President Jake Wood’s Summary of Operation Fuerza Chile!
On February 27th, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck the nation of Chile. The epicenter was near the Chilean coastline, close to the city of Constitucion, and 200 miles southwest of the capital city, Santiago. Within minutes of the earthquake, a tsunami struck coastal villages with varying degrees of magnitude, further complicating an already chaotic situation.
Within 8 hours of the earthquake, Team Rubicon began assessing the situation through reports being disseminated in various media outlets. Initially the Chilean government set the death toll at 100, with approximately the same number missing and 1,000 seriously injured. Despite Chile’s public statements that matters were well in hand and outside aid was not needed, Team Rubicon began researching feasible options for providing medical relief to the Chilean people. Ultimately, Team Rubicon’s Board of Directors felt that the sheer magnitude of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami would overwhelm Chile’s robust emergency services; creating shortfalls of medical response in the rural areas outside the major population centers where assistance would be concentrated. For these and other reasons, including conflicting reports about the situation on the ground in the hours following the disaster, Team Rubicon voted to activate and deploy an advance medical team to Chile. This team was tasked with conducting field triage, treatment and transport operations (T3), in addition to helping coordinate the dissemination of care to the outlying rural communities.
On Monday, March 1st, Team Rubicon departed Los Angeles for Chile. After approximately 56 straight hours of travel, which included 4 flights, 3 countries and a 7 hour road trip, Team Rubicon arrived in Concepcion, Chile. TR immediately went to work, coordinating their efforts directly with Dr. Jorge Lastra, who was Director of Emergency Medical Response in Region 8. Some of the significant accomplishments achieved by Team Rubicon include:
- TR once again conducted T3 operations (triage, treatment, transport), rendering aid to rural communities affected by the disaster. Medical treatment included multiple surgical wound debridement, fractured bone reduction, infected wound care, and 2nd degree burn treatment.
- TR coordinated directly with the Chilean Army in Constitucion, which asked TR to provide medical reconnaissance of the outlying communities. Team Rubicon filed official reports directly to the Army’s Chief Medical Officer, Captain Berger.
- TR helped reestablish communication between the rural Postas (clinics), which had suffered communication breakdowns following the disaster.
- TR identified numerous rural communities that had not received any aid since the quake; these communities were low on food, potable water and shelter. Reports sent to the Chilean government facilitated government air drops of supplies to these areas.
- TR was the only U.S. NGO operating directly for the Chilean Ministry of Health.
Because of differences in building code standards, national preparedness, and the result of the tsunami killing many of the injured in Chile, the number of patients seen by Team Rubicon in Chile comes nowhere near the volume treated in Haiti. However, this should in no way be seen as a sign of disappointment or failure. Team Rubicon exists to bridge the gap between natural disasters and conventional aid response; and the devastating effect of an 8.8 earthquake combined with a massive tsunami was a natural disaster on a biblical scale. In the immediate aftermath of the Chilean earthquake, TR identified the potential for multiple gaps in Chile’s response capability- primarily getting care to the outlying communities and the communication ‘black hole’ that was a result of cell tower damage. Team Rubicon made its decision to deploy based off incomplete and imperfect information, because it knows that a clear picture only develops once it’s too late for effective action.
In hindsight, Team Rubicon would likely not deploy itself to Chile again; not because it didn’t accomplish anything, but rather because we have a fiduciary responsibility to our donors. This responsibility requires a certain “return on investment”, calculated as lives saved per dollar expended. This number is nearly impossible to calculate (how does one determine when a life was legitimately saved), and even more difficult to implement. Who decides what an acceptable ROI is? What is the price of a human life? Or a person’s ability to walk? While the incredible ROI seen in Haiti may never be achieved again, the ROI in Chile was probably not high enough to justify the operation. Of course, at the time the decision was made, TR expected to find many more injuries in need of critical care. I can only assure you that your money is treated as if it were our own, and the decision to spend it is never taken lightly.
What Team Rubicon lacked in ROI it more than made up for in lessons learned. The operation in Chile differed entirely from TR’s operation in Haiti; and, while Team Rubicon never wants to use its donors funds for response ‘experiments’, we nonetheless gained invaluable experience and knowledge which will make future operations even more effective. These lessons range in scale from how to establish a working relationship with high level foreign government officials to the importance of changing USD into local currency in countries which have a robust economy (USD was not accepted as payment in Chile). A thorough after action report, detailing these lessons, will be made available to you as soon as it is finished.
Ultimately, Team Rubicon’s mission to Chile was a success. While Team Rubicon did not save countless lives as it did in Haiti, it identified and successfully bridged multiple gaps in Chile’s response. In doing so, we further developed and refined our model for disaster relief, and along the way earned the respect and gratitude of officials at multiple levels of the Chilean government and military. Team Rubicon is still an evolving model, and we hope that you continue to follow and support our progress as we change the paradigm in disaster relief.
Jake Wood
President, Team Rubicon
Dear Jake — you and the TR team went where you were needed — and provided compassionate care and aid to those who needed it.
Now, listen up — don’t any of you doubt this for one second — we are PROUD of you!!! We were proud of your work in Haiti and we are proud of you now. Yes — Chile wasn’t Haiti. But that little baby whose burned hand was treated so that it will heal and he can use it — and the men and women whose legs were broken and lacerated and infected that you cleaned and sutured and made casts and crutches so they could walk without pain — come on, guys!! You were needed and you went — and you took us with you and made a bridge between us and the people of Chile.
I say — God bless you!! Thank you!! And Thank God for you!!
I wonder what your outcome / $ is vs. other channels supplying help. Fast and light, I’d expect that even with high travel costs and Chile’s fine infrastructure, your “ROI” was higher than most.
Marylin,
I totally agree with you. You guys should never forget that you made people’s lives better not only medically but spiritually and more importantly, they now feel that they matter.
Even though you didn’t understand the language, you could see the same faces I could, and I remember that I could see through them and tell how happy they were and that the felt safe and in good hands.
I want to say one last thing and it is something that Gloria (one of the patients) – You guys are angels and you already have a pice of heaven. Well I say you certainly have a pice of my heart, I’ll never forget you guys. Take care and keep doing what you do.
Camila
Jake, as I was reading your post, some thoughts were racing through my mind on your comments. Then I read Marilyn’s comment, and laughed. What she said were the very things that I had been thinking. That very young child will have the use of both hands, bones will set properly, and issues from untreated wound infections will not happen. Remember, in Haiti, a lot of the amputations were because the broken limbs were untreated for so long and became infected. No, this wasn’t Haiti – thank heavens! But your help was still needed. And each emergency will have at least some differences. You guys go with knowledge & skills, then add to them each time. That is how life operates, ideally at least.
And think of this outcome, too: you showed the Chilean government a first responder emergency model in action. Maybe they will be able to adopt something like it in the future. And I noticed that Camila stayed with you through out, instead of the ‘two days’ originally given. She’s young and very smart. Bet she now has some ideas of her own that she wouldn’t have had she not been with you guys. You make more of a difference than I think you realize.
I wouldn’t have wished for anythng done differently.
When we are moved to help, we must help…whether it’s to be the “boots on the ground” or as supportors and encouragers. We can not measure compassion as success or failure. When we act with compassion, we never fail. Keep up the fantastic work you have shown in your deployments of compassion. God Bless Team Rubicon and their mission!
Hey Jake – I’m sure all of your other donors would agree with me that we trust you with our donations and know that you’re using them the very best way you can. No matter how much lower the ROI was in Chile as compared to Haiti, you guys still went out there, made sacrifices, and helped people. I am in awe of TR no matter what. Please don’t doubt for a second what you are doing. You guys are amazing.
I don’t think anyone can blame you for the lack of a good ROI. As stated, what is the value of a single life? Experience is good and lessons were learned that will make you even more valuable the next time. Also, you’ve shown just what a well organized and equipped NGO can do to help a government in a time of need. I consider your trip another success and will continue to support you. That would change though, if one of you ran off with the money to Cuba and…
It can’t be counted as any kind of loss, brother. ROI or otherwise. Day by day, we live and learn, adapt, improvise, and overcome.
I appreciate your desire for fiscal responsibility, but it is WAY above our paygrade to be able to measure the net effect of a thing we do, whether it is large or small. That is His job. Ours is to make the best decision we can, with the understanding we have.
Charlie Mike and God bless!
I can think of one (or two) more team members TR could use, though. Someone with a pilot’s license and plane, as ready to roll as the rest of you are. That would remove the sitting in airports, which has got to be frustrating.
As I was reading your daily posts from Chile, it crossed my mind as well as it appeared the number of patients was much less that that seen in Haiti and pondered the cost effectiveness of the operation, not that I was second guessing the operation, but looking at as a business. As a donor to TR almost immediately my conscience responded, how much would those legs be worth to me? How about the actual lives that could have been lost due to infection. The families and the affect of those injuries left untreated, how that would affect them for years to come. Humberto for instance is most likely the head of one of those families – what affect on the family unit would that have had if no one came?
By going, you are also building reputations, contacts on the ground across the globe, and more donations that will that I dont believe you can put a dollar figure on that will greatly help in your next mission.
I know the almighty dollar dictates what all of us can do and how this organization must be run, but as long as there are people willing to give and you have the willingness to go, I am all for you going.
I think detailed AAR’s and an open cost assessment, along with an openness about what is needed as far as financial support and supplies, will go a long way. Open goals such as, ok guys this is what it will cost us to get on the ground and do our job, we cant do this without your support type of thing… I think even in a time of economic uncertainty, Americans are willing to give generously… The very thought of why was I blessed with being born into this country scares me. To whom much is given, much is required.
I’m willing to make a wager here — in a year or two, when somewhere on our globe, there is a disaster, the local governments will be asking and looking for Team Rubicon, much as they now wonder, “When will the Marines arrive?”
On this mission, you guys established a high level of expertise in working with locals in charge, fitting into their world, filling voids they knew existed and knew they needed help — and that is what you are about. Don’t ever forget that.– that is your mission.
Chile disaster relief folks now know you. They are known by other nations. Early into Haiti… the name Team Rubicon will be passed to others by them. In your work, it is indeed, a small world.
Godspeed and job well done.
I’m one of your doners. I am glad that you went. Don’t worry about ROI, because everyone you helped was worth it, to me.
You might consider giving your material donators options on what to do with remaining materials after an op.
Options could include:
Keep the mats for next op.
Return the mats.
Give remaining mats over to the local care providers for use in sustaining their own ops.
That might make for a huge logistics/paper work headache though.
“By going, you are also building reputations, contacts on the ground across the globe, and more donations that will that I dont believe you can put a dollar figure on that will greatly help in your next mission.” Karl B
Reading the after report, I had the same thought. Every time TR deploys, the reputation and appreciation grows as well as learning how to do it better and more efficiently.
I am extremely proud to be a tiny part of Team Rubicon’s beginnings. I leave it to the team to decide what to do with supplies.
Thanks again to everyone who is making Team Rubicon a successful organization, saving lives and making a difference.
I support the first responder idea. Bridging the gap and all that. I think it is ground breaking and very important to future disasters. If this was a learning experience then the money was well spent. But you helped people, too. Bonus! I know I will continue to follow you and support you in whatever way I can.
I am sorry you should feel obliged to apologize for good news. The absence of chaos in the democratic system with free markets and property rights Chili embraced (vs. Haiti) proves their government is acting responsible with the trust their people have placed in them with free and open elections. Simply because Team Rubicon’s business is disaster, you should not be conflicted to find clarity. TR missions are never, and should never be thought of as, more equal than others.
Thanks to you and your team for a job well done!
Jake.. your heart of service tempered with prudence touches this mom’s heart. But your thinking “our” money was not well spent simply is not the case . I serve a living God who sacrificed HIS ALL for just one of us His children. You’re following THAT model. Bravo and thanks to all The TR team for doing what this mom/grandmom can’t.
“while Team Rubicon never wants to use its donors funds for response ‘experiments’, we nonetheless gained invaluable experience and knowledge which will make future operations”
I might point out that while you are finding your legs and developing your concepts, EVERY deployment is going to be an experiment. One thing to keep in mind is that every disaster is different. There is only so much “process” you can put into place without losing the ability to adapt to unique situations as they present themselves.
Disasters happen that are different in nature in different countries which will be prepared to greater or lesser degrees than other countries and have varying degrees of domestic response capability. Also, language and culture can play a large role in both how communities respond to a disaster and how easy it is for an outsider to assist.
And disasters can easily compound. Haiti, for example, has less than 80 days to the start of hurricane season. A major hurricane hitting that region right now would be another disaster as all that flying debris and lack of sturdy shelter is going to put millions again at peril.
One thing I would suggest, though, is maybe investigate amateur radio networks, particularly folks who work the lower frequencies where signals can travel a long distance without need for repeaters and lines of sight between stations. It is a potential mode of communication with isolated communities and a way to assess conditions “on the ground” not filtered through the media.
If I understand the meaning of the letter properly, Jake is addressing not only those who donate cash monies, but also the businesses that donate large and small in materials, as well as those who run shotgun in getting Team Rubicon in the air and on the way.
So, again, if I understand the intent behind the letter, Jake is saying, up front, that the Team recognizes the respect given the Team by the donations and the requirements of the Team to be competent in decision making and as fully accountable as practicably possible.
The military in general, and my beloved Corps in particular, teach a recognition of two types of discipline. Internal and external. The more internal discipline a person or organization has, the less there is a need for externally applied discipline. A lacking of internal or personal discipline leads to greater application of external discipline.
I suspect the letter was Jake and crew giving expression to their internal discipline without fully understanding that was what they were doing. They are responsible and accountable and they’re saying they acknowledge that.
It’s also good business sense. The Team exists on good will and the support of those who trust their decision making capabilities as well as their baseline integrity and honor code.
Had you not treated a single injury and done nothing more than bring comfort and cheer to those folks, my money was well spent. God bless you for everything you do, great or small. You have my unwavering support and trust.
I am entirely chilean, from soul to body and when I heard that US people just want to help it make a huge difference.
How can you decide when a life has been saved?
Have you consider how US people will be seen by chileans just through your actions?
Every one of you guys has made an embassy of true love and we will never forget it.
Thanks to each of you and your donors.
Chile will keep you and your country through your hands and actions inside our hearts.