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.
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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.
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Mobile kitchen island
TOH DIY expert Jenn Largesse shows how to build a rolling kitchen cart with a butcher-block top
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
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
Graceful grasses
With dramatic foliage and distinctive plumes, ornamental grasses come in sizes to suit virtually any garden
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
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
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
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
Before & After: Bath Fit for a Queen Anne
Classic meets modern in this primary-suite retreat
Before & After: Kitchen Moving a wall makes it work
Grabbing a few feet from the adjacent dining room yields major layout improvements
