Hertz has announced that it has established a dedicated Gulf Coast Customer Care Centre in the Gulf of Mexico in order to assist people visiting the area to help with the clean-up find the right vehicle and the right equipment for the job. A team of customer care representatives will be on-hand to assist with finding the most appropriate vehicles and equipment as well as give out helpful advice.

Hertz chairman and chief executive, Mark P Frissora, said that as soon as the Gulf Coast tragedy happened, the company had people on the ground ready to assist in any way they could with helping to organise vehicle solutions for those coming into the area. He added that demand has been creeping up as the crisis has continued, and that the new Customer Care Centre would help cater to that demand.

He went on to say that Hertz has always been ready to cope with a catastrophe and confirmed that the firm had deployed people to the area from across the country. Hertz employees from places such as Las Vegas, Washington and Fort Myers are now assisting local management in getting vehicles and equipment to those who need it most.

Hertz has deployed several hundred additional vehicles to the region, including vans and SUVs. A number of these vehicles will be used by officials from the government, FEMA and the Coast Guard. Hertz says that its equipment arm has put in an order for $7 million worth of additional supplies.

Hertz Equipment Rental also intends to set up base-camps in Alabama and Florida to make getting vehicles and equipment to customers speedier and more efficient.