A True NF Hero Spends $1 Million Of Own Money To Help Needy

Tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, driving rain, wild fires; homes ravaged beyond repair in a manner of minutes. These natural disasters conjure images of fleeing crowds of frightened people, of the desolate remains of a wind-swept town, people and debris alike torn from their homes and strewn miles away. In these situations, our fight-or-flight instinct kicks in, and there's no fighting Mother Nature when she's set on destruction. However, one selfless North Fork resident is the exception to this stereotype. He actually seeks out the aftermath of these very disasters, the making of nightmares and Hollywood doomsday films, and offers his services free of charge to those who are living in the wake of catastrophe.

Tad Agoglia ditched his dreams of owning his own vineyard and living comfortably off the profits of his contracting business in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In 2004, Agoglia was living in Riverhead and working in Southold when he decided to become a contractor. By the time his business flourished, the vineyard dream took a backseat to the greater needs of his fellow man. Agoglia decided to dip into his vineyard fund to buy specialized equipment to help the victims of natural disasters all over the country, pro bono. He left other forms of disaster relief, like providing food and medical care, to established organizations like the Red Cross. Agoglia felt there was a specific demand for specialized equipment used to clear roads and clean up massive debris (sometimes entire houses) that had been destroyed, displaced or simply demolished.

Originally, Agoglia's contracting company went to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina with a few cranes and wheel loaders. After being in the proximity of a tornado that destroyed a small town in Kansas, Agoglia said his crew rushed to the aid of the town's residents. As quickly as the tornado roared out, Agoglia swept in and started to work immediately, clearing roads and providing any other support he could. Agoglia never accepted payment for his services, and never has in the wake of a natural disaster since May, 2007.

Unfortunately, there will probably be plenty of towns that need the help of those following Agoglia's lead this year as 2008 is shaping up to be the deadliest tornado season in a decade. As of June, the United States had already seen a record 115 tornado-related deaths, awarding this season the ominous title of most-deadly tornado season since 1998, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Meteorologists are especially worried about this year's tornado potential since it is only the third time since the 1974 Super Tornado Outbreak that there have been more than 100 tornado-related deaths during a single tornado season in this country. Many experts predict that the 2008 season is set to match, or even exceed, the records of 132 and 122 tornado-related deaths set in 1998 and 1984.

Unfortunately for Agoglia, it seems he has his humanitarian work cut out for him in the coming months. But even Agoglia and his crew are running out of resources after such a devastating year tackling tornados in Kansas, helping victims of floods and mud slides in California, Oregon and Washington State, as well as lending a hand against the recent flooding along the Mississippi River that devastated countless family-owned farms. To date, Agoglia has dipped into more than $1 million of his own savings purchasing specially designed, post-disaster equipment. Agoglia just formed the non-profit First Response Team of America to continue the necessary, and charitable, work he and his team have been tackling. Agoglia hopes to garner get corporate sponsorship for his continuing efforts.

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