Disaster Assistance Response Team

Disaster Assistance Recovery Team
Sharron Riley
 Director

At the April 2005 State Board meeting, the trustees approved a new benefit for FOP members. Beginning June 1, 2006, the N.C. FOP Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) will respond to a natural disaster area to assist officers who must work and have suffered damage as a result of the disaster.

DART will provide home stabilization assistance such as placing tarps on damaged roofs, boarding damaged windows, removing fallen trees from drive-ways and removing furniture from flooded homes. DART may also provide assistance to officers' families by running emergency errands, helping with disaster assistance paperwork and encouraging the use of support organizations.

DART is under the umbrella of the NC FOP Foundation but has its own executive committee. DART is divided into four regions:  Western, Piedmont, Northeastern and Southeastern. Each region is made up of a regional coordinator and response teams. In addition, DART has a director, record keeper, quartermaster and treasurer.

The executive committee has been working hard since April.  The committee developed a list of equipment to purchase. In December, with funding from the trustees, DART purchased a 16 foot cargo trailer. The trailer will be housed at the State office in Cary. The trailer will be equipped with a generator, air compressor and assorted tools and equipment needed for repairs.

There are several challenges remaining for DART.  One is funding.  Because DART is a part of the NC FOP Foundation, contributions to DART are tax deductible. Monetary donations as well equipment donations are needed to support DART.  Many thanks go to the Monroe - Union County Lodge 19 for contributing $1,000.00.  All local lodges are encouraged to step up to the plate and support this new benefit for FOP members.

Another challenge for DART is recruiting and training volunteers. Regional coordinators will be contacting local lodges to solicit volunteers to make up the response teams. President Penix, the State Executive Board and State Trustees are very supportive of this new program. This is an exciting new benefit but we do need volunteers, so please consider helping. If you would like to be a part of DART and would like an opportunity to help your fellow brother or sister in time of need, you do not have to wait to be contacted.  Please email or call your regional coordinator at the contact information listed below.

Director

Sharron Riley (Lodge 9)    Click for profile!
cell - 704-654-1115
email- sharron@fop.net

Regional Coordinators

Western
Charlie Oliver (Lodge 84): 
cell - 828-442-0661, work - 828-652-3231
email - olivermpd@charterinternet.com

Piedmont
Mike Sanders (Lodge 9):
work - 704-336-7691
email - jmsblueknight@bellsouth.net

Northeastern
Greg Brown (Lodge 46):
PO Box 1125, Rocky Mount, NC 27802
252-813-8898 cell
252-446-9378 home
email - brown_bg@earthlink.net

Other DART members:

Quartermaster
Michael Adkins (Lodge 72)
phone - 336-421-7105
cell - 336-514-1563
Email - madkins@hotmail.com

Record Keeper 
Vacant

Treasurer
Vacant

Barry Westmoreland (Lodge 8)
John Byrd (Lodge 74)
Jeffrey Clifford (Lodge 62)
Ann Haynes (Lodge 9) - NC State Auxiliary

~~~~~~~~~~

DART is seeking financial support through contributions and sponsorships. If you know of a business that may be interested in supporting our program, please contact your regional coordinator or me. We have completed W-9 forms ready to use. All contributions are tax deductible.

In light of recent disasters, we are all too familiar with the devastation and hardships disasters place on communities. As emergency responders, we must be there for our communities.  The North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police will be there for you, through DART.