Team Rubicon USA is the first WHO verified NGO in North America, and is deploying an EMT domestically that is operating within the standards developed for the verification process
DALLAS (Oct. 29, 2018) – Team Rubicon USA, a veteran-led global disaster response organization, is launching a medical aid operation in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to provide Super Typhoon Yutu response and recovery support to residents in Tinian. This will be Team Rubicon’s first medical operation since receiving World Health Organization (WHO) verification as a Type-1 Mobile Emergency Medical Team (EMT) in June of this year.
Working in conjunction with local, provincial, and national authorities, Team Rubicon volunteers will provide medical services including: triage, clinical care, and basic laboratory and pharmacy capabilities in coordination with the broader incident response framework. Team Rubicon will also be working to identify and train local residents in disaster response skills to help build more resilient communities in preparation for future disasters.
“Super Typhoon Yutu was a very powerful storm that impacted people across the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands,” said William Porter, Manager of National Planning at Team Rubicon. “This is the first EMT we’ve deployed since receiving certification from the WHO last summer. Our teams are ready to put their skills to use to be a force multiplier for the local medical providers and help those affected by this storm to recover.”
“At Team Rubicon, one of our goals is to build more resilient communities that are prepared to respond to disasters whenever they occur,” said David Burke, Vice President of Programs and Field Operations at Team Rubicon. “As part of this response in the CNMI, we plan to offer the opportunity for local residents to train in crucial disaster response skills so that they will be ready to help their communities respond and recover in the wake of future disasters.”
In June 2018, Team Rubicon USA received verification from the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Type-1 Mobile Emergency Medical Team. Team Rubicon’s Type-1 Mobile EMTs can deploy rapidly to disaster zones around the world to stand-up mobile field clinics and provide life-saving care in austere environments.
Team Rubicon boasts an 85,000-strong, highly skilled volunteer force that helps communities stabilize and recover after devastating natural disasters. Since its inception, following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Team Rubicon has carried out 310 disaster response and recovery operations, including for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.
Through a strong communications infrastructure supported by our cutting-edge technology solutions, Team Rubicon volunteers efficiently and effectively respond to natural disasters and help families return to their homes as soon as possible. By asking military veteran volunteers to continue their service through disaster response, Team Rubicon provides them an avenue to gain a renewed sense of purpose, community, and identity.