Agricultural News
New Southern Plains Mobile Disaster Relief Unit Ready to Help Those in Need
Thu, 16 Apr 2015 18:24:31 CDT
Oklahoma will be better prepared to respond to natural disasters. On Friday, Oklahoma's leading agricultural lenders will unveil a new disaster relief resource at the Oklahoma City Farm Show. A mobile response unit will be presented to the Fellowship of Christian Farmers, a non-profit, nondenominational organization that promotes fellowship, mission work and relief efforts in agricultural communities.
A similar trailer was used two years ago after the tornado severely damaged Moore. Tony DeGiusti of Tuttle, Oklahoma helped bring in a trailer from Illinois from the Fellowship of Christian Farmers International. In using the trailer for about six months, he saw firsthand how this unit helped people by providing a place to take a hot shower and wash clothes. DeGiusti said this was beneficial to the families in need as well as for those individuals helping with disaster relief. In living in tornado alley, he said it was important to get a trailer like this closer to Oklahoma.
Five Farm Credit associations based in Oklahoma and the Denver, Colorado based CoBank came together to build and donate a trailer to the Fellowship of Christian Farmers. The $60,000 mobile unit has six showers and laundry facilities to victims and first responders following tornadoes, wildfires, floods and other rural disasters. The trailer was built by Exiss trailer at El Reno and fitted by Sierra Trailers. The unit will be based in Oklahoma and used for disaster response across the state as well as in Kansas, Arkansas, Colorado and New Mexico.
"It's a just a culmination of a lot dreams and effort by a lot of people and it's going to be greatly appreciated," DeGiusti said.
Oklahoma's Farm Credit associations include AgPreference, Chisholm Trail Farm Credit, Farm Credit of Enid, Farm Credit Services of East Central Oklahoma and Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma and CoBank came together for the project.
Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays interviewed Tony DeGiusti of Fellowship of Christian Farmers International about the effort. Click or tap on the LISTENBAR below to listen to the full interview.
Click here to learn more about the Fellowship of Christian Farmers International.
The Oklahoma City Farm Show continues Friday and Saturday at State Fair Park. Show hours are 9AM - 5PM on Friday and 9AM to 4PM on Saturday. Click here for more information on the Oklahoma City Farm Show.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...
