A national disaster response organization touched down in Erie to help locals affected by the storm. They’re called Team Rubicon, and they were founded by veterans to help pick up the pieces after disaster strikes.
We visited one of their work sites as they removed a tree for two homeowners in need.
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Team Rubicon has members based across the country, so they are always in the loop when disaster strikes. Soon after the devastating storms of September third, they began putting plans in motion to help the Erie community.
“We have these great sawyers and great swampers that came from all over the Northeast. I came from Texas, I got in 10 o’clock the night before last and I was here at 8 o’clock the next morning coming to work. My team had already been on the ground. They came and looked; they said this is the one we need to work on,” Saw supervisor Tony Brown said, explaining their selection process and swift response.
The City of Erie provided a list of people in need and with Team Rubicon, they narrowed it down to about 15 households, including neighbors Renee Hopkins and Curtis Lofton. Hopkins’ property was crushed by a large tree from Lofton’s property.
She explained to us that her insurance would not pitch in. “Grateful beyond words, what Team Rubicon has done for me in my neighbor is indescribable. When your insurance company lets you down and these guys come in and they just go right to work. They went right to work as soon as they showed up yesterday,” Hopkins said, expressing her gratitude. Without help from Rubicon, it would have cost both neighbors thousands to remove it.
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“I think that it’s really important for people to know that there are people ready to help people- so you should not be afraid to ask for help. I think that’s a sign of strength, so I just wish people would ask more and align more,” Curtis Lofton said. As a father to a U.S. veteran, he was able to closely relate to Rubicon, and he hopes that they can maintain a relationship for years to come.
Team Rubicon is a non-profit organization and all the work they do to help others is free of charge.
Team Rubicon is a non-profit and all of the work that they do to help others is free of charge. If you would like to show support, you can visit our website their website here.
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