Medical and Sawyer Teams Continue Relief Efforts in Puerto Rico
Volunteers on the ground are providing medical care for vulnerable residents. For example, a patient came into the clinic with third-degree burns he’d experienced prior to Hurricane Maria. His injuries were left untreated due to the storm.
Our personnel quickly discovered the wounds were too infected to pursue treatment on the island which doesn’t have a functional burn unit. They worked with local philanthropist Jorge Rodriguez who contacted Senator Marco Rubio and former US Surgeon General Dr. Novello, to coordinate a medical evacuation. The patient was accepted and transported for treatment at Fort Sam, a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.
“This was a tremendous accomplishment made possible by the coordination and cooperation of many people. Team Rubicon and the leadership of Operation Coqui Colling played a vital role in the successful disposition of this patient.” – Matthew Wilks, MD, MS, TR Volunteer
Our team continues to focus on the western half of Puerto Rico. Sawyer teams are conducting field operations in Corozal and San Juan while our mobile medical units provide support in the mountain regions of Adjuntas and Morovis. To date, our medical teams have seen 1,526 patients.
First Phase of Hurricane Harvey Effort Winding Down
Over 2,126 Greyshirts have participated in Operation Hard Hustle and served over 1,000. Volunteers remain focused on muck outs, mold remediation, debris removal, and demolitions. Our response is expected to last through the month of November. Soon, we will share details around our commitment to help homeowners rebuild over the next two years in the Texas Gulf Coast.
Pennsylvania Flood Response Extended
Volunteers in Erie Pennsylvania battled drizzling rain and freezing temps to help nine families recover after straight-line winds spawned a tornado that caused extensive damage. There are currently 23 Greyshirts on the ground that will continue sawyer operations and debris management through the end of the week.
RECENTLY COMPLETED OPERATIONS
California Wildfire Response Demobilizes
In northern California, volunteers were up against rapidly changing weather conditions. 49 Greyshirts helped residents recover personal items after conducting sifting operations. Sawyer strike teams also felled trees and removed debris that blocked local residents from their homes.
New Hampshire Response Comes to a Close
Last month, severe weather swept through Northern Carroll and Southern Coos Counties, New Hampshire, causing severe flooding. This weekend, 13 volunteers answered the call and helped 11 families get one step closer to normalcy.
Ohio Tornado Operation Completed
Team Rubicon launched an operation in Ashtabula County, OH in the wake of a Nov. 5 cold front that produced severe weather including multiple tornadoes in Northeast Ohio. Volunteers conducted saw operations that helped six families recover over the weekend.
