News: Polaris Donates Vehicles To Help In Oklahoma Tornado Recovery

Polaris Salvation Army Donation

Off-road vehicle maker Polaris is donating ten military vehicles to help with the recover efforts following the destructive tornado that struck Moore, Oaklahoma on May 20th. The vehicles donated have a combination of Run-Flat tires and Non-Pneumatic tires that will help The Salvation Army deliver food, water and other essential supplies to victims of the tornado.

The vehicles are all coming from the Polaris plant in Osceola, Wisconsin and will include three different variations. There will be military ATV, Ranger and RZR vehicles, all equipped to handle the debris-strewn terrain the tornado left behind. The delivery of the vehicles is also free of cost to The Salvation Army thanks to generous donations from Overbye Trucking and Bay & Bay Transport.

Equipping the vehicles with tires designed for difficult terrain is a part of what makes them ideal for the recovery efforts in Moore. The debris from destroyed homes is a significant hazard and the Polaris vehicles will allow The Salvation Army access to areas they simply can’t reach in their standard mobile kitchens.

Two different styles of tires will make sure the Polaris vehicles can get relief workers to people in need as quickly as possible. Some are equipped with Run-Flat tires that are designed to resist deflation when punctured so that drivers can keep going without delay to change tires. Others feature Non-Pneumatic tires which are built to never go flat at all.

So far, The Salvation Army has donated over 17,000 meals and snacks to the survivors and relief workers in Oklahoma. They’ve also provided pastoral care to an 800 additional people. Once the immediate needs of survivors have been met, The Salvation Army will then turn their efforts to longer term relief work. This includes things like financial assistance, stress management classes and providing furniture to help people rebuild their lives.

Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.