Councilman urges Cowlitz County to help recruit Team Rubicon volunteers for local disaster response
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Summary
Councilman Gil described Team Rubicon’s veteran-led disaster response work and asked the board to convene emergency-management stakeholders so the organization can present and recruit; commissioners responded positively and agreed staff would help convene a meeting.
During public comment at the Dec. 31 meeting, Councilman Gil asked Cowlitz County commissioners to help connect Team Rubicon — a national nonprofit that deploys veterans for disaster response — with local emergency-management partners and law enforcement so the group can present and recruit volunteers.
Councilman Gil outlined Team Rubicon’s purpose: to use veterans’ skills for crisis deployment alongside first responders and relief organizations, with the capacity to deploy within hours. He urged the county to host a presentation for police chiefs, the sheriff and emergency-management officials so Team Rubicon can explain how it works and how local volunteers could participate without penalizing service members who deploy.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about Team Rubicon’s regional structure and chapter development. Commissioner (Speaker 4) said county staff had researched the organization and found it 'remarkable' and offered to help coordinate a meeting; he noted county staff and a local officer (Officer Watson) might assist in outreach.
Next steps: staff will coordinate an outreach meeting to bring Team Rubicon together with emergency-management partners and law enforcement for a presentation and recruitment discussion.