For nearly 20 years, Deloitte has assisted federal, state, and local emergency management agencies in their efforts to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Now, through the newly-launched Disaster Management Fellowship, Deloitte professionals are stepping onto the frontlines with Team Rubicon to directly support disaster recovery missions.
As Deloitte professionals began filling out their applications to the Disaster Management Fellowship last year, they were asked to answer the following question: “Why is it important for Deloitte as an organization to gain this on-the-ground disaster experience, and how will we, as Fellows, embody Team Rubicon’s mission?” As the selected Fellows began responding to unprecedented disasters throughout the Southeast, they never lost sight of this basic but important question.
Disaster Management Fellowship Launches Amid Hurricane Season Surge
The inaugural Fellowship class, which included Deloitte professionals Helen Cammerzell, Tom Campbell, Maren Raddatz, Costa Sardelis, Zach Schwartz, Danyal Shahroz, and Nathan Shields, had to onboard quicker than expected: Hurricane Helene was due to make landfall in only a couple of days, and local leaders expected catastrophic damages. The Deloitte team held a kickoff call with Team Rubicon, and everyone shared why they were there. For some, participating firsthand in on-the-ground response activities was paramount, whereas others were eager to better understand and connect with the clients and disaster survivors whom Team Rubicon serves every day. Everyone felt called to serve the vital emergency management mission of helping survivors.
As Helene Exits, Disaster Management Fellows Hit the Ground
On October 3, 2024, four days after Hurricane Helene dissipated, Team Rubicon requested volunteers for disaster recovery work in Mecklenburg County, NC. Disaster Management Fellow Zach Schwartz, a consultant with Deloitte & Touche LLP, was no stranger to the region: he had grown up in a neighboring county and spent nearly his entire life in North Carolina. As it turned out, he was traveling to his hometown that week to visit family and immediately raised his hand to volunteer.
Zach spent several days conducting muck-outs—removing mud, muck, silt, and other flooding material from a home—alongside other Team Rubicon volunteers, or Greyshirts. Dozens of homes near a lake had flooded and the survivors, still in shock from the unprecedented disaster, had to begin cleaning those homes. Zach worked with other Greyshirts, community partners, and homeowners to remove flooding debris, floorboards, and other hazardous materials. It is through these efforts that the homeowners would be able to start rebuilding.
Zach remarked afterward how privileged he was to be on the ground participating in recovery efforts. So much of North Carolina stepped up to help, and the opportunity to contribute through Team Rubicon was especially meaningful.
Continuing to Respond
Following Zach’s initial deployment, additional Fellows deployed throughout the Southeast. Costa Sardelis, consultant, Deloitte & Touche LLP—who also serves as a swift water rescue technician—deployed to the ravaged grounds in eastern Tennessee. Deloitte Managers Tom Campbell and Nathan Shields, and Deloitte Consulting LLP Consultant Danyal Shahroz were deployed to decimated areas in western North Carolina.
At the epicenter of Helene’s devastation, Fellows prioritized:
– Integrating into the overall disaster response effort and official Multiple County Emergency Managers incident management structures and operations.
– The preservation of property, safety, and incident stabilization.
– Maintaining continual and complete accountability of resources, personnel, and funds deployed to the disaster area.
These opportunities allowed Fellows to work directly with disaster survivors, many of whom had lost property, homes, and even loved ones. While the work was physically and mentally exhausting, Fellows were able to help restore some sense of normalcy to the lives of the survivors. Witnessing the devastation first-hand, even several weeks after the storm, was an eye-opening experience. The images and reports are not able to capture the full extent of the damage. Listening to the personal stories of those affected was heart-wrenching, yet offering them a sympathetic ear was a privilege. For the Fellows, it was gratifying to contribute to their recovery efforts, even in a small way.
The Fellows each noted that working in various communities and with different stakeholders not only had an impact on the communities, but a profound impact on themselves. Members of the community were humbled to see volunteers arriving from all over the country to assist with debris removal and muck-outs. Just as with Zach, the experience they gained on the ground was invaluable, and it allowed members of a large organization like Deloitte to make such a personal impact within the community.
How the Disaster Management Fellowship Shapes Future Leaders in Emergency Response
At Deloitte, the slogan is “Making an Impact that Matters.” Every Deloitte practitioner carries the importance of this statement through the work they do and the clients they support. This Disaster Management Fellowship is no different. Each deployment offered Fellows firsthand exposure to the realities of disaster recovery—a core goal of the Disaster Management Fellowship program. Through their deployments, Fellows advanced Team Rubicon’s mission and gained valuable experiences and insights that help to enrich their everyday roles serving emergency management clients.
By Deloitte’s nature, practitioners are often positioned to assist organizations in addressing enterprise-wide issues. Whether disaster-related or not, participating in Team Rubicon deployments has provided Fellows with a distinct perspective on disaster response and recovery. Fellows appreciated the opportunity to be challenged beyond their daily work, live the Team Rubicon mission, and demonstrate “service before self.” Through the Disaster Management Fellowship, Deloitte professionals gain meaningful, life-changing experiences while contributing to Team Rubicon’s mission to serve communities affected by disasters.
