In an effort to help emergency responders train more effectively in real-life situations, Chevrolet is set to donate up to 300 cars, crossover and SUVs rendered unsellable during Hurricane Sandy to help train first responders at Guardian Centers in Perry, Georgia. According to, ClickOnDetroit.com, “The water-damaged vehicles are expected to help provide a realistic environment to simulate real-world incidents and natural disasters for first responders to make accurate and quick responses to victims.”
While some of the public is confused as to why Chevrolet is donating vehicles to Georgia instead of keeping the vehciles for local projects for schools and fire agencies, it’s known that Guardian Centers is an exclusive atuomotive partner. With the help of Chevrolet, it’s able to create a realistic scenario in a metropolitian area at all levels of government.
What’s more, the vehicles could not be used in any other way and were most likely not of salvagable titles. As ClickOnDetroit.com reported, “When Hurricane Sandy hit the northeast in November we had a number of new vehicles at ports and on dealer lots that were flooded,” said Chris Perry, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet Marketing. “We could not sell them, so instead of crushing them, Chevrolet is using these vehicles to help train those who respond to just such disasters.”
With this new flood of vehciles (no pun intended), Guardian Centers will have the ability to operate a fully-functioning, modern cityscape simulator for first responders to test their plans, skill sets, equipment and leadership. As Geoff Burkatt, founder and CEO of Guardian Centers stated, “The vehicles we received from Chevrolet are an essential component of full immersion disaster response training in a metropolitan environment.” Burkatt went on to explain, “Chevrolet has given the millions of first responders throughout North America the ability to exercise in metropolitan scenarios that will look and feel just like their home cities.”
We couldn’t agree more strongly, although there is a small group who would have liked to of seen these vehicles go back to Detroit for local training.
As one commenter, tsktask noted, “I would gladly pay Chevrolet or any GM make or model a few thousand dollars for one of these vehicles pictured above as a project car or with a salvage title, especially the new Camaro shown behind the fireman! Also, Chevrolet of Detroit, since you are taking this huge loss anyway (and we all know its a tax write off and price will rise to us potential buyers for a new car) did you ever consider donating these cars to your local fire department? The Detroit Firefighters for training instead of Georgia or for highschool auto shop projects or donate to anyone who is in need of a car that is very handy with them that knows how to replace a wiring harness, take apart the interior and clean or replace interior, all parts are still readily available, & you want to just let them burn ! I say if you are going to let them burn then Chevrolet should have donated them to the Detroit Fire Department!
You make the call. Should Chevrolet have kept these vehciles and donated them to local highschools or to needy families or sent them to Guardian Centers of Georgia?
As a final note from ClickOnDetroit.com, “The vehicles will be used in conjunction with role players for wide area searches, traffic congestion in emergency situations, counter terrorism, public order and mass casualty exercises. Also in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Chevrolet donated 24 full-size Express passenger and cargo vans to Habitat for Humanity for use in its restoration efforts in the hardest-hit areas of the super storm.”
Sound off right here and let us know!
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