Disaster Response Services (DRS) is an organization that was created to answer the pressing issues of disaster relief that exist world wide. We serve as a transportation service for medical and humanitarian aid distribution in emergency situations because often, in times of a disaster, these immediate needs are not met. Although we are a new non-profit organization, we hope to have a significant impact on the Texas and Gulf Coast community in disaster relief efforts.

At this point there are no other private organizations, outside the military, that provides transportation and delivery operation services by vessel in rapid response situations created by disasters. The mission of Disaster Response Services is entirely unique and fills a vital need that exists within the local and global community.

The following document is an overview of our corporation history, activities and goals.

NAME OF CORPORATION:      Disaster Response Services (DRS)
CHARTER #                                  TX 01-1447144-01 (5/27/97)
TEXAS STATE TAX ID #            30119820659
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:          Mr. Clay Liessner
ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE:                              (713) 447-8155
FAX:
WEBSITES:                                www.uh.edu/drs and www.drscorps.com

BRIEF HISTORY

Disaster Response Services (DRS) is a non-profit organization that was incorporated in May of 1997. We serve as a transportation service of humanitarian and medical supplies and personnel in response to the immediate and interim needs created by disasters. We operate primarily in the Gulf of Mexico region, including the United States, Central and South America, the Caribbean Islands, and where logistically possible.

Disaster Response Services is an entirely volunteer-based organization. All DRS volunteers share a high degree of education, dedication, and integrity. They include members of the US Coast Guard (active and auxiliary personnel), Seaborne Challenge Corp of Cadets, Texas A & M University in Galveston, the University of Houston, the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and various church members.

NEED OF SERVICES

There is a tremendous need in the world today for a rapid response (within 72 hours) disaster relief organization. Many aid agencies arrive late at a disaster scene, and, few aid agencies arrive, if any, within 72 hours. None are immediately capable of rendering emergency medical services (EMS) from self-contained medical facilities, as well as, distribute short-term medical supplies, food, water and other aid when needed and on site. In addition, on the government aid level, currently the US military has only two hospital ships, which significantly limits where they can be placed. DRS intends to fill this need on a temporary basis by being the first to arrive at a disaster area, and by providing brief interim assistance until much larger aid agencies can begin long-term operations.

The hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean lasts from early June to late November. Some of the most expensive and deadliest hurricanes and tropical storms hit the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico regions, especially within the past five years (1998-2001). These are the areas that are logistically possible for immediate DRS medical and humanitarian aid. On average, a major hurricane, flood or tornado hits within DRS planned areas of operations twice per year.

DESCRIPTION AND MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION

         DRS is a 501(c) (3) Texas Chartered Corporation Charter Number #01-1447144-01, granted May 28th, 1997. This corporation is an ocean going disaster relief concern that renders immediate medical and humanitarian services and supplies into disaster areas of the world including the US.
          DRS intends to operate a small fleet of service vessels and vessels of less than 200 tons carrying medical and emergency supplies and volunteer personnel from the nearest port facility to a disaster area. We anticipate an average of 24 to 72 hour response time for the first vessel to be underway. DRS intends to operate and respond to disasters primarily in the regional areas of the United States, Gulf of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Islands, where logistically possible. Our mission includes these three main goals:

· To provide professional services to regional disaster areas where catastrophic damage has taken place and to maintain the protection of life through the combined efforts of the corporation.

· To provide immediate and interim relief to disaster victims, and to help regain a normal and self-sustaining environment in the aftermath of a disaster.

· To serve as a transportation service working with other humanitarian aid organizations to deliver humanitarian supplies to those in need.

CORPORATE ACTIVITIES
The following is a list of capital and organizational goals of Disaster Response Services.
CAPITAL GOALS:

Procurement of capital and supporting vessels.
Base of operations:

Operational Office:
Administrative Office:

Dock mooring facility
Communication operations, administration & mooring facilities.
Acquire ground transportation vehicles.
Fuel donation storage facility: Punta Gorda, Belize C.A
Mobile Medical Units

ORGANIZATION GOALS:

VOLUNTEERS
Build and train an effective base of professional volunteers in the areas of medical, vessel and communications personnel mainly from local universities.

RESOURCES
To continuously acquire food, water, medical and boating equipment and supplies for use by the corporation for its purposes.

FUTURE SOURCES OF FUNDING:

Boat & Equipment Donations

VESSELS

The corporation intents to operate a small fleet of vessels. We anticipate an average of 24 to 72 hours for the first vessel to be underway, if the corporation elects to respond to a disaster. More vessels will follow as provisions, personnel and equipment are available and loaded. Professionals will be off loaded on shore with their own mobile medical containers to support them in the field. Additionally, the corporation anticipates the need for mobile equipment such as generators, pumps, water treatment plants, loading equipment and cranes to be used in disaster areas with smaller boats or landing crafts to deliver the volunteers to and from the disaster area. Many times the corporation anticipates being the first to arrive by boat to a disaster area.

To date, the corporation has attempted to secure, through donation efforts, a suitable vessel that could perform the duties of this relief mission. For example, we are in need of a shallow draft utility or offshore supply type boat that can function in hostile weather conditions with the necessary displacement tonnage range, speed and performance, and be able to supply electrical power to on-shore facilitators through mobile dismounted generator sets (gen/sets). In addition, the vessel must be able to off load medical containers offshore, as well as, land them on beaches or in other navigable waterways in dangerous conditions.

The main vessel targeted is the Anastasis.

The 522-foot flagship, the Anastasis, is currently the worlds largest non-governmental hospital ship. Acquired in 1978, she contains three fully equipped operating rooms, a dental clinic, a laboratory, an X-ray unit, and a 1,500 ton cargo capacity.

Two assistant ships are targeted as two converted former 122’ NATO Danish patrol boats that can transport approximately twenty (20) passengers. DRS hopes to also maintain and operate a fleet of small personnel carriers approximately 42’ crew boats that will be used to run medical personnel to and from the disaster area and to locate and deliver them to their assigned Mobile Medical Unit (MMU). The MMU’s will be loaded on to the personnel boats and smaller barges close to the shoreline while medical personnel are delivered to the area disaster areas.

MOBILE MEDICAL UNITS

Immediately available and interim medical facilities are a critical part of disaster relief efforts. DRS makes quality medical clinics from used shipping containers. The medical units are former standard shipping containers, both 20’ & 40’, that have been converted to medical, maternity and simple surgery examination rooms. They are self-sustaining stand alone units also capable of supply storage.

These Mobile Medical Units are fully operable as medical, maternity and simple surgery examination rooms. The MMU's are fully equipped with electricity, water, supplies, examining tables, air conditioning and lavatory facilities. These clinics are designed for use in disaster situations, as well as, provide support to missions, churches, and geographic areas both locally and internationally in desperate need of medical facilities.

These containers can be adapted to customize the needs of the recipients. All units have lightening, lavatory facilities with external connections for water and wastewater, medical exam stations, air conditioning and a portable electric 10KW generator and can be stocked with medical supplies and food that are available at shipment time. Production time for a medical clinic is estimated at three and four weeks. The MMUs will remain the property of DRS and remain only until more long-term structures can be established.

Former NATO Patrol Boats (Daphne Class)

Photo: mv Sharon (a sister ship)

General Information: 122 ft former Denmark Navy Large Patrol Crafts. These vessels are versatile, multi-purpose and classically designed stable sea boats of the >Daphne= class.

Current location: Denmark

Current Owner: David C. Kope, Houston, TX

Specifications: 2 x Mercedes Maybach 1300 BHP Diesel Engines driving twin constant pitch propellers. Completely disarmed and obsolete for military purposes.

Cost: Will require further renovation for corporation purposes.

MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT BUDGET

LABOR (see detail)	$6,000.00
	Electrician (Licensed Contract) $1200.00 Painter $500.00 Plumber (Licensed Contract) $1100.00 Medical Consultant $800.00 Drywall Contractor $2400.00 TOTAL: $6,000.00
CONTAINER	$5000.00
Stand Alone Air Conditioning Unit	$3500.00
Generator	$2500.00
Tables	$1400.00
Office Equipment	$200.00
Curtains	$200.00
Cabinets	$500.00
Wash Basin	$250.00

BUILDING SUPPLIES	$3250.00
SHIPPING COSTS	$1000.00
RENTAL EQUIPMENT & FEES	$1200.00

TOTAL	$25,000.00

MEDICAL CLINIC INTERIOR LAYOUT SKETCH

VOLUNTEERS

DRS Corp hopes to establish a source of fully trained and effective base of student and professional volunteers as medical and vessel personnel. Potential sources for these types of volunteers are:

University of Houston (Communications, Radio, Television)

Established October 2003. Website: www.uh.edu/drs

University of Texas-Austin Medical and Logistic Personnel

Texas Maritime Academy at Texas A & M University (TAMU)

The corporation intends to provide ongoing training and development for these volunteers at our facilities and/or local community centers. In the event of a disaster, volunteers will be briefed before a mission to safely render services to disaster victims. These professional volunteers will donate their time on a short-term basis when disasters occur. DRS volunteers are uniquely effective for disaster reli for three reasons:

Provided with ongoing training on standardized equipment.
Skills will be matched with job assignment.
Arranged in a divisional (Medical, Crew & Communications) and hierarchical system.

RESOURCES

DRS intends to continuously acquire food, water, medical and boating equipment and supplies for use in the event of a disaster from in kind and cash donations.

However, DRS will not function as a storehouse. The ability to manage and procure incoming and outgoing supplies takes ongoing and consistent management and maintenance by paid personnel which is beyond the scope of strictly volunteer organization. DRS will operate on strategic, constantly rotating, LIFO (last in first out) inventory supply system that will not require consistent, ongoing maintenance. Smaller supply holds will be targeted towards non-perishable foods, metabolic nutrition supplements and sustainable medical supply inventories. Other supplies will hopefully be donated and collected, or purchased outright when a disaster occurs.

This system is more effective for a disaster relief effort, because volunteer energies will not be spent on inventory control, but on the specific mission and goals of the organization, which is disaster relief. Storage will be also only directed to very specific types of supplies, which keeps warehouse space down to a minimum. This also completely eliminates the possibility of spoilage and waste. Many supplies donated are inadequate and inappropriate for certain non-profits and need to be reshipped, or destroyed, as they are simply not needed. Only those supplies that are clearly necessary and needed in a disaster relief effort will be stored and ultimately transported.

DRS will implement a system of its own transportation/distribution vehicles which will be more effective for collection and redistribution of supplies. These vehicles will acquire, move and distribute supplies, in effect, greatly speeding up the movement of resources from where they are to where they are most needed, when they are needed. In addition, because warehouse maintenance is not extensive, maintenance of these vehicles will take primary precedence in the distribution of work duties. Both these aspects of resources distribution; minimal storage of key supplies, and upkeep and maintenance of its own distribution and transportation vehicles will greatly streamline resource distribution at DRS, both before and after a disaster.

To join, please contact us at:

Disaster Response Services c/o Campus Activities
P.O Box 260
Houston, TX 77204
713-447-8155

www.drscorps.com

cleissner@drscorps.com