Rebuilding Lives ON THE ROAD WITH TEAM RUBICON
This Old House Magazine|Summer 2023
Pitching in with this volunteer disaster-response crew, saw firsthand how they bring help and hope to homeowners going through the worst time of their lives
KEVIN O'CONNOR
Rebuilding Lives ON THE ROAD WITH TEAM RUBICON

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

Denne historien er fra Summer 2023-utgaven av This Old House Magazine.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra Summer 2023-utgaven av This Old House Magazine.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THIS OLD HOUSE MAGAZINESe alt
Mobile kitchen island
This Old House Magazine

Mobile kitchen island

TOH DIY expert Jenn Largesse shows how to build a rolling kitchen cart with a butcher-block top

time-read
3 mins  |
Fall 2023
Bathtub tray
This Old House Magazine

Bathtub tray

TOH general contractor Tom Silva and TOH host Kevin O'Connor construct a slatted zebrawood caddy to hold grooming essentials, a book, and even a glass of wine, for those who like a long soak

time-read
3 mins  |
Fall 2023
Navigating the rise in mortgage rates
This Old House Magazine

Navigating the rise in mortgage rates

Looking to buy—or refinance—and feeling frustrated by lenders’ sky-high interest rates? Here’s how to get the best deal

time-read
4 mins  |
Fall 2023
Graceful grasses
This Old House Magazine

Graceful grasses

With dramatic foliage and distinctive plumes, ornamental grasses come in sizes to suit virtually any garden

time-read
7 mins  |
Fall 2023
A better asphalt driveway
This Old House Magazine

A better asphalt driveway

It's long-lasting and recyclable, and it weathers extreme temperatures. You can repair small cracks and divots in asphalt, too. Here's what you need to know to get-and maintain-a great-looking asphalt driveway

time-read
10+ mins  |
Fall 2023
Modernizing a mid-century house
This Old House Magazine

Modernizing a mid-century house

A family turns to TOH to renovate a 1960 house that had been awkwardly expanded over time. Their goal: to create a contemporary, energy-efficient, open-plan home that is fully accessible for a son with mobility issues

time-read
4 mins  |
Fall 2023
Making a house her own
This Old House Magazine

Making a house her own

Renovating in stages over nearly two decades, a homeowner transforms a once forlorn bungalow into a cozy, very personal space

time-read
6 mins  |
Fall 2023
A little house that lives large
This Old House Magazine

A little house that lives large

A reimagined interior and second-story addition double the living area inside a narrow shotgun house, while respecting its historical roots

time-read
4 mins  |
Fall 2023
Before & After: Bath Fit for a Queen Anne
This Old House Magazine

Before & After: Bath Fit for a Queen Anne

Classic meets modern in this primary-suite retreat

time-read
1 min  |
Fall 2023
Before & After: Kitchen Moving a wall makes it work
This Old House Magazine

Before & After: Kitchen Moving a wall makes it work

Grabbing a few feet from the adjacent dining room yields major layout improvements

time-read
2 mins  |
Fall 2023