SMITH COUNTY, Texas — Editor's Note: The video above originally aired June 11 following Team Rubicon's efforts to assist East Texans in cleaning storm damage.
A group of veteran volunteers with Team Rubicon has been recognized by Smith County Officials for their efforts in helping a dozen residents cleanup storm damage.
County Judge Neal Franklin and Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore presented Team Rubicon with the Community Hero Award Thursday. About 15 volunteers from Team Rubicon worked from June 8 through June 12, assisting 12 residents clean up large tree debris from communities in Tyler, Flint and Chapel Hill.
Team Rubicon is a nonprofit disaster response and humanitarian organization led by veterans, and are funded by donations and grants.
“Our core capabilities are chain saw teams, cleaning up flooded homes and managing volunteers who want to help,” Jeff Marshburn, logistics section chief for Team Rubicon, said in a press release. “We will help anybody, but we do prioritize helping those who can’t help themselves."
Smith County also took the time to thank Tyler's Super Quality Ice for donating an ice trailer, Kevin Dinnin and the First Day Foundation for donating an Emergency Management Response Truck with showers for volunteers, the Salvation Army for donating food, and Smith County residents reporting damage through the Texas Division of Emergency Management iSTAT website.