The Dakotas Region of the American Red Cross is pleased to announce the arrival of its new and improved, next-generation Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV). The energy efficient, high tech truck will enable the Red Cross to quickly provide food and supplies to people affected by disasters.

“When disaster strikes, Red Cross workers use emergency response vehicles to travel to impacted areas and deliver critical disaster relief services to our neighbors in need,” said Lynn Speral, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Dakotas Region.

Otto Bremer Trust provided a cornerstone donation of $75,000 and several others also contributed generously to support the purchase of this new vehicle. Additional partners include Essentia Health, Nodak Insurance Company, and individual donors.

“In Fiscal Year 2018, we responded to more than 400 disasters in the Dakotas Region. Thanks to the generous support of our community partners, we’ve been able to add a new vehicle to our fleet that will help us reach even more people in need,” Speral said.

This next-generation ERV is fuel efficient, easier to drive with lower maintenance costs and has ample storage for food, water, and supplies. The new vehicle includes improved safety features, like rearview cameras, as well as enhanced ergonomic systems to help Red Cross volunteers load and distribute food, cleanup supplies, and other essential relief items.

Since the Red Cross was founded, we’ve relied on dependable vehicles to deliver our mission. Today, our iconic emergency response vehicles remain at the heart of our disaster relief and recovery work. These highly visible vehicles provide our volunteer workforce with recognized and trusted means to easily reach people in need.

The Dakotas Region has five ERVs housed at chapter or service delivery sites across the region. Nationally, the American Red Cross has approximately 400 ERVs strategically positioned across the country.