When your team is called into an active public safety or emergency response situation, everyone goes into high-alert. The natural flight-or-fight reaction kicks in and all the training you’ve done lets the team manage the stress so they can think on their feet and act effectively.
The structure and leadership you set up at the scene also help the team handle stress with ease and allows an efficient and effective response, strategy, and decision making. That’s where mobile command vehicles (MCVs) come in.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, key elements of effective structure and leadership for stress management include communication tools, supplies, briefings, accessible supervisors, and a clear chain of command. MCVs help you provide these elements in spades.
But what exactly do MCVs do and what are the benefits, you ask?
Keep reading to learn how innovative technology and safety and communications buffer in MCVs help when disaster strikes. Then start looking into a mobile command vehicle for your team.
A Mobile Command Vehicle at Work
Mobile command vehicles, also called mobile command centers (MCCs), are designed to support public safety agencies in the field during natural disasters, active crime scenes, and other emergency response situations. They provide communication tools, security, a safe command center and workspace, a place for briefings, exterior lighting, and more. Let’s take a closer look.
Communication
Whether the communication is down due to a disaster or not, your team can benefit from the immediate access to the internet, radio, surveillance, a power source to charge communication tools, audio-visual tools for presentations, and new technology provided by an MCV.
State-of-the-art MCVs provide the space for the tools and the ability to easily and cost-effectively add on as needed and swap out old with newer technology in communication.
For example, as surveillance equipment improves, like with 5G technology with faster transmission speed, you want to be able to upgrade your MCV.
Powered Meeting and Work Space
MCVs provide a safe and secure command center-ready meeting room with whiteboards, AV equipment, efficient lighting, and more. This is a calm space where your team can be briefed and your leadership can work on strategy and come up with the emergency response plan.
It’s also a quiet location to change the plan when new circumstances arise.
It makes all the difference to productivity and morale when simple conveniences are available — like water, a restroom, and office supplies. Your team can think better when basic needs are met.
Also, you can have your MCV set up to mimic the command console and equipment you have back at the station or other headquarters so your boots-on-the-ground leadership can more efficiently do its job, not having to relay back and forth on decisions if it’s not necessary.
Shelter and Safety
MCVs provide shelter against the elements and safety in an active crime situation. Your team will be more effective if they feel protected while working.
The MCV can also be a place where team members can rest, especially if the situation goes on for a long time, whether it be a hurricane that requires days of work or a crime scene or situation that requires longer surveillance. Having access to water, food, and restrooms comes in handy once again.
Also, you can put a security plan in place for your MCV for added protection.
Team-Specific Tools
Each team has specific needs on the ground, and you can specialize your MCV to fit yours.
MCVs can host a state-of-the-art crime lab so you can test evidence and get results right on the scene. If you’re a bomb unit, your MCV can carry your bomb-diffusing or bomb-disposing robot and other equipment.
You can also fit your MCV to meet your agency’s specifications, whether that be for a police mobile command center or FEMA mobile operations center.
Sometimes communities share MCVs between agencies, but customization is key when choosing the MCV for your team.
Vehicle Format
MCVs come in a few different sizes. Generally, the larger mobile command vehicles up the cost, but the equipment you install can do this as well, so be sure to go over all your needs and budget when working with your MCV manufacturer.
Keep in mind too your ideal vehicle should have the latest technology and the flexibility to upgrade easily as needed. Your MCV should have a quick set-up time and have powerful communication tools that can reach around the globe.
Large Coach
A motor-coach-sized MCV is the size of a bus or motor home. This is the most common MCV size.
It often has sections that can pop up/slide out once at the location to create more space, including additional interior rooms.
Large Van
This is a much smaller MCV that’s the size of a delivery van or a multiple-seat travel van. The space behind the driver area is used for the equipment you need to run your command and communication center and workspace. This format doesn’t allow for many of the amenities, like a restroom, but it can offer you some basics.
Tow Trailer
This is a much smaller option that you can pull behind another vehicle. This works if you only need to use the MCV for a single task and one or two team members.
Mobile Command Vehicles for Your Team
Now that you know how high-quality mobile command vehicles can be key in allowing your team to efficiently and effectively manage public safety situations during a crisis, you’re ready to look into the right MCV for you.
To start, feel free to reach out to us so that we can answer any questions you may have, assess your needs, and show you what’s available to best fit the needs of your team and the community you serve.
Our goal is to support your team so you can do the best job possible to serve your community when disaster strikes. We’re here to help you help others!