In the News

CRN Wins Multi-Year FEMA Housing Solicitation

Baton Rouge, La. – Feb. 17, 2009 - Critical Response Networks (CRN), the exclusive dealer of the ReadyShelter, manufactured by Ready Corporation headquartered in Indiana, today announced it has been awarded a five-year contract to provide the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with ReadyShelter pre-fabricated, pre-positioned temporary housing units. CRN is one of seven vendors from which FEMA’s Joint Housing Solutions has contracted to purchase alternative housing units.

The contract was awarded on an IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity) basis, allowing FEMA to purchase up to 1,000 ReadyShelter units from CRN per year. CRN was awarded the contract following a competitive bidding process that included more than 40 vendors.

ReadyShelter is a unique environmentally friendly post-disaster housing solution shipped as an easy-to-assemble kit, which can be assembled within days. The ReadyShelter has been designed to support first response emergency housing and then easily transition into a permanent affordable housing solution for long-term recovery.

“We are proud to have been selected by FEMA and feel our Gulf Coast pre-positioning model will enhance our response and delivery capabilities in areas that need it most,” said Michael M. Morgan, President and CEO of Critical Response Networks.

CRN ReadyShelter units are turn-key, pre-fabricated and kitted emergency housing units. The structures are manufactured from environmentally friendly, fully biodegradable compressed agricultural fiber such as wheat or rice straw.  The panels are structurally designed to withstand winds up to 140 mph. All ReadyShelter units meet the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards for persons with disabilities and new indoor air quality standards.

ReadyShelter kits include everything necessary to erect a housing unit, including pre-cut agricultural fiber panels as well as electrical, mechanical, plumbing and interior finish systems. The inventoried kits will be pre-positioned in CRN warehouses in Gulf Coast regions where a threat of disaster is imminent.

“In emergencies, it’s vital to have immediate access to resources that can be easily shipped and assembled close to the impact area,” said Morgan. “When the shelter is no longer needed, it leaves a minimal environmental impact or can be easily transitioned into a permanent structure meeting all local building codes.”

For more information on Critical Response Networks, please visit www.criticalresponsenetworks.com.