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New communications trailer is being built for disasters
By THOMAS MICHALSKI
Article published on Friday, April 13, 2007 |
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![[Image]](/content_images/041307_par-03.jpg) |
| Photo by THOMAS MICHALSKI |
| Keith Sabiel, public utilities director, stands at the door of an old fire department trailer. |
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PINELLAS PARK – A new state-of-the-art communications trailer is being built out of what once was a fire department safety education unit and will be used both locally and elsewhere when disasters, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, strike.
The Mobile Emergency Communications System unit is the third trailer built by city workers.
The newest project is a trailer once used as the Children’s Fire Safety House. It is being refurbished to house satellite communications equipment that will keep dialogue open between all city agencies. The unit will include sleeping quarters for two people, a bathroom, desk space, an area for unspecified communications gear and a 60-foot antenna.
“Communications is very important in an emergency,” Keith Sabiel, public utilities director, said. “This trailer will contain the most up-to-date gear that will be second only to that used by the Pasco County Sheriff’s office.”
One problem governments experience after major storms is lack of communications between agencies. The equipment in the trailer will link police, fire, public works and other personnel. City business will continue shortly after a storm passes.
Sabiel’s idea for inexpensive, but sorely needed emergency equipment is the third in about that many years. A previous project was converting an old moving trailer into living quarters, bathrooms, showers and other entities for emergency workers. The vehicle was donated to the city as a rusting hulk that outlived its commercial usefulness. It cost $41,016 to renovate it with the city paying $19,132. The rest of the money and donated work came from local businesses.
City workers also converted another old trailer into an emergency kitchen to feed workers at disaster sites. The 22-foot unit, once assigned to the parks division, is equipped with refrigerators, stoves, running water and storage compartments.
Sabiel said city workers at emergency sites will welcome the vehicles that will provide a little comfort under otherwise deplorable conditions. Employees were taking cold showers and eating unheated food when they responded to southwest Florida after Hurricane Charlie. The portable kitchen is capable of feeding up to 130 people an hour.
The trailers would have cost about $200,000 had the work not been accomplished by city workers and through donated money, time and supplies.
Sabiel said he is now looking at building portable toilet and shower units for residents. They will be placed in various areas of the community should a disaster strike.
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Article published on Friday, April 13, 2007
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