The National Fraternal Order of Police Disaster Area Relief Team (DART) has deployed to assist officers and first responders in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

According to the National FOP, the disaster relief trailer arrived in Fort Meyers and began providing meals to first responders today. FOP District 3 reports the mobile kitchen is deployed at Jet Blue Park.

The National FOP DART remediation teams have responded to assist members with issues at their houses such as tarping roofs, helping with water damage, and removing debris and fallen trees.

Since forming in late 2019, the National FOP DART has deployed its resources several times to disaster-stricken areas and provided care and comfort for officers and other first responders that were affected.

“The members of the Fraternal Order of Police and the police officers that serve those communities, they’re victims too,” says Jason Smith, chairman of the National FOP DART. “It is important while they are standing the line, while they’re stitching their communities back together, that somebody shows up and helps stitch them back together.”

The National FOP’s DART program launched in early 2020 with two food-preparation trailers. The larger of the two food trailers is a NASCAR-style trailer. United Parcel Service partners with FOP to pick up and deliver the large 53-foot trailer to disaster areas.