Lowe's earns accolades for disaster relief

Lowe's is getting some recognition for its efforts to aid communities with money, supplies and manpower in times of disaster.

The First Response Team of America has recognized Lowe's for its $750,000 donation to aid the team's disaster relief efforts for the fourth consecutive year. Using specialized trucks, rescue equipment and heavy machinery, the First Response Team assists local communities and homeowners in the first few critical hours after natural disasters. Lowe's has contributed more than $2 million since 2012 to help keep the team on the road, and Lowe's Heroes have volunteered thousands of hours at disaster sites.

"When communities have lost everything and face the daunting task of recovery, it's often difficult to know where to start," said Tad Agoglia, founder of the First Response Team. "Through our partnership with Lowe's and Lowe's Heroes, we jump-start recovery and help a community take its first steps toward rebuilding."

From two Illinois towns torn apart by a tornado to historic flooding that left more than two dozen dead in Texas, the First Response Team has come to the aid of nearly 700 people impacted by disaster in 2015. As summer storms and the Atlantic hurricane season pick up steam, the team is ready to mobilize at any time to assist more communities.

Since last year, the First Response Team has responded to tornadoes and floods in 16 communities and worked with local Lowe's Heroes to help homeowners in Arkansas, Mississippi, Illinois, Oklahoma and Texas. The team assists with search and rescue, clears roads, distributes emergency supplies, helps families dig through rubble to salvage valuables and clears homesites for rebuilding. The First Response Team has assisted more than 80 communities impacted by disasters since 2007.

"Communities don't always have the resources to provide the critical aid that's needed in the wake of disasters," said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe's director of community relations. "We've partnered with the First Response Team since 2012 to help ensure there are teams and resources immediately on the ground to help people in need. Their work helps instill hope when the days are darkest for communities."

In April, Lowe's Heroes joined the team as it helped more than 300 people recover after a tornado caused widespread damage in Fairdale and Rochelle, Illinois. A month later, the First Response Team partnered with Lowe's Heroes from six stores to help homeowners after a strong tornado churned through northeast Texas.

"I was still in shock and they started working on things immediately," said Joan Britz, whose home suffered major damage in the Texas storm. "The coordination from the team was great. What would have probably taken us two months to do, they did in one day."