Michelin North America and its subsidiary, TCI Tire Centers, have unveiled a disaster response service unit to assist in disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts in areas hit by natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. The Michelin Disaster Response Unit will be based at the TCI Tire Center Atlanta-Ellenwood in Atlanta, and will be deployed on request or as needed across the continental United States.
The 53-foot trailer, built by High Tech Performance Trailers in Painesville, Ohio, can service and repair tires for most commercial and construction equipment vehicles as well as passenger tires. It will be used primarily for keeping emergency response vehicles — such as utility crews, EMTs and fire departments — mobile during critical disaster recovery operations.
The unit is a fully equipped “tire center on wheels,” with six air stations for mounting, dismounting, repairing and balancing tires. The office area of the trailer has fully functional satellite communications equipment and sleeps up to six people to ensure 24-hour service.
