Calgary, AB,
04
August
2016
|
16:01
America/Denver

Flood Resiliency Program funding used to purchase new Mobile Command Vehicle

This week, the Calgary Police Service will begin deploying a new Mobile Command Vehicle (MCV) which was made possible through Flood Resiliency Program funding approved by Calgary City Council in 2014.

This two-year initiative was identified as a critical need following the 2013 southern Alberta flood, when parts of Calgary were devastated by a deluge of water, and a mobile support vehicle was deemed essential in similar disasters. While $1.3 million was earmarked for the MCV, the Service came in well under budget at $900,000.

The monies were identified through The City of Calgary’s Flood Recovery Task Force, which identified areas of need across the city. The necessity for a MCV was classified as a community priority, based on its ability to provide command and logistic support at a disaster site.

In spring 2015, the Service posted a request for proposal for a MCV that would suit its specific needs. Several months later, MBF Industries of Florida was selected and a team of seven CPS members assisted with custom building the vehicle.

The vehicle required several unique specifications. It had to be multi-functional, capable of deploying in natural disasters and emergencies including floods and major fires, as well as large community gatherings and events, and it had to be fully functional for search and rescue situations. It also was designed to facilitate an incident command team in the event of prolonged, high-risk situations where space is required for police negotiators to operate if required.

The chassis is Freightliner and the body was custom designed by MBF and has a lifetime warranty. It has the technological capabilities to access existing CPS networks, as well as the HAWCS downlink. A unique characteristic of the vehicle includes its re-mountable body, which allows for the chassis to be replaced in the coming years due to wear and tear, ultimately extending the life of this critical investment.

The MCV will join the CPS fleet this week.

The MCV was one of approximately 50 projects identified following the 2013 flood to help bolster community resiliency to future disasters. Other projects included building resiliency components into infrastructure as it was replaced or repaired, restocking and augmenting pandemic supply kits, replacing personal protective equipment (PPE) for emergency responders and buying equipment such as generators, back-up phone systems and technology to support continuation of critical public services.