Orange County Emergency Management’s “All terrain rescue vehicle”
Published 11:48 am Saturday, August 31, 2019
Air Ranger airboats are equipped with a specialized polymer layer riveted to the bottom of the hull allowing it to travel on any surface including water, grass and pavement.
Photo courtesy of American Airboat: Orange County Emergency Management took delivery of their search and rescue airboat from American Airboat in Orange on Friday.
By Bobby Tingle
The Orange Leader
Airboats are uniquely designed for travel along any surface or terrain and are an invaluable asset to any emergency management organization during a flooding event.
Orange County Emergency Management now has its own search and rescue airboat.
“American Airboat corporation is proud to announce the delivery of a new Rescue AirRanger Airboat for the Office of Orange County Emergency Management. We are proud to be able to help our friends and neighbors in time of need with a valuable rescue tool. Thank you Orange County for choosing American Airboats to build another one of the World Finest Airboats for our HOME TOWN!,” American Airboats Vice President Faron Floyd said.
AirRanger airboats are built on an 18’ by 8’ hull and are propelled by a 556 horsepower engine. The only ‘standard’ item for the Orange County boat is the hull.
“We made this boat customized to the county’s specifications. We were able to build their boat and deliver it as scheduled,” American Airboats Production Coordinator Audy Gregory said. “AirRanger’s are the best airboats made. Our county is now better prepared for search and rescue when needed.”
Orange County Emergency Management Coordinator Joel Ardoin will ‘captain’ this valuable search and rescue tool.
