Bellone, FRES and EMS Showcase Suffolk County’s New Major Emergency Response Vehicle

Vehicle Serves as a Benefit in Emergency Response Situations Enabling the Transport of Over Two Dozen Evacuees/Personnel

(August, 7, 2012-Yaphank, NY)  County Executive Bellone and FRES Commissioner Joe Williams were joined by fire rescue and emergency personnel to highlight Suffolk County’s new  Major Response Emergency Vehicle (MERV).  The MERV is designed to provide mass casualty incident response and transport, medical evacuations, on-site triage, firefighter and EMS rehabilitation and medical support for long term emergency incidents.

“This vehicle truly underscores a regional approach to dealing with significant weather events and emergencies,” said County Executive Bellone.  “It's the type of vehicle first responder’s hope they will rarely have to activate, but having the new Major Emergency Response Vehicle on hand for large scale emergencies is a tremendous benefit to the residents of Suffolk County and the New York Community at large.  I thank our federal and congressional representatives for supporting Suffolk County’s emergency response efforts.”

The 42 foot unit comes equipped with stretchers to accommodate 24 patients and medical personnel for transport, patient monitoring equipment, metered oxygen, electrical capacity to supply power for necessary medical equipment, rehab supplies, and all in a climate controlled area. The unit can be deployed to neighboring municipalities throughout New York state in an event of an emergency and was designed using radio frequencies which can communicate universally thereby ensuring communication with various emergency personnel and departments.

"This bus will be a huge resource across the region when it comes to providing emergency services," said Commissioner Williams. "It can be activated during evacuations, bus, train or ferry accidents, and, weather related emergencies when there is a need to treat people at the scene or transport them to hospitals."

Suffolk County was part of the original design team to ensure the appropriate capabilities and functionality of the emergency vehicle.  The MERV was designed to serve in a variety of emergency situations maximizing its usage and efficiency.  In addition to providing medical evacuations, the MERV also provides: safe areas of refuge for firefighters, EMS responders, hazmat responders and others responding to large scale fires, and support of the County’s Urban Search & Rescue Team and Decontamination Strike Team operations. 

"This could not have been made possible without the hard work and efforts of numerous agencies," Robert Delagi Director EMS and Public Health Emergency Preparedness. "The service will be available not only throughout Suffolk County but the entire state, making this another prime example of shared services as a cost efficient strategy."

The cost for the unit was $380,000 and purchased through a federal grant provided by the Department of Homeland Security to Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services.  “These funds have been put to great use in providing Suffolk County Emergency Responders a vehicle which will assist them during large scale emergency events,” stated County Executive Bellone.

(Dr. James Tomarken, Suffolk County Commissioner of Health Services, Bob Delagi, Suffolk County Director, EMS and Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Joe Williams, Suffolk County Commissioner of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, County Executive Steve Bellone, Jay Egan, Suffolk County FRES Commission President, John Jordan, Suffolk County Deputy Commissioner of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, John Carney, Suffolk County Fire Chiefs Council President, Scott Crosby, Suffolk County Ambulance Chiefs)