First Ever Public Deployment of Rigid Wall Shelter

Tuesday, 08 September 2009 22:58

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, developers of a new federal disaster response technology demonstrated how the Rapid Deployment Shelter System (RDSS) will shape the future of emergency preparedness and disaster relief. The compact, highly portable rigid wall shelter is easily transportable to domestic and global disaster sites, and may be deployed by one person in less than two minutes with the push of a button. The first ever public deployment of the RDSS took place at Adaptive Methods manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tenn., earlier this morning.

The RDSS was conceived and built through a public-private partnership in the Eastern U.S. geographic technology epicenter known as the Tennessee Valley Corridor. The partnership between developer Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn., and manufacturer Adaptive Methods was facilitated by The Enterprise Center (TEC). Adaptive Methods and TEC are based in Chattanooga.

“The RDSS is a progressive and unique technological solution for everyday challenges faced around the globe,” said U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn. “Now families that lost their home in a natural disaster can get shelter and medical treatment even when the roads are flooded. This completely unique and highly mobile structure can be adapted to various emergency response situations.”

Developed at Y-12 at the request of the U.S. Army and modified by Adaptive Methods, Inc. for commercial applications, the RDSS can be deployed around the world for disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. It can be easily reconfigured for a variety of applications including first responder or family shelters, barracks, offices, command/control/communications centers and medical triage.

“Most rigid walled shelters require up to 10 people and 40 minutes to set up, and travel trailers and mobile homes simply are not designed for transport into disaster areas,” said Lee Bzorgi, Y-12’s senior technical advisor and inventor of the RDSS. “The RDSS requires less time and manpower to deploy than any other rigid wall shelter on the market.”

Designed with input from emergency management and first responders, the RDSS unfolds from a 20 ft. standard shipping container into a 400 sq. ft. shelter at the touch of a button. The technology was named one of the “R&D 100 Awards for 2007” by R&D Magazine, which recognizes the 100 most significant proven technological advances of the year.

“The RDSS was designed to military and FEMA shelter specifications,” said J. Keith Buckner, vice president of manufacturing at Adaptive Methods. “We designed it to specifically meet the needs of disaster response teams, with explicit consideration given to ease of use, ease of storage and ease of reuse.”

When it is no longer needed at a location, the RDSS easily returns to its container configuration and is ready for transport back to its depot. Upon arrival at the depot, the RDSS is easily cleaned, sanitized and reequipped for the next use. The RDSS will provide years of service at a significantly lower total cost of ownership than alternative options.

The RDSS units will be produced at Adaptive Methods’ manufacturing facility in Chattanooga. The company expects to employ more than 100 engineers and production personnel over the next four years. Future RDSS configurations planned include decontamination units, shower stations, latrine facilities and claim processing centers for disaster relief.

Waterhouse Public Relations
Albert Waterhouse
423.309.1250