FEMA Brings Critical Mobile Operational Support
Release Date: August 21, 2003
Release Number: R9-03-60
» 2003 Region IX News Releases
Las Vegas, NV -- During the second week of the Determined Promise 2003 (DP '03) exercise, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's FEMA will bring its critical, mobile asset, a Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) detachment, to Las Vegas. The MERS detachment, based in Bothell, Wash., will have two vehicles in the parking lot of the Clark County Government Center located at 500 South Grand Central Parkway.
The MERS detachments maintain a wide variety of equipment for communications, information processing, logistics, and operational support in self-contained and environmentally controlled vehicles. The units are mobile, air transportable and self-sufficient, capable of operating with detachment generators and fuel for many days. The MERS is able to respond and set up quickly. Once on-site, the MERS can provide prompt and rapid multi-media communications during national emergencies and disasters.
In support of the DP '03 exercise, the Bothell-based MERS detachment is providing a Mobile Emergency Operations Vehicle (MEOV) and a Multi Radio Van (MRV) that can be quickly deployed and provide operational and critical communications support in the early stages of a disaster response. These vehicles are:
- Designed to be driven 500 miles to a site, then operate 24 hours under full loading;
- Transportable on either a C-5 or a C-17 aircraft; and
- Fully operational in winds to 30 mph, limited operation in winds from 30 to 60 mph, and survivable when stowed in winds over 60 mph.
The Mobile Emergency Operations Vehicle (MEOV)
- Five built-in workstation positions wired for network, phone and sound.
- Slide out portion of the MEOV accommodates a conference room with a table that seats four to six.
- 20KW Generator with 100-gallon fuel tank using approximately 14 gallons of fuel per 24-hour period.
- Avaya Prologix Telephone System capable of supplying 80 analog phone lines.
- Polycom Viewstation VS4000 provides video (H.323) displayed on flat panel plasma screen.
- Two SpectraLink 16-port analog master control units provide wireless voice communications.
- SpectraLink and Wavelan antennas provide the capability to remote the internal communications capabilities of the MEOV inside another facility.
- Satellite phone provides voice communication in the absence of the normal voice circuit (also remote to the cab of the truck for mobile communication).
- Satellite television and video conferencing capabilities.
- HF/VHF/UHF radios with telephone interface
The Multi Radio Van (MRV)
- Satellite phone provides voice communication in the absence of the normal voice circuit (also remote to the cab of the truck for mobile communication).
- Satellite television and video conferencing capabilities.
- Cooling system - capable of lowering the temperature from plus 120 degrees to 76 degrees in three hours.
- Heating system capable of raising the temperature from minus 37 degrees to 50 degrees in three hours.
- Ventilation system - 80 CF/M with 1 micron filtering.
- Screen room rated at less than 90dB of RF Isolation.
- Two on-board generators.
- Communications systems supporting voice, data and facsimile services both in secure and clear modes.
- Ability to transmit and receive broadcast quality video via satellite.
- VHF, AM/FM and UHF FM radios used simultaneously to cover the most commonly used military and civilian radio frequencies.
The five geographically dispersed MERS detachments are located in Maynard, Mass., (west of Boston), Thomasville, Ga. (north of Tallahassee, Fla.), Denton, Texas (northwest of Dallas), Denver and Bothell, Wash., (north of Seattle). The Bothell-based MEOV has supported the World Cup Soccer Games in Pasadena, Calif., the Republican National Convention in San Diego, and the World Trade Organization Conference in Seattle, as well as more than 70 declared disasters and over 50 exercises and equipment demonstrations.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Thursday, 21-Aug-2003 16:02:15