaster victims, emergency workers such as firefighters, and relief workers. May also be used for direct distribution of disaster relief supplies such as clean up kits, Family Service outreach, aid stations, and a communications command post or relay station.

What is an ERV NOT used for?

The ERV is not used for the transportation of injured.

What standard equipment is stocked on an ERV?

Food Cambros - 24qt, 6 ea.
Beverage Cambros - 5 gal, 6 ea.
Serving utensils.
Mobile radio - ARC freq. 47.42 MHz.

How many ERV's are in the national fleet?

233

Are there ERV's in all 50 states?

National ERVs in all states except Hawaii. (Hawaii has a chapter ERV.)

Which state has the most ERV's?

CA - 23, TX - 18, FL - 16

What determines where an ERV is placed?

ERVs are placed in states that have a history of disasters. The majority of ERVs are located on the southern East Coast and Gulf states, the upper mid-West, and the West Coast. National ERVs are located in chapters that have agreed to be a "custodial chapter". As a custodial chapter, the chapter signs an agreement with national headquarters agreeing to maintain the ERV and to have DSHR, Mass Care trained ERV crews available for a 3-week disaster assignment. All maintenance costs associated with the upkeep of the ERV are paid for by national headquarters.

Are there ERV's on the island territories?

There are no national ERVs on the island territories. Puerto Rico has a chapter ERV that was purchased through a local grant in 1999.

How are ERV's deployed?

National ERVs may be used by chapters to respond to a local disaster; e.g., an apartment fire, when not deployed on a national assignment. In response to a state disaster, the state lead chapter can deploy in-state national ERVs to meet operational requirements. If the disaster needs exceed the state's assets, the relief operation submits their requirements to the Disaster Operations Center (DOC). The Disaster Logistics Center (DLC), a component of the DOC, acts on the request by recruiting ERVs from surrounding/unaffected states. This is done by contacting the state chapter responsible for ERV recruitment, usually the state lead chapter for disaster, with a requirement for a certain number of ERVs. The recruitment chapter then contacts the ERV custodial chapters in the state. The custodial chapter recruits the ERV crew and reports this information to the state recruiting chapter who then provides the information to the DLC.

What training is required to be an ERV crewmember?

ERV crewmembers must be DSHR members in the Mass Care function. In addition to the Mass Care courses they take as a requirement of the Mass Care function; the crewmembers must also take an ERV class, which addresses service delivery, vehicle operation, and vehicle maintenance.

How many meals can be served daily?

On an ERV run, the ERV can take 6 - 9 cambros that can accommodate 100 - 150 meals each. An ERV can make 2 - 3 runs a day based on the conditions in the disaster area and the distance the ERV must travel to provide service delivery.

LOGISTICS INITIAL RESPONSE VEHICLE (LIRV) -

What is a Logistics Initial Response Vehicle (LIRV)?

A logistics supply vehicle containing administrative supplies for functions - Mass Care, Family Service, Logistics, Liaisons, etc. - assigned to a disaster relief operation. Supplies include forms, office supplies, copier, fax machines, telephones, calculators, tables, chairs, etc.

Chassis make? Chevrolet brand name on an Isuzu tilt-cab chassis.

Fuel Type? Gasoline MPG? 8 - 10

Box design? High Cube

Size (sq. ft.)? 128 sq. ft

Supplier? Chassis - Blake Chevrolet, Homestead, FL; Box - American Commercial, Tampa, FL

Cost? Chassis - $30,000; Contents - approx. $11,000

What is an LIRV used for?

Contents are used to establish a relief operations headquarters and to sustain the headquarters for approximately three days. The truck, once off-loaded, may be used to transport relief supplies on the relief operation. The LIRV could be used as an aid station or as an "ERV" if a need arose for additional feeding vehicles.

What is an LIRV NOT used for?

Not used to transport staff.

What standard equipment is stocked on an LIRV?

26 function boxes containing forms, office supplies, etc. 20 tables and 40 chairs. One copier. Two fax machines.

How many LIRV's are in the national fleet?

14

Where are the LIRV's placed?

As national vehicles, LIRVs are placed in custodial chapters that agree to provide trained drivers and to maintain the vehicle.

What determines where a LIRV is placed?

LIRVs are strategically placed around the Continental U.S. so that a LIRV can respond to a disaster area within 24 hours or less to anywhere in the country.

Are there LIRV's on the island territories?

No.

How are LIRV's deployed?

States lead chapters can deploy a LIRV in response to a disaster within the state. States that do not have a LIRV within the state may request a LIRV through the DOC. Once approved, the DLC recruits the nearest available LIRV.

What training is required to staff/drive a LIRV?

No specific training is required. Drivers must have a driver's course, be DSHR members, and be available for a 3-week assignment. Drivers in the Logistics function are preferred but others may drive the LIRV to a relief operation.

MOBILE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLY UNIT (MASU) -

What is a Mobile Administrative Supply Unit?

This is a semi-trailer that has been modified to carry forms and office supplies to support a 10,000 family disaster. The trailer includes office space that contains phone, fax, and copier. The trailer is air-conditioned and can run off generator or hardwired electrical power.

Trailer make? Gindy Trailer and Fruehauf Trailer

Fuel Type? MPG?

Size? 45ft Trailer

Cost? Approximately $72,000.

What is a MASU used for?

To support the administrative requirements of the relief operation.

What is a MASU NOT used for?

N/A

What standard equipment is stocked on a MASU?

Administrative forms and office supplies. Fax, copier, and phone.

How many MASU's are in the national fleet?

2

What determines where a MASU is placed?

Chapters were selected based on the ability of the chapter to support the upkeep and maintenance of the trailer and the ability to keep the forms and supplies stocked on the trailer current. One MASU is located in San Antonio, TX (Gindy) and one in Cincinnati, OH (Fruehauf).

Are there MASU's on the island territories?

No

How are MASU's deployed?

MASUs are deployed based on the projected size of the relief operation - large level IV or V.

What training is required to drive/staff a MASU?

The MASU requires that the driver possess a Class I Commercial Driver's License.

MOBILE KITCHEN -

What is the mobile kitchen?

Self contained kitchen trailer capable of providing up to 10,000 meals per day.

Made by? Carlin Manufacturing, Inc., Fresno, CA

Cost? Approximately $215,000

Size? 53' trailer

What standard equipment is stocked?

2-burner hot plate; 3 tilt skillets; 1 - 40 gallon steam kettle; dual stacked convection ovens; fire suppression system; walk-in refrigerator and freezer;

How many meals can be prepared/served daily?

10,000

Where will the mobile kitchen be housed?

TBD

Who will drive/staff the kitchen?

Certified CDL driver

What special training is required to staff the mobile kitchen?

Mass Care Food Service Course

How will the mobile kitchen be deployed?

Kitchen will be deployed at the request of the Mass Care associate to support relief operations. The kitchen will supplement meal preparation currently provided by the Southern Baptist through a statement of understanding with the American Red Cross.