Systems and methods for distributing merchandise and merchandise kits at emergency locations

A portable distribution center for distributing merchandise items in response to emergencies, the portable distribution center comprising:

• a transport vehicle comprising a locomotion system configured to facilitate movement of the transport vehicle to merchandise distribution location;
• a conveyor assembly configured for sortation and distribution of merchandise items upon arrival at the merchandise distribution location, the conveyor assembly comprising:
• merchandise identifier disposed at one end of the conveyor assembly and configured to read identification data from an identification label disposed on merchandise item;
• a plurality of interchangeable sortation units configured for movement to different positions with respect to one another and for assembly to form different arrangements of the conveyor assembly;
• the plurality of interchangeable sortation units configured to receive and move merchandise items to one of a predetermined plurality of uniquely identified sortation destination lanes following assembly of the conveyor assembly;
• a control circuit operatively coupled to the merchandise identifier and to each of the interchangeable sortation units, the control circuit configured to:
• communicate with each interchangeable sortation unit to determine its position and the positions of the uniquely identified sortation destination lanes following assembly;
• assign the merchandise items to the uniquely identified sortation destination lanes based on emergency conditions at the merchandise distribution location;
• receive the identification data from the merchandise identifier to determine the uniquely identified destination lane for each merchandise item;
• communicate with the plurality of sortation units to move and divert the merchandise items to the uniquely identified sortation destination lanes;
• a power supply configured to energize the conveyor assembly at the merchandise distribution location;
• a communication system configured to transmit and receive instructions regarding operation of the conveyor assembly;
• wherein the control circuit separates the merchandise items into predetermined kits, each predetermined kit including one or more different types of merchandise items defining the kit being diverted to a uniquely identified sortation destination lane.

A method of distributing merchandise items in response to emergencies, the method comprising:

• providing a transport vehicle comprising a locomotion system configured to facilitate movement of the transport vehicle to merchandise distribution location;
• loading merchandise identifier of a conveyor assembly onto the transport vehicle, the merchandise identifier configured to read identification data from an identification label disposed on merchandise item;
• loading a plurality of sortation units of the conveyor assembly onto the transport vehicle, the plurality of sortation units configured to receive and move merchandise items to one of a predetermined plurality of uniquely identified sortation destination lanes;
• by the transport vehicle, transporting the merchandise identifier and the plurality of sortation units of the conveyor assembly to the merchandise distribution location;
• energizing the conveyor assembly at the merchandise distribution location;
• and
• by a control circuit:
• assigning the merchandise items to the uniquely identified sortation destination lanes based on emergency conditions at the merchandise distribution location;
• receiving the identification data from the merchandise identifier to determine the uniquely identified destination lane for each merchandise item;
• communicating with the plurality of sortation units to move and divert the merchandise items to the uniquely identified sortation destination lanes;
• and
• separating the merchandise items into predetermined kits, each predetermined kit including one or more different types of merchandise items defining the kit being diverted to a uniquely identified sortation destination lane.