Military vehicles useful to have on hand during disasters
Nice to see MRAP mentioned in a positive way. They are basically military trucks with a steel armor monocoque body. (Contrary to popular delusion they are not "tanks.") Besides not being vulnerable to flying debris, they can approach fires where conventional apparatus would risk destruction from an explosion.
There are thousands of surplus vehicles available free from DoD to requesting municipalities including unarmored military trucks. All the qualified requester need do is send their own flatbed or pay a local trucking company. Maintenance isn't difficult, and parts are readily available.
Police cars and SUVs sit too low to ford even minor flooding. MRAP and other military vehicles are designed to ford streams so their engine intakes and exhausts are mounted higher than on most civilian vehicles.
The same areas of Sumter flood during every major storm. It wouldn't hurt to have one or two more capable vehicles on hand next time.
MARK LASALLE
Sumter