Disaster Response

Responding to Disasters and Mitigating Future Ones.

Disasters aren’t just happening. They’re hitting communities with increasing frequency and severity. That’s why we built a response mission fueled by swift, coordinated, and relentless service as our only path forward.

We Strive to Help Those Who Need It. Period.

Disaster response and mitigation should be for everyone—we don’t discriminate here. As the climate crisis exacerbates environmental disasters, we’re called to rural farms, big cities, mountain towns, and seaside neighborhoods. With Greyshirts already a part of the fabric of these communities, we can provide immediate relief on a local level, where response efforts are best managed.

Doing More, Because More Is Needed.

Disasters are affecting more communities than ever before. Our response, therefore, is dynamic, holistic, and unwavering in our pursuit to help more people, at no cost to them.

  • Pre-Disaster Mitigation

    As the climate crisis intensifies, mitigation is disaster response and it’s always ongoing. We work closely with communities at risk of floods, fires, and more, helping develop and carry out their preparedness plans.

  • Post-Disaster Response

    After disasters, vulnerable communities need help clearing roadways, removing debris, and setting a new foundation for a stronger community. That’s where Greyshirts jump in—and fast.

  • Long-Term Recovery

    When the streets are clear and dry, our work has only just begun. We remain in affected areas to support ongoing recovery projects and build more resilient communities on the other side.

Just some of the ways we serve.

  • Incident Management. Our ICS-trained Greyshirts devise action plans amidst chaos and lack of direction, ensuring our efforts are as efficient and impactful as possible.
  • Site Surveys. We digitally analyze the damage done and take stock of the impact on the home, community, and state to fuel our service response and immediate next steps.
  • Disaster Mapping and Work Order Management. We carefully track and communicate what’s happening on the ground and what support our team is giving, so that affected communities can access this public information immediately and spend less time and energy on recovery grants later.
  • Debris Management. Our heavy-equipment Greyshirts get to work clearing the stuff that doesn’t belong—fallen trees, water, house debris, and more—to return the area to normal.
  • Hazard Mitigation. We take any and all steps available to reduce the impact of future disasters, whether that means creating fire breaks, clearing potential floor debris, or anything else that could possibly help.
  • Expedient Home Repair. In the immediate aftermath of a disaster and before skilled labor arrives on the scene, our Greyshirts do all they can to repair homes to a stable and livable condition—quickly, effectively, and entirely for free.
  • Volunteer Management. Our Greyshirts are a force to be reckoned with, but they’re not the only ones eager to support. We help communities prepare and deploy their local troops, even if they’re not wearing grey shirts.
  • Emergency Medicine. We deploy our emergency response and medical experts to sites that need it, triaging care, organizing patient transport, and delivering trauma stabilization.
  • Demolition. Tearing down someone’s home is heartbreaking, but sometimes it’s the only way to make space for something better, stronger, and safer. We perform demolition services and remove building debris on structures that can’t be salvaged or repaired.
  • Exercise Services. Using the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program methodology, we help communities practice for numerous threats, develop and test plans, policies, and procedures, and enhance their ability to effectively respond and recover.

Low-Attention. High-Importance. 

We put extra emphasis on disaster-affected communities that garner the least amount of attention from the media or federal aid but often need the most help. Wherever we go, our goal is to serve the most vulnerable—that means partnering with government agencies or integrating into existing VOAD response efforts when it can streamline support, and stepping up to lead the charge if no one else shows up.

“Every hour Team Rubicon worked here is an hour that we as firefighters now don’t have to put into the community for the structure protection things. So, it’s a huge impact. It frees us up to do more direct attacks on the fire.”
Tyler Campbell, Battalion Chief for the Headwaters Fire Management Region, Grand County, CO

Ready to serve?

Volunteer With Us

Distaster Response News & Stories

Read More Stories