7-30-2014 Team Rubicon provides volunteer services to the recovery efforts in Pateros

Team Rubicon provides volunteer services to the recovery efforts in Pateros

On the afternoon of July 17^th, 2014 four wildfires merged into one large devastating fire that ran through Okanagan County.  In 48 hours approximately 312 residences were lost and the City of Pateros was devastated.  Local, State, and Federal first responders responded to the largest wildfire in Washington State history known as the Carlton Complex. In addition to these responders, a group of volunteers comprised of military veterans and first responders started to mobilize to Pateros.  That group of volunteers is Team Rubicon.  Their mission is to bring the expertise and skills learned in the military, combined with first responders, to help “bridge the gap” in disaster response and recovery.

Team Rubicon was established in 2010 after a devastating earthquake hit Haiti. Soon after the earthquake, two former Marines gathered six other veterans and first responders and headed to help. The team arrived in Haiti and went to work well ahead of any government agency, operating in areas that other agencies deemed too dangerous and refused to go.  Team Rubicon was formed.  Four years later Team Rubicon has completed more than 65 operations, in both the US and across the world. They are a 501(c)3 non profit organization whose work is supported by major commercial organizations such as Home Depot, Tyson Foods and private donations, which allows them to serve without having to bill or collect any type of funds for their work.  

When Team Rubicon deploys to a disaster area they come as an all volunteer team and have the ability to organize as an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) or a disaster medical support team.  Their members are highly trained veterans who apply the skills and expertise they acquired in the armed forces and apply them to the complexity of disaster recovery. Practitioners of the nationally adopted Incident Command System, they are well organized and can take on a variety of All-Risk, All- Hazard recovery situations.

The team is currently conducting Operation “Humble Trooper” in the City of Pateros and was requested by the city to assist in debris removal, volunteer management, damage assessments and administrative tasks needed to support the city’s ability to file the various paper work required by FEMA for recovery funding. They will also facilitate the creation of a Multiple Agency Resource Center (MARC).  This center will be the location that Local, State, Federal and private agencies will come together and coordinate during the recovery.

“The community has done a great job of pulling together; however, an event like this can be beyond overwhelming,” said Robert Obernier, who has been designated by Team Rubicon to serve as incident commander. “The city has placed its trust in Team Rubicon and we are grateful for the opportunity to help residents on their path to recovery.”

This is all provided on a completely volunteer basis; the team will collect not one penny for their work. All the costs to support the team are covered through various donations and corporate sponsors.  The team expects to be in the community approximately three weeks but will stay engaged with the city until their mission is complete. 

There is also a deeper mission for the team.  Disaster recovery mobilization allows veterans to reconnect with the sense of service and comradery they had while serving in the Armed Forces.

“Disasters are our business, veterans are our passion” says Obernier.  The ability for veterans to reengage in incident operations has helped ease the transition from military service back to a civilian world.  The reconnection with fellow veterans in an operational environment allows for teammates to come together and give back, not only to the communities they serve but to each other.  In four years participation has grown from 330 volunteers (at the end of 2010) to 16,000 which is an increase of 4,849% and still growing.  

“They are providing a critical support structure and taking care of the immediate needs of the community.  Their efforts will have a direct impact on the success of the recovery for the City of Pateros and their citizens. ” says Rocky Opliger, Incident Commander for California Interagency Type 1 Incident Management Team 4,“We are incredibly impressed and honored to have worked with Team Rubicon and their volunteers.”

For more information on Team Rubicon or to sign up as a volunteer please visit: teamrubiconusa.org or contact Public Affairs Officer Sam Kille at Kille@teamrubicon.org or (516)782-7062

Carlton Complex South Zone
California Interagency Incident Management Team 4