( CNN ) -- A powerful tornado ripped through West Liberty , Kentucky , last week , making the quaint community look like `` a war zone , '' according to the state 's governor . Fortunately , the First Response Team of America was there to help . Founded by 2008 CNN Hero Tad Agoglia , the organization brought its specialized fleet of disaster recovery equipment to West Liberty . Since 2007 , the First Response Team has crisscrossed the country , providing free aid to as many as 40 disaster sites . Agoglia recently spoke to CNN 's Rob Marciano about the team 's efforts in West Liberty . Rob Marciano : It seems like you got here right as the storm hit . Were you one of the first guys on the ground ? Tad Agoglia : We arrived just a few hours after the storm went through this mountain community . It was very interesting trying to figure out a way in , because we have huge tractor-trailers . A lot of these mountainous roads are very windy , and there were trees down , power lines down . But we eventually found the epicenter of the city right where the tornado went through . Marciano : You 've seen a lot of disasters like this . What was your first reaction ? Agoglia : The tornado that went through West Liberty was pretty unique . Not only did it go directly through the heart of town and destroy all of the infrastructure that 's needed for a community to get back on their feet , but it also went through the hills where a lot of folks were in their homes . ( That ) makes it very difficult for firefighters and emergency workers to get through those windy hills and access those home sites to do search and rescue . Marciano : What 's the reaction to your team when you get into town ? Agoglia : When we arrive on the scene sometimes , it is hard for these community leaders to really believe that we are here for free with all of this gear . But they quickly do realize that we are there to help and that we care . And when they see the equipment working and the light towers go up and the roads start being cleared , they begin to realize that we are good people and that we are coming with no strings attached to help them . ... They need tools and resources that they do n't have themselves . And when they see us coming in with all the equipment ... they welcome us into the community because they know they need the help . Marciano : What are some key things your team does to help communities like West Liberty ? Agoglia : After a tornado of this magnitude strikes a small community like this , the priorities have to be identified . The roads need to be cleared so that emergency workers like firefighters and search-and-rescue teams can come in and find the people and extract them to safety . They need lighting so they can see . It is very easy to walk into power lines or step on nails ... so light towers are important . So , we 've cleared the roads , we 've provided the light towers . This town has a small grocery store and gas station . ... It needed power so that people could get food and water and baby food and the essentials , including gasoline so that the emergency workers can have fuel for their trucks and carry on . Marciano : At what point do you decide : `` OK , our work is done here . It is time to move on ? '' Agoglia : The First Response Team provides a unique service . It 's that in-between phase , that gap when the storm first strikes and when traditional help arrives . Our priority is that first day , that first night and that first few weeks until traditional help arrives . Marciano : Why do you do this ? Why did you choose this road ? Agoglia : There is just something inside of me that feels compelled to help . When I am watching the news and I see those super cells go right over these small communities and heart of America , I know that people are going through some of the most traumatic times they have ever experienced in their lives , and I want to be there to help .
CNN Hero Tad Agoglia and his First Response Team provide free help after natural disasters . They recently brought their specialized equipment to a tornado-hit Kentucky town . Since 2007 , the group has helped in as many as 40 disasters across the U.S. Do you know a hero ? Nominations are open for 2012 CNN Heroes .