Chicago Unveils Cutting-Edge Disaster Communications Technology as Part of National Emergency Preparedness Month; MorganFranklin Equips the Country with a One-of-a-Kind Mobile Disaster Relief and Counter-Terrorism Unit.

WASHINGTON & CHICAGO -- The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina reminded officials in every American city that information is the most precious commodity in effectively responding to potentially catastrophic events. The city of Chicago now has the means to do exactly that, thanks to the MorganFranklin Corp.

A multi-million dollar state-of-the-art mobile command vehicle designed and built by MorganFranklin, based near Washington, D.C., and in West Chicago, Ill., will allow federal, state and local authorities to coordinate rescue efforts and keep residents informed when a crisis occurs.

The vehicle is outfitted with advanced communications technology and will arrive on the scene within minutes during an emergency. It will be used by Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) to maintain communication with police, fire and other rescue operations and continue the flow of information to the citizens.

OEMC is the nucleus of Chicago's security system, operating public communications and coordinating and managing emergency situations.

The vehicle is unlike any other in the nation. It comes equipped with 115 telephone lines, 32 independent cellular channels, land mobile radios, televisions, Internet and two satellite terminals. It can both broadcast and receive commercial video reception.

In addition, the vehicle features remote capability up to two miles and a 46-inch LCD screen, one of 30 screens in or around the vehicle. Radio cross-banding makes it possible for various radio frequencies to operate at once and allow different responding agencies to remain in full communication. The vehicle can augment all existing communications and stand alone as a regional system when local infrastructures fail.

The new system "makes disaster response more immediate and manageable," MorganFranklin CEO Robert Morgan said. The company is based in McLean, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C., and in West Chicago, Ill.

In addition to building the vehicle for Chicago, MorganFranklin personnel have built mobile command centers for the State Department, the military's Northern Command and FEMA. Visit MorganFranklin on the web at www.morgan-franklin.com.

MorganFranklin Corporation is uniquely structured to provide innovative and proven business solutions for commercial and government clients. With a convergence of business advisory, management consulting and technology implementation services, MorganFranklin facilitates the improvement and transformation of our clients, from the inception of concepts and ideas to their realization.