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HUMMER Owners Become Unique Disaster Volunteers
Written by
Bonnie Gillespie
, Staff Writer and Photographer, RedCross.org
Wednesday, November 10, 2004 — The American Red Cross has a uniquely equipped new partner in disaster relief – HUMMER owners. As part of a collaboration announced this week, members of The HUMMER Club Inc. can choose to become certified Red Cross volunteers who can be deployed during disaster relief operations to drive people and supplies into hard-hit areas that other vehicles might not be able to reach.
“When disasters strike, it’s imperative that Red Cross personnel can access affected areas as quickly as possible,” said Marsha J. Evans, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “The off-road capabilities of HUMMER vehicles and the volunteer operational support by The HUMMER Club will certainly help our relief workers assess the damage and get lifesaving aid and supplies to those who need it most.”
Known as HOPE – HUMMER Owners Prepared for Emergencies – the partnership entails a $4 million contribution from the GM Foundation to the Red Cross over a six-year period to assist with disaster relief efforts and program and service delivery on a local and national level.
“The unprecedented string of recent hurricanes is a reminder that we all need to pull together to help the American Red Cross perform its vital relief work,” said Rod Gillum, GM Foundation chairman and GM vice president for Corporate Responsibility and Diversity. “GM and HUMMER are committed to providing assistance to communities when disaster strikes, and we’re proud to support The HUMMER Club in its new collaboration with the Red Cross.”
As a result of the partnership, the Red Cross will purchase HUMMER H1s, H2s and new H3 models that will debut next year. GM’s OnStar subsidiary will provide OnStar service as well, and OnStar Personal Calling will be activated while the H2 and H3 vehicles are in the Red Cross emergency fleet.
Mike Morris, a director of The HUMMER Club and national coordinator of the HOPE program, said that the program grew out of members’ desires to get more involved with their communities by taking advantage of the remarkable all-terrain capabilities of HUMMER vehicles.
“The HUMMER Club has a lot of people who care about helping others and are willing to give up their personal time because it’s the right thing to do,” Morris said.
To qualify for HOPE certification, members of The HUMMER Club will receive a variety of Red Cross training including CPR, first aid, automated external defibrillation and emergency response.
In addition, The HUMMER Club will provide training and the necessary certification for off-road driving skills, ensuring that drivers can safely drive over or through obstacles, or remove them if needed. The off-road training will be held at regular HUMMER club outings and at specially organized events. Local HUMMER dealers also will support the Red Cross first-aid and HUMMER Club off-road training through various dealer events.
Contact information for certified HUMMER volunteers will be entered into Red Cross national and chapter databases so that HUMMER owners can be contacted in situations such as snowstorms or in the aftermath of tornadoes and hurricanes, when debris blocks normal vehicles from getting to disaster-stricken areas.
According to Morris, The HOPE program is restricted to members of The HUMMER Club, a nonprofit organization comprising about 1,500 HUMMER enthusiasts, and HUMMER corporate staff.
“In a short time, we should have 400 to 500 people involved in the HOPE program, ready to help in a disaster situation,” Morris said.
Those interested in participating in the program can contact the Red Cross HOPE coordinator hope@stjoe-redcross.org or visit the St. Joseph County Chapter in South Bend, Ind., website.
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