NEW CANAAN, Conn., Oct. 10, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- AmeriCares, the national and international disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, continues its around-the-clock relief efforts in New York City and at the Staten Island Landfill, announcing today that they have erected nearly 30,000 square feet of Sprung Structures for the relief efforts at the World Trade Center and at the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island.
Sprung Structures are stressed membrane structures consisting of a series of aluminum-arched ribs that are connected by modular architectural panels. The structures are extremely durable and maintenance free, and can be easily air-conditioned or heated. The structures will be in use for the next several months as the recovery effort continues.
A 3,000-square-foot Sprung Structure will serve as emergency storage for the Office of Emergency Management at the World Trade Center site. An additional 30,200 square feet of Sprung Structures will serve as a mess hall, dressing and break area, and debris-processing area for the New York City Police Department and Fire Department, Secret Service, NTSB and Federal Bureau of Investigation at the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island.
"Thanks to our partnership with Phil Sprung, President of Sprung Structures, AmeriCares was able to provide shelter solutions to the many government agencies involved in the relief and recovery efforts in New York City," stated Robert C. Macauley, Chairman and Founder of AmeriCares. "Finding unconventional methods to serve the unique needs of ordinary people doing extraordinary work is nothing new to AmeriCares."
In the aftermath of the church burnings of the south in 1996, AmeriCares delivered more than 38 Sprung Structures to parishes to use as their places of worship. AmeriCares also utilized Sprung Structures in Rwanda in 1994 as field hospitals to treat refugees.
To learn more about the Sprung Structures and AmeriCares' around-the-clock relief efforts at ground zero, or to schedule an interview with an AmeriCares relief worker, please contact Elizabeth Griffin or Jon Fagan at 1.800.486.4357.
AmeriCares is the nonprofit, international disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, which provides immediate response to emergency medical needs, and supports long-term healthcare programs, for people around the world -- irrespective of race, creed or political persuasion. Since its inception in 1982, AmeriCares has delivered more than $2.9 billion in aid to 137 nations worldwide.
Please help AmeriCares continue its relief efforts by sending cash donations to AmeriCares, 161 Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT 06840 or by calling AmeriCares at 1.800.486.HELP or logging onto www.americares.org.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Photo available for this release: Sprung Structure To view photos, go to www.enewsrelease.com/pressroom and enter release I.D. 30148
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CONTACT: Americares, New Canaan
Elizabeth Griffin or Jon Fagan
800-486-4357