First Response Team of America Update from Haiti

In our timely cover story in January — “Equipped to Respond” — we interviewed Tad Agoglia, the CEO of the First Response Team of America, a non-profit disaster relief organization that uses compact equipment to help communities rebuild after natural calamities.

The Knoxville-based First Response Team of America is one of the first to arrive on a disaster site, bringing help and hope. Right now, founder Tad Agoglia and his team are currently overseas, moving heavy equipment and trying to bring relief to the hundreds of thousands of people in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  

The team first mobilized in 2007. Since then, First Response has moved from disaster to disaster, bringing help in the form of generators, water pumps, satellite communications, hovercrafts and compact machinery. On Jan. 16, Agoglia began tweeting about their efforts to help in Haiti, beginning with the difficult decision to move resources out of the states.

“In the days immediately after the quake, I struggled with whether our response to Haiti would jeopardize our commitment to storms in the U.S.,” tweeted Agoglia. Later that day, he posted this:  “We will be ready to get on a boat as soon as a spot on one opens up. The roads are blocked, supplies must get in and we can do it. We can, we should and we must.”

At press time: “Getting closer on working out the details, more info to come. We are getting ready to move 100,000 pounds of specialized equipment to Haiti.”  

You can follow the First Response Team’s efforts in Haiti on Twitter at www.twitter.com/first response. And Tad and his teams aren’t the only ones in the machine industry stepping up to help the Haitian country. Below are list of manufacturers contributing to the relief effort, and we honor them all!

Kubota Cares

Kubota Corp.’s affiliated companies in the United States and Canada (everyone from Kubota Tractor Corp. to Kubota Engine America Corp.) donated $50,000 in equipment in-kind for ongoing relief efforts in Haiti. Kubota has provided Kubota generators and other electronic and first aid supplies through the California-based Operation USA.

“Kubota employees around the world would like to express our sympathy for the victims and their families of the recent earthquake disaster in Haiti,” stated Dr. Satoshi Iida, president, Kubota Tractor Corp. (USA). “Kubota sincerely hopes for the eventual recovery and re-settlement of those impacted by this crisis. It is our hope that this donation will be helpful to the significant humanitarian work ongoing toward relief efforts in the aftermath of the earthquake.”

In addition, Kubota Corp. of Osaka, Japan, has already made a contribution of $110,000 to the Japanese Red Cross Society for earthquake relief assistance.

JCB & Disaster Relief

JCB, the world’s third largest manufacturer of construction equipment, is donating equipment worth $150,000 to help the disaster relief effort in Haiti. The gift of two 3CX backhoe loaders is being made by JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford in response to an appeal from relief agencies for foreign aid.

“The scale of the devastation is unimaginable and it’s heart-rending to see the human suffering caused by the disaster,” says Bamford. “There is clearly a lack of equipment on the island and I hope our gift of JCB machines will help in some small way to alleviate that suffering and in the rebuilding in the aftermath of the earthquake.”

CNH Sends Machines

Case New Holland, a leading manufacturer of agricultural and construction equipment, has been involved in efforts to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Haiti. The company is supporting relief efforts by providing Case, New Holland and Kobelco construction equipment and company-wide monetary donations.  

“Soged S.A., the Case dealer in Haiti, immediately deployed available excavators, wheel loaders and other equipment to assist in recovery efforts. And EDOM — Empresas Dominicanas C.A., a New Holland/Kobelco dealer in the Dominican Republic — was able to offer delivery of up to 10 machines within 24 hours,” said Jim McCullough, president and CEO, CNH Construction Equipment. “Our Case, New Holland and Kobelco brands will continue to support recovery efforts in the coming weeks.”

Komatsu Commits $100K

Komatsu America Corp., as a subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd., and on behalf of Komatsu Group, will donate $100,000 to the American Red Cross, a leading group assisting Haiti’s citizens in the wake of the earthquake devastation. Komatsu America Corp. will also match dollar-for-dollar all contributions made by its employees to the American Red Cross.   

“We extend our heartfelt concern and condolences to the people of Haiti who have been devastated by the earthquake,” said Dave Grzelak, chairman and CEO, Komatsu America Corp. “We will be contributing to the American Red Cross which is doing incredible work by providing aid to help rebuild the lives and communities in Haiti devastated by this disaster.”