In response to a confirmed measles outbreak affecting twelve people in southern Iowa, the Davis County Community School District has put its year‑old Mustang Mobile Microgrid into service. The solar‑powered generator, which can provide roughly eight hours of electricity, will be stationed at a mobile hospital trailer to enable health officials to vaccinate as many as 280 community members.
Local partnership and funding
District officials say the microgrid was designed for use beyond school grounds, allowing the district to partner with emergency‑management agencies and other local jurisdictions when needed. “One of the things we talked about was we would team with emergency management and make this trailer available to other districts as well—other communities in case of emergencies, or just a need,” said Danny Roberts, a representative of the Davis County Community School District.
The $30,000 system was largely funded by an Iowa Rural Development grant, which covered 95 percent of the cost. “It’s through the Iowa Energy Office,” explained Chris Ball, a consultant involved with the grant. “They were looking at ways they could provide funding to help communities get renewable mobile energy for exactly this type of situation.”
Measles outbreak and vaccination effort
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced the outbreak on Monday, noting that the disease had spread across Appanoose, Davis, Lucas and Monroe counties. The mobile trailer, powered by the solar microgrid, will serve as a temporary clinic where the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine can be administered.
Health officials advise anyone who is unvaccinated or uncertain about their immunity to contact a health‑care professional or local public‑health agency to receive the MMR vaccine. Potential exposure sites identified by the department include locations in Clive, West Des Moines, Des Moines and Bloomfield.
Community impact
By leveraging renewable energy technology, the school district not only supports a critical public‑health response but also demonstrates a model for rural emergency preparedness. The mobile microgrid can be redeployed for other emergencies, such as power outages or natural‑disaster relief, providing a versatile resource for the region.
Residents of the affected counties are encouraged to stay informed through local health department updates and to take advantage of the free vaccination clinic when it becomes operational.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
