The ECRV, or Emergency Communications Response Vehicle, was designed and created for the American Red Cross by Disaster Services Technology paid and volunteer staff, to provide communications links between disaster relief operations and the Disaster Operation Center. However, as of February 21, 2013, the ECRV has been phased out in favor of more portable and flexible systems. Before replacement, they included an which allows the Red Cross to communicate with the variety of communication systems based in the nationwide network of chapters.
The nine base vehicles for the original design, 2000 Ford Excursions, were donated by Ford Motor Company; subsystems and components were primarily acquired through funding via the Disaster Technology Integration Program (DSTIP). The vehicles were extensively modified to add an 8.5KW alternator driven by the engine (keeping weight down, thereby avoiding ), a 52' pop-up pneumatic mast capable of rotating while holding a large yagi antenna, a KU VSAT satellite antenna system, and sixteen HF, VHF, and UHF antennas feeding its radios and interoperable voice and data systems. The Chevrolet Suburban model was the basis of three vehicles delivered in October 2007; this version does not have the pneumatic mast.
The operator training course involved approximately 40 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction with the ECRV's various onboard systems, safety training that included driving an obstacle course, and coverage of mast and RF safety issues. Course prerequisites included a current defensive driving certificate, a clean DMV record, current First Aid and CPR certifications, and enrollment in the Disaster Services Human Resources system of the American Red Cross. Operators were called on as needed to drive the vehicles to and from disaster locations and operate the systems until communications could be otherwise restored.
emergency, communications, response, vehicle, ecrv, designed, created, american, cross, disaster, services, technology, paid, volunteer, staff, provide, communications, links, between, disaster, relief, operations, disaster, operation, center, however, februar. The ECRV or Emergency Communications Response Vehicle was designed and created for the American Red Cross by Disaster Services Technology paid and volunteer staff to provide communications links between disaster relief operations and the Disaster Operation Center However as of February 21 2013 the ECRV has been phased out in favor of more portable and flexible systems Before replacement they included an interoperability switch which allows the Red Cross to communicate with the variety of communication systems based in the nationwide network of chapters The nine base vehicles for the original design 2000 Ford Excursions were donated by Ford Motor Company subsystems and components were primarily acquired through funding via the Disaster Technology Integration Program DSTIP The vehicles were extensively modified to add an 8 5KW alternator driven by the engine keeping weight down thereby avoiding significant safety hazards a 52 pop up pneumatic mast capable of rotating while holding a large yagi antenna a KU VSAT satellite antenna system and sixteen HF VHF and UHF antennas feeding its radios and interoperable voice and data systems The Chevrolet Suburban model was the basis of three vehicles delivered in October 2007 this version does not have the pneumatic mast The operator training course involved approximately 40 hours of classroom and hands on instruction with the ECRV s various onboard systems safety training that included driving an obstacle course and coverage of mast and RF safety issues Course prerequisites included a current defensive driving certificate a clean DMV record current First Aid and CPR certifications and enrollment in the Disaster Services Human Resources system of the American Red Cross Operators were called on as needed to drive the vehicles to and from disaster locations and operate the systems until communications could be otherwise restored Until their decommissioning in 2013 they were used in every significant relief operation from 2001 2012 including 11 Hurricane Katrina the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season and the October 2007 California wildfires to name a few References editAmerican Red Cross American Red Cross DSHR DSHR and the American Red Cross ECRV Photo Gallery Safety ENG Safety Page Archived 2006 12 28 at the Wayback Machine National Press Photographers Association Look Up and Live campaign Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Emergency Communications Response Vehicle amp oldid 1212189098, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
