New Technology Makes Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response More Efficient, Effective

Tue Sep 1, 2009 1:34pm EDT
 
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First ever public deployment of rigid wall shelter held in Tennessee
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--(Business Wire)--
Today, developers of a new federal disaster response technology demonstrated how
the Rapid Deployment Shelter System (RDSS) will shape the future of emergency
preparedness and disaster relief. The compact, highly portable rigid wall
shelter is easily transportable to domestic and global disaster sites, and may
be deployed by one person in less than two minutes with the push of a button.
The first ever public deployment of the RDSS took place at Adaptive Methods
manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tenn., earlier this morning. 

The RDSS was conceived and built through a public-private partnership in the
Eastern U.S. geographic technology epicenter known as the Tennessee Valley
Corridor. The partnership between developer Y-12 National Security Complex in
Oak Ridge, Tenn., and manufacturer Adaptive Methods was facilitated by The
Enterprise Center (TEC). Adaptive Methods and TEC are based in Chattanooga. 

"The RDSS is a progressive and unique technological solution for everyday
challenges faced around the globe," said U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn. "Now
families that lost their home in a natural disaster can get shelter and medical
treatment even when the roads are flooded. This completely unique and highly
mobile structure can be adapted to various emergency response situations." 

Developed at Y-12 at the request of the U.S. Army and modified by Adaptive
Methods, Inc. for commercial applications, the RDSS can be deployed around the
world for disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. It can be easily
reconfigured for a variety of applications including first responder or family
shelters, barracks, offices, command/control/communications centers and medical
triage. 

"Most rigid walled shelters require up to 10 people and 40 minutes to set up,
and travel trailers and mobile homes simply are not designed for transport into
disaster areas," said Lee Bzorgi, Y-12`s senior technical advisor and inventor
of the RDSS. "The RDSS requires less time and manpower to deploy than any other
rigid wall shelter on the market." 

Designed with input from emergency management and first responders, the RDSS
unfolds from a 20 ft. standard shipping container into a 400 sq. ft. shelter at
the touch of a button. The technology was named one of the "R&D 100 Awards for
2007" by R&D Magazine, which recognizes the 100 most significant proven
technological advances of the year. 

"The RDSS was designed to military and FEMA shelter specifications," said J.
Keith Buckner, vice president of manufacturing at Adaptive Methods. "We designed
it to specifically meet the needs of disaster response teams, with explicit
consideration given to ease of use, ease of storage and ease of reuse." 

When it is no longer needed at a location, the RDSS easily returns to its
container configuration and is ready for transport back to its depot. Upon
arrival at the depot, the RDSS is easily cleaned, sanitized and reequipped for
the next use. The RDSS will provide years of service at a significantly lower
total cost of ownership than alternative options. 

The RDSS units will be produced at Adaptive Methods` manufacturing facility in
Chattanooga. The company expects to employ more than 100 engineers and
production personnel over the next four years. Future RDSS configurations
planned include decontamination units, shower stations, latrine facilities and
claim processing centers for disaster relief. 

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