BAY MINETTE, Ala. — The Bay Minette Fire Department has received $130,000 worth of hurricane supplies — at no cost.

The gift came last week, as the state’s surplus emergency items were channeled to Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency, which directed them to Bay Minette’s Fire Department.

“It’s all surplus equipment from the state,” Bay Minette Fire Chief Phil Bryars said in a telephone interview, “and because of our contacts at the Baldwin County EMA, they called us.”

The donation includes sleeping cots, bed covers, mats and hygiene supplies that would temporarily shelter 250 citizens during a disaster, according to a news release.

It’s equipment Bryars said he is happy to receive.

“If a train derailed or any kind of evacuation was needed, we’d be able to do that at the local level where in the past we’ve had to call the county or the state,” he said.

This would also allow the city to shelter emergency responders who come in to assist the city during an emergency, Bryars said.

The news release stated that the fire department would use this equipment along with a temporary shelter trailer and shower trailer procured with assistance from the Red Cross, and could form the shelter in a short amount of time.

Bryars said he also appreciates the pods given to the department to store the items, three, 10-feet-by-20-feet storage pods.

“We got the equipment and the containers to store it in,” he said. “Oftentimes you’re left finding somewhere to store it.”

Bryars said one of the pods is currently stored behind the fire station and two are stored at the BMFD training facility.