FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Geauga County, Ohio firefighters raise funds to support relief crews in
Hurricane Katrina region.
Geauga County firefighters are ready to assist in
the relief effort in the Gulf region.
Updated 11/05 (Originally posted - 9/2005 - Chardon, Ohio)
Chardon Fire Department collected over $3200, as part of a Geauga county-wide
fund-raising effort in preparation for sending personnel to the New Orleans
area. The Geauga County Firefighters Association raised over $ 40,000 in
funds to
assist some of its members for deployment. The money raised was earmarked for paying the way for members of the respective county fire
departments who volunteered to assist in the relief efforts. The
county team was deployed and spent over 4 weeks in the disaster zones in the
Louisana area. Hambden Fire Chief Scott Hildenbrand indicated that
part of the deployment requirement is that "our group, which will go as
part of a state contingent, must be self-sufficient". Some of the
expenses the relief workers had to incur included hotel, food, fuel,
various supplies, and their mode of travel to the South. He indicated that
money is crucial, as the minimum deployment is 14 days. "Our efforts
need to be coordinated... It's important that we are prepared to help, if
asked." A team was deployed, and several department vehicles made the
journey, including two from Munson Twp.
Chardon City Council appropriated $1000 to help eight Chardon
firefighters go to the region, however they were not called, as they were on the
"second team". Chardon City Mayor John Park
actually asked Chardon Fire Chief Larry Gaspar to look into how much it would
cost to send the volunteers to successfully accomplish a mission. He
stressed he wanted to give extra funds, as soon as he knew how much it would
cost to have his firefighters do the job effectively and safety.
Any
additional funds not used were donated to
the fire and law enforcement agencies who are already deployed to work on the
cleanup. Thank you to all who donated to this relief effort.
For More Information Contact:
Chardon Fire Department
110 S. Hambden St. Chardon, OH 44024
Tel: 440-285-4665
FAX: 440-285-8320
Webmaster: Capt. John Blauch
