Red Cross welcomes emergency unit

After 18 months training, the Red Cross is about to get the final go ahead for its new emergency communications unit which can be deployed to disasters anywhere in the world.

The Wellington-based Red Cross IT and Telecommunications Emergency Response Unit will be one of only five in the world and the only one in the southern hemisphere.

The unit will be self-sufficient in wireless internet, telephone and radio networks at natural disasters anywhere but will probably concentrate on the South Pacific.

Unit manager Matthew Lloyd said the unit would have a staff of four but could be at an emergency for up to 12 months and staff would be rotated.

"There will be wireless computer networks, there will be short-range communications for running teams in the field and long-range communications for seeking advice and ordering equipment and other such things."

The unit embraced high frequency (HF), very high frequency (VHF) radios, satellite communications, the internet and its own power supplies.

The unit would also be self sufficient with food and cooking facilities and water purification units.

"You can't assume anything ... after a major disaster.

"We need to be independent for a month because you don't want to be a burden when you arrive."

The Red Cross staffing the new unit will attend an exercise next month where they will have to set up an emergency radio network.

"There will be some defects in hardware and software that they will need to identify and cure. It will test their knowledge."

Mr Lloyd said all its gear, including ration packs for meals, shelter and all the communications gear, was packed into eight containers.

He said the unit could be deployed by the air force or commercial flights and could be ready to go within 72 hours.