Crushed rooftops, homes engulfed in debris and filth, huge trees downed side-ways. Nothing can prepare you for arriving at a disaster scene. I was already nervous when I joined Team Rubicon TR) in Fort Myers, Florida, after Hurricane Ian. I knew that
I would mostly be working alongside veterans, people who had spent years volunteering to serve their country and were now volunteering to rebuild lives. I wasn’t sure how I could contribute. But I soon realized the most important thing was a desire to help people put their homes back together. I had that desire, and the TR volunteers—known as Greyshirts for their T-shirt uniforms—filled in the rest.
Standing before a tangle of debris, we put our backs into swamping, pulling sawn tree limbs to the curb. Climbing onto roofs for tarping, we covered holes to stop water ingress. Wearing Tyvek suits in extreme heat and humidity, we spent short bursts of time mucking, dragging soaked belongings and mildewed house parts to the curb. Later, learned certification as a Sawyer 1, able to use a chainsaw to cut up fallen trees.
After six months and many ops, documented in a new TV series, Team Rubicon, streaming on The Roku Channel, m overwhelmed with how impressive the TR organization is and the caliber of the people I met. I've done some of the hardest work of my life. And I have loved it.
After twenty-six years in the Army, didn’t know how to transition to civilian life. Then joined Team Rubicon. get to serve my community, and get the support and camaraderie from everyone around me.”
— JENN WALKER, Team Rubicon Greyshirt, three years
This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of This Old House Magazine.
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This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of This Old House Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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