Kelso resident urges board to allow Team Rubicon presentation about local disaster-response support

Jim Hill, a Kelso resident, spoke during public comment to request that Team Rubicon be placed on a future agenda to present the organization’s capabilities and offer volunteer disaster-response assistance.

Hill described Team Rubicon as a national volunteer organization founded to mobilize veterans and other trained volunteers to respond to disasters. "Team Rubicon's mission is to respond to disasters, local, state, and national," Hill said, noting the group provides tasks such as chainsaw crews, sandbagging and muck-out operations and can remain on site as long as needed.

Commissioners and other attendees said they would consider the request and suggested Department of Emergency Management or existing emergency-response planners might be the appropriate connection. One commissioner said specific local details and documentation of training, availability and liability protections would be needed before integrating volunteers into county response.

Hill asked for a 15-minute slot at a future meeting to provide details; the board thanked him and agreed staff would consider the appropriate pathway for engagement.