Et cetera : AmeriCorps NCCC Pine 4 Clears Survivor’s House of Debris at Panama City, Florida

By Andrew Keylor   Hurricane Michael, an unexpectedly powerful category 4 storm, developed in the Gulf and devastated the residents in the Panhandle of Florida on October 10, 2018 with a swift and destructive blow. The aftermath of this disaster left many people’s home completely uninhabitable. In addition, survivors also dealt with numerous problems such as spoiled food, debris, fallen trees, finding money to repair, and more. This left locals with a desperate need for assistance. Organizations like FEMA and Team Rubicon heeded the call to assist these survivors in their recovery journey.   Team Rubicon is a team of volunteers comprised of military veterans who work alongside first responders to ensure survivors receive the necessary assistance. Payments for debris and vegetation removal can be a massive financial burden to the already suffering survivors. Team Rubicon uses their combined skills to assist people by clearing their property and households of debris while relieving them of the overwhelming stresses involved in cleaning up.   On November 4, 2018, AmeriCorps NCCC team Pine 4 worked in accordance with Team Rubicon to remove debris piled in and around a survivor’s once two-story home. From Michael’s effects, the overpowering winds toppled the majority of the survivor’s second floor, leaving the stairway susceptible to incoming rainwater. Responders like Devin Johnson worked to remove a significant amount of the debris from in the house and around the property. He, with the rest of the team, organized them into piles in the front yard to be retrieved later.   “It felt fulfilling to help someone get back on their feet from a big disaster like this one,” said Devin Johnson.   The survivor was grateful to have a great amount of help for no cost at all. He made it clear they had significantly made the recovery process much easier. After a hard day’s work, FEMA and Team Rubicon packed up their tools, returned to base, and prepared to help more survivors the next day.