Rapid Response Units

Utilizing the Mercy Truck / De-mining Systems infrastructure into fully integrated global rapid response / emergency support units.

Reality and cost effectiveness
The cost and the logistical difficulties involved in setting up a global network of trained teams with real hands on experience of teamwork would be prohibitive. This, together with the cost of purchasing the necessary equipment and locating it around the world to just sit and remain on standby waiting for a call, would not be feasible or realistic. However, Mercy Truck teams will already be working around the globe so the cost, training, machinery, equipment and logistics are, to a very large extent, already covered in this dual-purpose role.

An example
Mercy Ships already have four hospital ships fully fitted that sail into port cities around the world. They carry out eye operations, maxillo facial operations removing facial tumours etc. They also carry equipment to allow construction projects, water well drilling, agricultural development, community health clinics and utilise a land/sea container as a mobile prosthetics unit to fit new limbs for landmine victims. This all came about after some of the volunteers were doing other work in the Caribbean and a severe tropical storm devastated the islands. They decided to start an organisation that could enable them to answer a call for help, and sail to a disaster area. When there are no current disasters to attend to, they are busy utilising the above equipment, undertaking good works in port cities around the world.

Mercy Trucks
Under normal circumstances we would be undertaking community and agricultural development work in areas recently cleared of land mines etc. The nature of this work allows for us to immediately stop what we are doing and go in response to a crisis. We would be on 24 hr 365 days a year standby, as we are already on duty and operating.

The units are similar to the land/sea containers, allowing for stacking, shipping and hauling. All of our accommodation units, storage units, workshops units, storage tanks and equipment are modular in design, allowing for a mix and match or "take what is needed" system. Each accommodation unit is fully independent. Once dropped into a location, the staff can get to work immediately, as it is fully self-contained. It includes the following: water storage, purification and wastewater recycling unit, generator and fuel storage, six double bedrooms with sharing en suite toilet and shower facilities.

The bottom deck of the double decked hydraulic folding platform container (when the top deck accommodation unit is raised into position) can be used as an office / communication / command centre, health clinic/hospital unit, canteen, laundry and education facility.

The machinery trailers (same design, double decked hydraulic folding platform trailer) can be used to carry the modular units e.g. accommodation, stores, workshop, storage tanks etc and/or the machinery. The key equipment of each Mercy Truck team is the MDM (Modular De-Mining) system's Fastrack (fast agricultural tractors) along with the Croplanter, backhoe, cement mixer, forklift and Quickdrill system. The trailer used to carry these machines can then be used to collect/distribute food, water, seeds, fertilizer and building materials or other necessary items. The machinery trailers can also carry the Landrover type 4WD LWB vehicles. These vehicles can double up as ambulances and become mini-rapid response units for the more remote areas. The trailers can be pulled by wagon units or by the MDM system's Fastracks in areas of poor road infrastructure.

Personnel and team dynamics
Each Mercy Truck team will already include medics. The sappers would be able to undertake rescue work and we already have the operators of the MDM machines who can undertake a variety of infrastructure re-development works. These people are usually military trained and disciplined and are able to undertake a number of duties including search and rescue after earthquakes and hurricanes etc. The personnel and equipment can then help to rebuild the communities and agricultural infrastructure (particularly useful after droughts and floods or where large volumes of people have migrated). These teams, already trained would be used to working together implementing team dynamics, thus enhancing efficiency.

Transportation and logistics
Mercy Trucks already have the fuel/water tanks and pumps, storage and transport containers and the transporting infrastructure including rough terrain transport to provide communities even in remote locations with food and water supplies even when roads and bridges are out of use. We will already have a global communications network able to communicate and direct each member of each team. This whole modular system of machinery and personnel is able to be packed-up and travel independently to the required location, or can be loaded onto planes for more distant locations. Any team or teams could rendezvous at a large airstrip and be carried by plane and once landed, carry on to the precise location independently.

Multi role
As well as being able to co-ordinate the emergency rescue personnel and equipment along with transport for food and water supplies, we are also able to help a community provide there own food and water in the longer term. Our Quickdrill system is a device for drilling water bore holes and installing pumps. This is part of the equipment that fits to the MDM system carried by Mercy Trucks. The MDM system is able to clear vegetation, landmines and cultivate the earth, seed, fertilize and roll all in one process, or it can be used to only put crops in. The Croplanter is able to put very large areas of land under crop in a very short time, allowing for communities to become self sufficient again and re-start their crop cycle after a flood, drought or war etc.

The Mercy Truck teams will also be able to undertake small construction projects relying solely upon our own machinery and transport that go to make up the MDM system along with the logistical support of the Mercy Truck units themselves. This would be a vertically integrated and independent team/system fully and permanently on duty and able to be respond immediately.