Tad Agoglia hasn't been to his Knoxville, Tenn., office in three years. That's because the 34-year-old and his four-man team constantly rush to disaster sites, where they open roads and provide other urgent services for emergency personnel.
The group, First Response Team of America, grew out of a for-profit disaster recovery firm Agoglia formed in 2003. He was usually hired two or three months after a catastrophe. "I looked at the devastation still evident and wondered what it must be like on the first day, the first night, the first week," he says. "I realized that there was a need, and that I had the ability to meet that need. How could I turn my back?"
Agoglia eventually sold his business and started First Response in 2007. Over the next 18 months, the team responded to 19 natural disasters, from fires in California and floods in Oregon to a tornado in Tennessee. Agoglia volunteers his time, but donations cover staff salaries and equipment. The team now uses four customized trucks, high-speed cranes, hovercraft, generators, and water pumps to clear roads, remove debris, and provide emergency power.
In May 2008, the team responded to another devastating tornado, this time in Parkersburg, Iowa. Seven people were killed; 288 homes and 22 businesses were destroyed. Less than 48 hours after it touched down, Agoglia was on the scene. "He just showed up like the Lone Ranger," recalls then-Police Chief Chris Luhring. When the team left 13 days later, Parkersburg was on the fast track to recovery. "We're successful today because of Tad," Luhring says. "There is no way we can ever repay him."
Read the source of this blog posting which included info about other service groups that are making a difference:
http://politics.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/10/27/10-service-groups-that-are-making-a-difference.html
Watch Tad receive a CNN Hero award for his work
What can you do with this information?
- Mention this to friends at work, your local church or a club to which you belong.
- Think about this success 3-4 times today and feel hopeful and encouraged
- Become inspired by Tad and formulate a plan of how you can help your neighbors in a disaster.
- Email Tad and let him know how much you admire his efforts,
- Do you know someone in your local community who reminds you of Tad, call them and offer to help them in their efforts.
- Share this blog with friends and associates
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