"Rapid Response MBI Members Dispatch Space to 'ground zero'" by Steven Williams

For use as search and rescue command centers, headquarters for overseeing emergency utility repairs, offices for conducting criminal investigations, and shelters for sensitive electronic equipment, Modular Building Institute member companies were dispatching mobile factory-built buildings to New York City and Washington DC just hours after the catastrophes of September 11th.

Constructed of wood, steel, and concrete, these temporary buildings arrive via truck, are unloaded and ready for use in as little as 30 minutes, and often even ship complete with furniture.

Since September 11th, units have been provided for the American Red Cross, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Secret Service, New York Police and Fire Departments, New Jersey State Police, Port Authorities of New York and New Jersey, and Verizon Telecommunications, among others.

Williams Scotsman, a modular buildings dealer, had requested of them six doublewide units by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Already on-hand as classrooms for a local school district, the buildings were rerouted to Liberty State Park for relief efforts being conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Within two days, the doublewides were delivered and assembled, the grounds had been landscaped, and the buildings were in use by emergency personnel.

"This is what we do, in the best and worst of circumstances," said Williams Scotsman's Eric Anderson. "The drivers that delivered these units were in Lower Manhattan until after midnight." Today Williams Scotsman has 85 units in and around Lower Manhattan, including 46 within a two-block radius of 'ground zero.'

Kullman Industries, a direct manufacturer of modular buildings, helped Verizon Telecommunications boost their wireless phone systems by deploying equipment shelters to Lower Manhattan. Less than nine hours after the Tuesday morning events, Kullman had the buildings, fully loaded with wireless switching gear, in place. "Wireless communications were critical as the depth and breadth of the tragedy became apparent," said Mike Haberman, executive director of Network for Verizon Wireless.

Another modular buildings lessor, GE Capital Modular Space, rushed buildings to both World Trade Center and Pentagon sites. GE currently has 40 Manhattan and Washington units in use, while another 12-unit complex will be delivered to the Pentagon next week, as well as two custom guardhouses scheduled for delivery early November.

Dealer Resun Leasing already had construction offices in place at the Pentagon prior to September 11th. The buildings, which will now remain indefinitely, were used by construction officials during pre-September renovations to the military complex.

"There is no way to plan for something this extreme," said Gerry Holthaus, Williams Scotsman's president, chief executive, and chairman. "But our company has the ability to respond to disasters, both natural and unnatural. We want our customers to know we are there for them when the unthinkable happens."
 

Steven Williams is marketing and public relations director at the Modular Building Institute. Email: swilliams@mbinet.org