In response to the recent flooding disaster in Texas, Polaris has partnered with local dealers to deliver four RANGER Crew XP 1000 NorthStar Edition Premium vehicles to Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR). These vehicles play a critical role in navigating tough terrain or hard-to-reach areas, enabling crews to better support those impacted.
“We are incredibly grateful to Polaris for their swift and generous donation,” said Justin McInnis, CEO, President of TEXSAR. “To date, we’ve been relying on older off-road assets and personal vehicles and with this donation, we will be much more nimble in our efforts while greatly enhancing our ability to reach devastated areas and assist in relief efforts.”
In partnership with Family Powersports Austin and Hoffpauir Outdoors of Goldthwaite, these vehicles are equipped with advanced rescue packages. This includes sideview mirrors, rescue skids and full-size front hood storage racks to more efficiently transport equipment, deliver supplies and execute clean-up tasks. These dealers and their teams helped ensure the vehicles were ready for deployment by the TEXSAR team.
Polaris is also in the process of donating RANGER vehicles to A Doggie 4 You to support search-and-rescue and cadaver dogs. The RANGERs will help these four-legged friends and their handlers more easily navigate the devastated terrain as they continue their tireless work. Grooms Polaris, our dealer in Rocksprings, Texas, is delivering the Doggie 4 You units.
In addition to the vehicle donations, Polaris also donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to help accelerate critical response initiatives. “The Red Cross helps people during some of life’s darkest moments, and we are proud to say that Polaris does too,” notes Josett Valdez, VP, Fundraising for American Red Cross North Central Division. “This gift from Polaris helps enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters both large and small whenever and wherever they occur.”
Polaris has a long history of supporting disaster response, including donating vehicles to the Salvation Army’s Rescue and Relief Fleet for more than a decade to aid in various recovery efforts. Last week, the Salvation Army shared that their Polaris fleet is onsite in Texas and being used to support the communities devastated by the recent flooding. Watching organizations and communities rally together.
