The ECRV, or Emergency Communications Response Vehicle, was designed and created for the American Red Cross by Gary Gilham, Steve Hailey, and Bob Bavis, national headquarters-based Disaster Communications staff, and Ted Harris, a volunteer partner, to provide communications links between disaster relief operations and the Public Switched Telephone Network, the Internet and other public and private communications networks. The American Red Cross (also known as the American National Red Cross) is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance disaster relief and education inside The public switched telephone network ( PSTN) is the network of the world's public circuit-switched Telephone networks in much the same way that the The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks They include an interoperability switch which allows agencies and the Red Cross to communicate with each other while using their own radio systems.
The nine base vehicles for the original design, Ford Excursions, were donated by Ford Motor Company; subsystems and components were primarily acquired through funding via the Disaster Technology Integration Program (DSTIP). The Ford Excursion is a Full-size Sport utility vehicle that was produced by the Ford Motor Company between model years 2000 and 2005 (2006 in Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following The vehicles were extensively modified to add an 8. 5KW alternator driven by the diesel engine (keeping weight down, thereby avoiding significant safety hazards), a 52' pop-up pneumatic mast capable of rotating while holding a large shortwave yagi antenna and which also has a video camera with telephoto lens for disaster assessment purposes, a VSAT two-way satellite antenna system, a one-way DirecTV DBS antenna, and sixteen HF, VHF, UHF, WiFi and microwave antennas feeding its radios and data systems. Shortwave Radio operates between the frequencies of 3000 KHz (3 A Yagi-Uda Antenna, commonly known simply as a Yagi antenna or Yagi, is a Directional antenna system consisting of an array of a dipole A Very Small Aperture Terminal ( VSAT) is a two-way Satellite Ground station with a dish antenna that is smaller than 3 meters (most VSAT DirecTV (trademarked as "DIREC' TV' " is a Direct broadcast satellite (DBS service based in El Segundo California, USA, that was founded Direct broadcast satellite (DBS is a term used to refer to Satellite television broadcasts intended for home reception also referred to more broadly as direct-to-home Wi-Fi (ˈwaɪfaɪ is the trade name for the popular wireless technology used The Chevrolet Suburban is the basis of vehicles delivered in October 2007 to locations in North Carolina and Connecticut, this version does not have the pneumatic mast. An ongoing series of upgrades have enhanced vehicle capabilities, and second-generation ECRVs use a variety of other similar vehicles.
ECRVs are garaged in secure locations around the United States, and deployed when significant disasters require communication support. Training has a major emphasis on safety, as multiple severe injuries, amputations and fatalities have resulted from improper operation of similar television ENG vehicles. Fortunately, none of those include ECRV operators.
The operator training course involves approximately 40 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction with the ECRV's various onboard systems, safety training that includes driving an obstacle course, and coverage of mast and RF safety issues. Course prerequisites include 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. The American Red Cross (also known as the American National Red Cross) is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance disaster relief and education inside The American Red Cross (also known as the American National Red Cross) is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance disaster relief and education inside Operators are called on as needed to drive the vehicles to and from disaster locations and operate the systems until communications can be otherwise restored.
They have been used in multiple relief operations, including but not limited to Hurricane Katrina, the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season, and the October 2007 California wildfires. Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the costliest hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest in the history of the United States TemplateHurricane season single. -->The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 2004 and lasted until November 30 2004
References
- American Red Cross
- DSHR
- ECRV
- Safety
- Emergency Communications
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic