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Eagles Trailer Ready ToHelp During A Disaster

Doug Carman/Highlands Today

Paul Anderson of the Fraternity of Eagle's Port Charlotte chapter shows a pallet of emergency ration bars packed inside its disaster relief trailer.

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By Douglas  Carman | Highlands Today

Published: May 19, 2008

SEBRING — It's just a refrigerated trailer, but for one Desoto City civic group, it's a brand spanking-new humanitarian effort they're trying out in Florida.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles' Disaster Relief Trailer, parked in front of the club's hall, already has several pallets full of emergency ration bars and water. Joe Waters of the Eagles in Sebring said this was one of two stationed in Florida, with the other one in the Ocala area.

The trailer would go wherever the county's Emergency Operations Center tells them to go.
"If they were in need of it ... we would take it anywhere they want," Waters said.

This particular trailer, which was a donation to the Eagles, will be stationed somewhere between Arcadia and Port Charlotte to serve Southwest Florida, including Highlands County.

Highlands County Emergency Management Director Bill Nichols said that Waters gave him a list of the supplies the trailer would have. Several organizations in the county provide help, ranging from food and water to radio communications.

Nichols said the organizations overlap with their supplies, but he was happy that the Eagles' trailer included first aid kits and some other supplies not usually carried by others.
"He did his homework," Nichols said.

Al Svihlik of the Eagles' Arcadia chapter said they were looking for monetary donations to keep the trailer stocked. He said the supplies cost about $30,000 a load, plus the gas. The truck drivers will be volunteers.

For more information or to send contributions, call 655-4007.

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