American Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles

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The American Red Cross' Emergency Response Vehicles, or ERV's, are designed to deploy within 24 hours and are sent to anything from large disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, to a house fire in a local neighborhood. "The Red Cross has approximately 150-200 in the fleet, and they're custodial to several chapters throughout the country," stated Director of Response for the Inland Empire Chapter of the Red Cross, Martin Ayala.

ERV's are all designed to carry prepared meals and liquid hydration. Meals are loaded into large containers that can accommodate hot or cold food. Ayala claimed that a vehicle is capable of carrying up to 1,000 meals.

"The hydration comes in several ways. It comes in pre-made liquid hydration or bottled waters, and we carry a unit for every meal that we plan to serve," added Ayala. At a disaster site, clients will come up to a truck and accept food and beverage through the truck's window.

Chests can be stacked on both sides of the truck, as well as in the middle, if necessary. Ayala explained, "There's hydration containers here too, whether it's water or some other type of liquid being provided."

There are extra seats in the ERV to be used as needed, including a DOT sanctioned jumper seat, along with two others. "If we go out to an area that hasn't seen the Red Cross in quite some time, folks that may do damage assessment or disaster assessment can ride in the vehicle, or a nurse, if we know that there's issues out in the community," Ayala said.

California's Inland Empire Chapter vehicle, in particular, responds locally to more than 100 incidents per year and served on the 2007 Wildfires for more than 3 months.

For more information of the American Red Cross and Emergency Response Vehicles, please visit www.redcross.org.

Contributors to This Story
Barbara Brooks - Video Report
Ann Zevely- Camera/Editor
Renee Marquart - Text Story



Author:B. Brooks, A. Zevely, R. Marquart