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SHALLOTTE, N.C. – Brunswick County's Emergency Medical Services Headquarters in Shallotte now houses a mobile evacuation bus.

This is the first mobile evacuation bus for southeastern North Carolina. Brunswick County Emergency Services says it will go up and down the coast wherever aid is needed. A grant from the Department of Homeland Security funded the bus.

Inside the bus is room for 20 stretcher patients and 10 wheelchair patients. With some minor alterations, there's room for 30 wheelchair patients.

"We can remove the trays and behind each of the trays we have fold-down seats along each side of the bus that we can house people on," said Art Sneed, a training officer for Brunswick County Emergency Services.

The bus is equipped with all paramedic supplies and equipment.

"This bus is equipped to stabilize patients in transport," said Randy Thompson, director of Brunswick County Emergency Services.

Right now, Brunswick County and Charlotte are the only places equipped with this type of bus. Charlotte has two of the units, which they called into action to carry patients to the hospital in April when an activity bus flipped over.

Emergency services personnel say the uses of the bus are endless. And because it can carry so many people at one time, emergency resources in nearby areas are spared.

"One ambulance generally can carry up to two patients. On this one we can carry 20 to 30 patients, so that's where we are taking less people and less equipment out of the area where it may be needed," said Mark Gore, an operation supervisor for Brunswick County Emergency Services.

And the bus is not only for patients. It can also be used as a rehabilitation unit for emergency services personnel.

"They can just come in the back door, sit down, be rehabbed. That's where the refrigerator is and cabinets with some of our bandaging stuff," Sneed said.

The bus is scheduled to roll into Greensboro and Raleigh within the next couple of weeks.