Salvation Army completes $1.36 million rescue and relief fleet
Roseville, Minn. – Polaris Industries Inc., the country’s leading manufacturer of off-road vehicles, has completed delivery of a 53-vehicle rescue and relief fleet to aid emergency disaster response efforts in every corner of the country.
Four types of vehicles (HIPPO, RANGER®, GEM and BRUTUS) with special utility have been donated. For instance: the HIPPO can serve as a mobile power plant that can provide cellular signals or power a canteen; the RANGER can transport food; and the BRUTUS has a pallet jack and Jaws of Life connectivity. In addition to the vehicle donations, Polaris has conducted intensive training with staff and volunteers to ensure that these very specialized vehicles are utilized at maximum benefit.
The fleet includes the following fourteen vehicles designated for The Salvation Army’s Central Territory, which includes Minnesota and North Dakota, and nine other states:
- 2 HIPPO’s
- 1 BRUTUS
- 11 RANGER’s
“We are grateful for the unprecedented donations to our Emergency Disaster Services team, which have greatly enhanced our ability to transport critical supplies to the hardest-hit areas in disasters, and to assist disaster survivors as well as other first responders,” said Lt. Colonel Robert Thomson, Northern Division commander.
The Salvation Army’s relationship with Polaris began in 2011, when Polaris donated 19 all-terrain vehicles to conduct ATV safety courses at Northwoods Camp in Finlayson, Minn. The relationship has blossomed into a national partnership, enhancing The Salvation Army’s capabilities to provide immediate and effective assistance to communities affected by natural and man-made disasters.
“The Salvation Army’s presence in every ZIP code in the nation and deep experience in disaster relief efforts made them an ideal partner,” said Stacy Bogart, president of the Polaris Foundation. “We’re proud to assist The Salvation Army in helping survivors as well as other first responders in the aftermath of a disaster.”
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 135 years in the United States. About 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar donated to The Salvation Army is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (HumanNeedsIndex.org). For more information, go to salvationarmyusa.org or follow on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS.
About Polaris Industries
Polaris Industries, Inc., the leading manufacturer of off-road vehicles, is a recognized leader in the powersports industry with 2014 sales of $4.5 billion. It is headquartered just outside Minneapolis in Medina, Minn. Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets innovative, high-quality off-road vehicles including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), military vehicles, the Polaris RANGER® and RZR® side-by-side vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and on-road electric/hybrid powered vehicles