Oklahoma Red Cross to use “Em Trac” units for disaster response and public education
The American Red Cross Tulsa (OK) Area Chapter and Phillips Petroleum Company have joined in a disaster response program aimed at providing training for local emergency responders and educating the public about emergency preparedness. At the heart of the program are two “Em Trac” multipurpose Emergency Training and Response Actions Centers, which will be housed in trailers eight feet wide by 45 feet long. The units will be based in Tulsa and Oklahoma City and used by the Red Cross in Oklahoma as immediate, on-site command centers for relief activities when responding to disasters.
Designed by Phillips and the Red Cross, the units will feature mobile cellular phones, a satellite dish, several types of two-way radios, a fax machine, computer equipment and pagers, a television, a video camera, and a VCR. They will have several work stations and private areas.
The units will be used as mobile classrooms when not needed for disaster response and will be used throughout the state to train volunteers and staff in shelter operations, emergency assistance for families, and damage assessment.
Phillips will contribute $1 million over a five-year period–an initial commitment of $500,000 and a match dollar for dollar of contributions given by other donors, up to an additional $500,000. More information is available from Myna Bourk on behalf of the American Red Cross at (918) 747-2882.
