Sewa International commissioned its first Disaster Response Vehicle (DRV) on May 2 at Aum Ashram in San Antonio, Texas, during the organization’s 20th National Conference, marking a new step in expanding disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities across the United States.
The Disaster Response Vehicle is a purpose-built trailer equipped with emergency response equipment designed to support rapid deployment during natural disasters and community emergencies. The unveiling ceremony was led by Sewa San Antonio chapter leadership alongside members of the organization’s national leadership team and board.
The DRV features Sewa International’s banner and the organization’s motto, “Service to Humanity is Service to Divinity.” The vehicle is equipped with personal protective equipment, shovels and mucking tools, safety vests, helmets, thermal insulated jackets, solar-powered generators and other supplies used in the immediate aftermath of disasters.
Sewa International said San Antonio is the first chapter in the country to establish a dedicated Disaster Response Vehicle, creating a model that could be replicated in other regions including the Bay Area, Florida and Houston. The organization said the DRV can be deployed anywhere in Texas within hours to support emergency relief operations.
The initiative emerged following Sewa International’s response to the flash floods that struck the Texas Hill Country on July 4, 2025. According to the organization, more than 200 volunteers contributed over 3,000 service hours during relief and recovery operations coordinated with the Texas Division of Emergency Management and Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster.
