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.
U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp announces the development of the RDDS and conducts the first public deployment. (Photo: Business Wire) |
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.
SOURCE: BusinessWire
