200,000 Veterans Turn Disaster Relief Into a Movement

When Hurricane Lala tore through Hawaii Island, an army of volunteers in grey shirts showed up ready to work. These aren't just any volunteers—they're veterans putting their military training to use helping communities recover from disasters.

Team Rubicon, a nonprofit founded after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, now has over 200,000 volunteers across the United States. In Hawaii alone, 1,200 Greyshirts stand ready to respond when disaster strikes.

Right now, teams are clearing storm debris in the rural Hawaiian Ocean View community. If resources allow, they'll extend operations to Nāʻālehu, Pāhala, and Captain Cook next.

This is already their second Hawaii Island response this year. Incident Commander Jon Shear says his team learned valuable lessons from responding to the Kona low storms in March. "We understood that there were communities that really needed the help," Shear explained. "We prioritize where we can provide support, and based on the resources, we get there as quick as we can."

The organization isn't working alone. They're coordinating with the American Red Cross, Vibrant Hawaiʻi, Hawaii County Civil Defense, and local community groups to make sure help reaches the people who need it most.

Volunteers also receive cultural training before they begin work. Teams learn to watch for iwi kūpuna (ancient remains), especially near coastal areas. If they encounter them, they stop work immediately and contact the proper authorities.

The Ripple Effect

Since its founding 16 years ago, Team Rubicon has completed 35 disaster response and mitigation operations across the Hawaiian Islands. From volcanic eruptions to hurricanes to wildfires, these veteran volunteers have turned tragedy into purpose.

The organization transforms military experience into community impact. Veterans who once served their country now serve their neighbors, using the same skills that made them effective in uniform to rebuild homes and clear debris.

For communities recovering from disaster, that means professional-level help arrives quickly and free of charge. For veterans, it means finding new purpose after service.

Two hundred thousand Americans have discovered that the best way to heal communities is to show up, work hard, and leave things better than you found them.