Terex Donates Use of PT-100G to First Response Team of America
On Wednesday, April 27, just after 8:00 p.m. ET, an EF-4 tornado hit Ringgold, Ga. Working in North Carolina when the tornado touched down, Tad Agoglia, founder of First Response Team of America, and his crew packed up immediately and arrived on the scene within hours. Months later, the cleanup effort continues.
With the help of hundreds of volunteers, donations and specialized equipment, the First Response Team has worked alongside municipal crews in Ringgold to remove thousands of yards of storm debris from power lines, the roadways and the cemetery. And because many homeowners’ insurance policy do not cover the cost of cleanup, Agoglia’s crews have also helped homeowners move debris from their lots to the roadside for pick-up, free of charge.
“It is our commitment to save lives and restore hope. We were determined to get right in the middle of what was going on, simply because it was the right thing to do,” said Agoglia. “First Response Team is a non-profit organization and is able to assist our neighbors in need thanks to the generosity of donors and volunteers.”
Terex was one of several equipment manufacturers who donated time and equipment to aid Agoglia’s crews with the cleanup efforts. Terex provided a PT-100G compact track loader equipped with a grapple bucket attachment for First Response Team to use for more than two months. The PT-100G was selected because it has a 99.9-hp engine and a 4,000-lb operating capacity, the power and performance the First Response Team needed to easily and quickly remove storm debris.
“Using the Terex PT-100G, we could clear a whole home site within hours,” said Agoglia. “We helped more than 70 families by removing storm debris and clearing their properties so rebuilding could begin.”
On the ground for almost 50 miles, with sustaining winds between 175-190 mph, the powerful tornado left a one-third to one-half mile wide path of devastation in its wake. With the roads blocked by debris, one of the first challenges when the First Response Team arrived was getting to those in need. Another immediate challenge was to clear debris off power lines so repair crews could restore power to the area. And, the local cemetery needed to be cleaned up so the dead could be buried.
“I have never seen anything like it,” said Terex product manager Jamie Wright. “The tornado only lasted about five minutes, and in that time it destroyed hundreds of homes, without even siding or shingles left on some sites. We had worked with First Response before, donating the use of two compact track loaders and a utility vehicle to help with the Gulf oil spill cleanup, so Terex was eager and willing to help again.”
Because Ringgold is located in a valley, the First Response Team had to work in very hilly terrain. Cleanup efforts were further hampered by rain, leaving the ground very soft and extremely muddy. Compact track loaders are designed to work in these types of conditions. For more information, find First Response Team on Twitter at @firstresponse, on Facebook at First Response Team of America or on the web at www.firstresponseteam.org.
