Veterans group organizes to help Utah flood victims with cleanup


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TREMONTON — Homeowners affected by flooding in recent weeks got a lot of extra help Saturday — and it didn't cost them a penny.

Team Rubicon, a volunteer group made up of mostly former members of the military, teamed up with Box Elder County, the Red Cross and other groups to help homeowners get rid of material that was damaged by flooding.

Tremonton homeowner Dan Haney was among the beneficiaries of Team Rubicon's services. His son's basement bedroom was saturated during the floods, and where there's moisture, there's a good chance mold isn't too far behind.

"We noticed a little bit (of mold), so it's best to just get it taken care of," Haney said.

His home was a demolition zone Saturday morning. Sheet rock, insulation, carpet: it all had to go. Luckily, he had some help.

"You generally get this feeling like you're supporting the American people, like you were before," said Ryan Meader, a member of the Team Rubicon group that helped clear out Haney's basement.

All the members of Team Rubicon are volunteers, but Meader said the project also helps them.

"When you leave the military, sometimes that can be hard to replace," he said. "What we do in our day jobs can be anything, but here ... you're around that same typical group. You can trade war stories while you're working with your hands again."

The group of veterans is already good at organization, taking orders and completing tasks, so why not put those skills to good use?

For homeowners like Haney, the help and cost savings are much appreciated. "I don't even want to think about (how much it would cost otherwise)," he said. "I don't even know."

Whatever the cost, the money that would have been spent on cleanup can now go to getting Haney's son's room back together quickly.

As for Meader, he said he hopes the work he does gives flooded homeowners "a little bit of hope" and helps them "realize they're not alone in this, and there are people in this country who are there for them."

To learn more about Team Rubicon and how you can get involved, visit teamrubiconusa.org.

Contributing: Jordan Ormond

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