State-of-the-Art Red Cross Communications Response Vehicle to Change Disaster Relief
 Ford Donates 10 Excursion SUVs To Help Nationwide Disaster Relief Services
The prototype for the Communications Response Vehicle (CRV) parked outside of New York headquarters.
New York, NY, July 26, 2001...American Red Cross staff and volunteers attending a conference on hurricane preparedness for New York State were provided a tour of the prototype of a state-of-the-art Red Cross Communications Response Vehicle (CRV) currently stationed in Falls Church, Virginia at the National Red Cross Headquarters.

Next time disaster strikes, don't be surprised if you see a Ford Excursion on the site. Last March, Ford Motor Company donated 10 Ford Excursion SUVs to the American Red Cross.








Each CRV is outfitted with satellite, cellular and short wave telecommunication equipment.
These vehicles will be positioned at Red Cross chapters in strategic locations nationwide to facilitate and coordinate the delivery of disaster relief services.
Outfitted by the American Red Cross with satellite, cellular and short wave telecommunication equipment, these vehicles are valued at $450,000 each. They are positioned at Red Cross chapters in strategic locations nationwide to facilitate and coordinate the delivery of disaster relief services.

Some have already been put to use. According to John Perry, manager of disaster telecommunications for the American Red Cross, National Headquarters, the Excursion have been on relief operations in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Alabama, Virginia, Texas, West Virginia and Michigan, helping to transport people and materials. Plus, the vehicles support Red Cross disaster activities such as damage assessment and emergency assistance outreach.

All this and they are not even fully outfitted, says Perry. "The first Excursion to be fully outfitted with the communication equipment is currently being tested at our headquarters in Falls Church, Va."

Once they are fully equipped, here's what the Excursion will be counted on to provide:

  • Temporary PBX phone system allowing 30 stations with 10 incoming phone trunks
  • Emergency Response Vehicle radio operations
  • 8kw generator for vehicle and facility
  • Digital satellite TV for weather/news coverage as well as video conferencing
  • Satellite phone systems for voice and data transmission
  • HF and amateur radio operations
  • ARC UHF, VHF Commercial, UHF-Government, VHF-Lo, and HF radio capabilities
  • Complete integration of all two-way radio systems; and
  • 52-foot pneumatic mast for antennas and video
This equipment will help increase lines of communication between Red Cross personnel and other government and emergency management organizations, which are on-site immediately following a disaster.



Digital satellite TV for weather/news coverage as well as video conferencing.
52-foot pneumatic mast for antennas and video.
"The Excursion will enable our disaster relief workers to travel into areas severely affected by a disaster and then to effectively communicate needs to ensure that supplies and relief are being delivered to those in need of help," says American Red Cross Vice President of Disaster Services Dr. John Clizbe.

Of course, they aren't letting just anybody get behind the wheel of these high-tech Excursion. The Red Cross has an extensive training program on the communications equipment. "We believe it will take participants nearly two weeks to become familiar with all the equipment on the Excursion," says Perry. "This is state-of-the-art equipment, and we want to make sure our employees and volunteers are comfortable with the technology."

The Excursion are expected to be ready and the training completed by summer 2001 in preparation for what experts say will be another devastating hurricane season.

The donation of the vehicles was arranged by the Detroit Red Cross chapter, which received the 10 vehicles from Ford Motor Company. The Detroit chapter kept one for local disaster response use and forwarded the other nine to national headquarters to equip and place around the country.