TableofContents2.ExecutiveSummary4.OperationOverview6.OperationSummary8.AreasofAnalysis 10.Transportation

10.Staging11.Volunteers12.EOCCoordination12.MissionObjectives13.Equipment13.Media

14.KeyLessonLearned 15.KeyActions

AfterActionReport

Dallas,TX2012OperationLoneStar

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EXECUTIVESUMMARYOnTuesday,April3rd2012aseriesoftornadoessweptthroughthegreaterDallas/FortWorth(DFW)area.Initialreportsreportedthattherewereeight(8)tornadoes,butthesereportswerelaterupdatedtoreportatotalofsixteen(16)hadtouchedtown.Theinitialnewscoveragecenteredonalargeparkinglotwhere18‐wheelersemitruckswerebeingpickedupintotheairandtwistedaroundbeforebeingdroppedbacktotheground,destroyingthemintheprocess.Thismediasensation,althoughspectaculartowatch,detractedattentionfromthetownsoftheareathatwereinneedofseriousassistance.ThetownsintheDFWareathatweremostaffectedwere:Arlington,Lancaster,Forney,andKennendale.ThesewereidentifiedearlyonfromeyewitnessaccountsandnewsreportingcomingoutoftheDFWarea.Thetownshadestimatesofdamageinthe“hundredsofhousesdestroyed”range.Nodeathswerereportedasaresultofthetornadoes,andtherewerefewinjuries.Earlyreportingmitigatedtheamountofpeoplewhowerecaughtoutsideinthestormsystem.TeamRubicondecidedtodeployatornadoresponseteamfromEasternTexas.Thiswasdoneformanyreasons,anddespitethefactthatnodeathswerereported.Whilefatalitiesareanobviousobjectivesignthatassistanceisneeded,thesheerdestructionofthetownswarrantedaresponse.TeamRubiconhasrecentlyexpandedourdomesticleadershippositionsandhadavaluableandreliableassetlivingintheDFWarea.KlebeBrumble,aretiredAirForceveteranandOperatingRoomNurse,wasabletogathersuppliesandpersonnelinthehoursdirectlyafterthetornadoesleftandthatgaveTeamRubiconanoperationaladvantagetogetaresponseteamintotheaffectedneighborhoodsquickly.KlebeinitiallyassembledtheteaminaMethodistchurchinDuncanville,Texas.ThechurchwassituateddirectlybetweenLancasterandArlington,whichmadeitastrategicallyideallocationforaRallyPoint.AnemailalertwassentouttoeveryonelivingintheeasternTexasareathatwewouldbeassemblingattheRallyPointandtomeetthere.Ourvolunteerdatabase,OrgAction,wasupdatedtoreflectthenewinformationandaneventwascreatedforspontaneoussign‐ups.TeamRubiconHeadquartersinLosAngeles(TRHQ)decidedtoflytwokeypersonneltoTexasthefollowingmorning.ThesewereJoshuaWebster,whowouldactastheoverallTeamLeader,andKirkJacksonwhowouldactasVideographer.TheyralliedWednesdayeveningattheMethodistchurchinDuncanvilleandreceivedtheSituationReport(SITREP)fromtheactingteamleaderShaneValverde.Theteamrepositionedatanearbyhotelandbeguncoordinatingwithlocalreliefagenciestoenterthecitiesthefollowingday.Sofar,TeamDepotwastheonlyorganizationthathadbeengrantedaccessthroughthepolicecordonsintheaffectedcities.TeamRubicon,throughacarefullyarranged

TEAMRUBICON,AfterActionReport

relationshipwiththeHomeDepotFoundation,wasabletosecureapartnershipandwasconfidentthattheycouldbeginworkthenextday.

TherelationshipwithTeamDepot(andtheHomeDepotFoundation)provedtobetheMOSTreliableandfunctionalrelationshipthatTeamRubiconestablishedwhileinTexas.TherelationshipallowedaccesstoLancasterandArlingtonthefollowing96hours.TheTeamworkedineachofthosecitiesandspecificallytheyparticipatedinthefollowingactivitiesunderthespecificguidelinesthat“partiallydestroyedhomes”thatweredeemed“salvageablewouldbegottentofirst.Partiallydestroyedhomeswerefirstassessedformajordamage.Ifthehomesweredeemed“livable”andweregivenastampofapprovalformthecityFireChief,thenTeamRubiconvolunteerswouldassistthehomeownerswiththefollowingactivities:

• Clearingofrubbleanddebris• Patchingholesinroofswithtarps,nails,andwood• PatchingholesinwallswithOSBboardandtarps• Generalweather‐proofing• Chainsawingandremovingfallentrees

Aftertheinitial96‐hourperioditbecameclearthatbadweatherwasmovinginforSunday,April8,2012.GiventhatitwasEaster,itwasexpectedthatallvolunteerorganizationswouldbetakingthedayoffandresumingworkwhenthestormhadpassed.TheexpecteddayofresumptionofoperationswasTuesday,April102012.ThistimedelaycausedtheTeamLeader,JoshuaWebster,toendoperationsintheDFWarea.Hisdecisionwasbasedonthefollowingreasons:

• Theinclementweatherwouldforcetheteamstoshutdownoperationsfor48‐72hours.Thiswouldaddanundueexpenseofhousingandfeedingtheteamwithout“guaranteeing”themanyfuturework.

• Thehomestheteamhadworkedonseemedtobewellprotectedbytheir“emergencyhomerepair”

• GeneralcontractorsandinsuranceadjusterswereexpectedtoreturnbyTuesday,April10tobeginpermanentrebuildingsolutions.

• The“workorders”fromhomeownerswereslowingasmorevolunteerorganizationsbeganshowinguponSaturday,April72012.

Theteamlearnedmanyvaluablelessonsregardingthe“handiness”andcapabilitiesofindividualswhohadservedinuniform.Theteammembershadcertain“key”individualswhoweresubjectmatterexperts(SME’s)intheareasofstructurebuilding,generalconstruction,andheavyequipmentuse.Theseindividualswereleanedonheavilybytheleadershiptoguidetheactualworkteams;whiletheleadershipmanagedrisk,foundworkrequests,liaisonedwithrelieforganizationsandprocuredgear.Thissystemledtoanoveralleffectivemodelgiventhetimeconstraints.

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ItistheimpressionoftheteamleaderthatTeamRubiconmemberswereextremelyeffectiveatofferingemergencyhomerepairtohomeownerswhosehomeshadbeenpartiallydestroyed.TR’sworkwasaimedatsavingthepropertyofthosehomesthatwouldberepaired,whileminimizingtheamountofworkonthehomesthatwouldlaterbedemolishedbyabulldozer.BydoingthisTeamRubiconmembersaidedina“response”rolethatwascriticalANDtimesensitive.Theteammembersarrivedreadytowork,andneededonlyaminimalsafetybriefbeforetheybegan“self‐starting”theseprojectsontheirown.Theleadershipmerelyhadtoguidethemtotheproperworksitesandmakesuretheyhadthetoolstheyneeded.ItisalsotheimpressionoftheteamleaderthatthistypeofworkethicmotivatedsurroundingvolunteerorganizationstoworkharderandtofacilitategettingTeamRubiconmemberstothesiteswiththemostneed.Thiswaspointedoutthroughouttheweek,aslocalorganizationswouldrepeatedlyrequestTeamRubicontotacklethemostdifficulttasks.Thesetaskswouldalwaysbeapproachedwithcare,awilltosucceed,andtheabilitytoworkasateam.JakeWood WilliamMcNulty JoshuaWebster ShaneValverdePresident,TeamRubiconVicePresidentTeamLeader AssistantTeamLeader

TEAMRUBICON,AfterActionReport

OPERATIONOVERVIEWOPERATIONNAME: Operation:LoneStarDURATION: 6daysDATES: April3,2012–April8,2012LOCATION: Dallas/FortWorth,TexasOPERATIONDIRECTIVE: FacilitateinEmergencyHomeRepairastheresult

ofexcessivetornadodamage.ELEMENTS: 1TOTALVOLUNTEERS: 18MILITARYVETERANS: 12TOTALCASHRAISED: $12,433.00LESS:CREDITCARDFEES: ($610.23)NET: $11,822.77EXPENSES: TRANSPORTATION: $2,539EQUIPMENT: $629FOOD: $528LODGING: $447Other: $67TOTAL: ($4,211) NETOPERATIONGAIN/(LOSS) $7,611

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OPERATIONSUMMARY

PRE‐DEPLOYMENTTheteamforthismissionwasassembledfromageneral100‐mileradiusaroundthedisastersite.Becauseofthewidespreadfootageofthe18‐wheelersemitruckvideoonthenewstherewasanimmediateexplosionofrequestsfromTexasfrommemberswhowerewillingtodeployintotheDFWarea.ItwasthedecisionofTRHQtoquicklysetupaRallyPointandassignateamleader.OurlocalRegionalDirector,KlebeBrumble,wasabletosetupaRallyPointattheDuncanvilleMethodistChurch,butworkrestrictionshadhimsidelinedfromvolunteeringduringthedaytime.ItwasthedecisionfromTRHQtodeployTeamLeaderJoshuaWebsterduetotheinabilityofKlebetoescapehisworkduties.AteamleaderfromTRHQbringswithitobviousadvantageofhavingthepurchasingabilityofTeamRubicon,theformerteamleadershipexperience,aswellasthestrategicviewoftheoperation(havingspentalldaycoordinatingassets.)FlightstoDallaswereapproaching$1000eachwaythenightoftheincidentduetoheavyhaildamagetohundredsofplanesintheDFWarea.ThefollowingmorningJoshuaandTeamRubiconvideographerKirkJacksonflewtoDallasoncomplimentary“greenpasses”thathadbeenkindlydonatedbySouthwestAirlines.ThiseasedtheburdenfromtheTeamRubiconcheckbookconsiderably.Theteamontheground,leadbyShaneValverde,haddoneaninitialreconofthecitiesofLancasterandForney,butwereunabletobreakthroughthepolicecordonduetotightenedrestrictionsonaccountofpossiblelootinginthearea.Shaneandhisteamhadcoordinatedwithsomereliefagencieswhiletheywerethere,butitwastherelationshipwiththeHomeDeptFoundationthatprovedtobethelynchpinthatgottheteamaccesstoLancasterthefollowingday.DEPLOYMENTEachdaytheteammetwithTeamDepotrepresentativesattheprescribedlocationforadailybriefandtobeescortedintothedisasterzones.BydaythreeTeamRubiconneedednoescortandcouldenterLancasterfreely.TheTeamRubiconvehicleplacards,t‐shirts,hats,andpriorworkexperiencefacilitatedthisabruptpolicychange.

TEAMRUBICON,AfterActionReport

Afterthefirsthourtheteamrecognizedthattherewasnousehelpingto“cleanup”theyards

ofhousesthatweretotallydestroyed.Manyofthehomeswerealreadyscheduledtobebulldozed,andthelocalfamilieshaddonetheirbesttoremoveanyvaluablepossessionthedayofthestorm.Theworkplanshiftedtorestoringandrepairingthehousesthatneededtobeprotectedfromtheincomingweather.ThesehousesneededhelpandgeneralcontractorswerenotavailableuntilAFTEREasterweekend.ItbecamethedutyofTeamRubiconvolunteerstomakesurethesehomeowners,manyofwhomwerestilllivingintheirhouses,couldsurviveanotherweekendstorm.TeamDepotagreedtotakeamemberofTeamRubicontoHomeDepotinordertopurchasethenecessarymaterialsneededtoconductthismission.ThomasHudsonwaschosenbecauseofhisknowledgeofthemissionandhisgeneralconstructionknowledge.Hereturnedanhourlaterwiththefollowingconstructionmaterialsthattheteamusedforthenext96hours:tarps,OSBboard,roofingnails,hammers,cementscrews,plywoodbeams,andrakes.LivingaccommodationswerechangedfromtheDuncanvilleMethodistChurchtoalocalMotel6forthefirst2nightsofthemission.TheteamwasofferedlodginginDallasattheretreathouseofTylerStreetUnitedMethodistChurch.Thisretreathousewasveryniceandallowedfortheteamtooperatewithoutfinancialburdenorphysicalstrain.Afterthe3rddayofoperationstheteamleaderdecidedtobreaktheteamfromthedisasterzone.ItwasSaturday,April7thandEasterwasthefollowingday.Rainandthunderstormswereexpectedtorollinthatnight,makingvolunteerroofrepairtooriskytoaccomplish.ThestormwasexpectedtobreakonTuesday,andbythattimecontractorswerescheduledtoarriveforamorepermanentsolutionforthehomeowners.Theteamfinishedafinaljob(thatrequiredtheentiregroup’sefforts)andsaidtheirgoodbyes.Allthegearwasaccountedfor,andanyextragearwasgiventoKlebeBrumleforsafekeepingandpotentialfollow‐onmissioninEasternTexas.TheTeamLeaderandVideographerfromLosAngeleshoppedonthelastflightofthedayleavingDallasandtherestoftheteamheadedhome.

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AREASOFANALYSIS

1. Transportation2. StagingArea3. Volunteers4. EOCCoordination5. MissionObjectives6. Equipment7. Media

TEAMRUBICON,AfterActionReport

ANALYSIS

TRANSPORTATIONSUMMARYTeamRubiconmembersdroveintothedisasterareaandassuchtherewerenoplaneticketexpenses.TeamLeaderJoshuaWebsterandVideographerKirkJacksonflewinusingSouthwest“GreenPasses”thathadbeendonated,andtherewasnoexpensethereeither.Theteamutilizedtrucksoflocalvolunteersaswellasthetrailersfromtwokeypersonnelthroughoutthemissionasawaytotransportoutsuppliesandgearfromlocationtolocation.Trailers,bothcoveredandexposed,wereusedextensivelytohaulgear.RECOMMENDATIONWhenThomasHudsondepartedwithhistrailer,theteamwasleftwiththeopentrailerbelongingtoTimTrostelastheirsolemeansoftransportinggear.Theideawasbroughtup,andhasbeenbroughtupsince,thatTeamRubiconshouldstrategicallystation“equipmenttrailers”throughoutthecountry.Thesetrailersneedtobebought,equipped,andmaintainedbyvolunteers,andassuchcertain“issues”ariseconcerning:cost,storage,equipping,andmaintenance.ACTION

STAGINGAREASUMMARYKlebeBrumblequicklyidentifiedaRallyPointattheDuncanvilleMethodistChurch,whichwasstrategicallylocatedbetweenthetownsofLancasterandArlington.Thisprovedasuitableplaceforpeopletomeetup,butdidn’tsupportextendedoperationsduetoitslackofbeddingandshowers.Theteammovedintoahotelwhileanewsitewasidentifiedforuse,onethatwasofferedbytheTylerStreetUnitedMethodistChurch.Itwastherethattheywereapproachedbyvolunteerswhowerekindenoughtodonatedinnertotheteam.Thistypeofhelpwasgreatlyappreciated.

• Identifycostsofpurchasingandoutfittinganequipmenttrailer• Identifypossiblestoragelocationsandidentifypossiblevolunteerswhocouldmaintainthe

trailers.

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RECOMMENDATIONTeamsinthefieldcoulduseawaytocommunicatewithpeoplewhowanttovolunteeraplaceformemberstostay.WecurrentlysolicitoffersfromFacebook,our“contactform”onthewebsite,anddirectphonecalls.Theseareworkingcurrently,andwillbeusedinthefuture.Perhapstheteamcoulduseaninterconnectedsocialmediasitethataggregatesalloftheseoffers.ACTION

VOLUNTEERSSUMMARYForthismissionTeamRubiconalertedvolunteersina100‐mileradiusfromthedisastersite.Afewmembersdroveinfromfurtherlocations,butmostofthemeitherwerefromtheareaorwerecomingintotheDFWareaasare‐routebeforetheyheadedhomeagain.Nonetheless,itisimportantforthedevelopmentofour“Regionalmodel”toempowertheRegionswithenoughresourcesandfundstoprosecutethemissionthemselves.Thiswillaidintheestablishmentofregionalsolidarity,regionalpreparedness,andregionaldevelopment.RECOMMENDATIONAninitialemailandfacebookpostalertedresidentsofRegionVIandVIIthatvolunteerswouldbecalleduponfromthenearbyareas.Thataside,anactual“radiusmap”ofvolunteerswouldbeahelpfultoolindecidingwhofallsinsideofthatdisasterarea.Inadditiona“standdown”messageshouldbeinitiatedtokeepmembersfrom“self‐deploying”fromtoofaraway.ACTION

EOCCOORDINATION

• Utilize“Sumazi”websiteforsolicitingspecificrequestswhendeployed.Thissiteallowsfortheuserto“ask”forspecificitemstheyneed:lodging,food,equipment,etc…

• Seekthedevelopmentandimplementationofa“map”functioninthevolunteerdatabasethatcanaccuratelytrackTeamRubiconvolunteerswhofallwithinacertain“radius”ofthedisaster.

• Asingledocumentwithastripmap,andPOCnames&numberscouldhelpalleviateduplicationofeffortsonthepartoftheTeamLeader.ThiswouldallowtheTLtoupdateonesingledocumentonlyfornewlyarrivingmembers.

TEAMRUBICON,AfterActionReport

SUMMARY

TeamRubiconinitiallyworkedtocoordinatewiththeRedCrossandthelocalVOAD’sinordertogainaccesstothedisasterareaswithinLancaster,Arlington,andKennendale.TRHQstaffwasinvolvedintheWednesdayMorning(April4th)phonecallwithallTexasVOAD’s,butoptedinsteadtofollowuponaleadwiththeHomeDepotFoundation.TheHomeDepotFoundationexpressedthattheyhadbeenallowedintoLancaster,andassuchwerethemostreliableassetforgainingthataccessagain.Assuch,TeamRubiconworkedwithstrategicmembersoftheHomeDepotFoundation,andoperationalleaders(theTeamDepotStoreManagersintheDFWarea)tolinkupandbeescortedintothedisasterareas.RECOMMENDATIONIfitwerenotfortheconnectionwiththeHomeDepotFoundationitispossiblethatTeamRubiconwouldnothadbeenallowedintothedisasterareas.TeamDepothadthecredibilityandthepriorarrangementstobypassthepolicecordonsinLancasterandArlington.ACTION

MISSIONOBJECTIVESSUMMARYThemissioncriteriachangedoncetheteamwasabletoaccuratelydistinguishbetweenhomesthatwere“salvageable”andthosethatweregoingtobedemolished.Missionobjectivesremainedthesamethroughoutthough:Emergencyhomerepair,debrisremoval,treeremoval.RECOMMENDATIONEstablishatemplatefordomestictornadoresponseforeachTeamLeadertoreadbeforesteppingintothedisasterzone.Thisneedstobeashort“downanddirty”lessonslearnedfrompreviousmissionsthatwilladviseleadershipandmembersaboutthemostlikelycourseofaction.ACTION

EQUIPMENT

• ContinuetoworkwiththeHomeDepotFoundationtosecureaworkingrelationshipforfuturedisasterreliefoperations.

• Add“DomesticLeadershipNotes:Tornado”fileintoourintranet.MakesuretokeepitshortandtoincludepreviousMissionObjectivesthatwereproventobevaluable.

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SUMMARYTeamRubiconmembersreliedontheequipmentthattheypersonallyowned.AfewchainsawswererentedfromHomeDepot,andsomemembersboughtnails/screwsfortheemergencyhomerepairwork.Allofthesecostswerepaidbacktothevolunteers,butacacheofequipmentfortheteamtousewouldhavebeenhelpfulRECOMMENDATIONProperequipmentshouldbeavailabletoteamsinthefield.Howthisisexecutedisopenfordiscussion,butataminimumtheequipmentneedstobereadilyavailable.Teammembersshouldalsorealizetheneedforimpromptuclassesonheavyequipmentforothermembersoftheteamwhodon’tregularlyuse:chainsaws,chopsaws,orskillsaws.Thiscanbeaccomplishedonsceneorbeforehand.ACTION

MEDIASUMMARYMediaisaconstantconcernforTeamRubiconleadership.Ourabilitytoraisedonationsisadirectreflectionofourabilitytoproperlyalertoursupporterstoongoingmissions.DuringthismissiontheTeamLeadermadesuretotasksomeoneeverynighttowriteaveteranreflectionthatcouldbepostedonthewebsite.TheTeamLeaderledbyexampleandwrotethefirstreflection.Also,bybringinginaVideographerfromTRHQthetaskofdownloadingpicturestofacebookandthewebsitedidn’talsodependontheTeamLeader.RECOMMENDATIONWritingtheveteranreflection,downloadingpicturestoFacebookandthewebsite,andwritingadailySITREPNEEDStogetdoneeveryday.Thesearethemainwayswealertoursupportersandarealsothewaysweraisemoney.TheTeamLeadershouldhavehis/herATLconductalldutiespertainingto:developingaroster,securinglodging,andmonitoringsafetyatnighttoallowforthistohappen.ACTION

• Establishatrainingprogramtobeusedforimpromptuclassesontheheavyequipmenttobedeliveredtotheteamatthefirstavailabletime.

• Worktodevelopatrainingclassforheavyequipmentthatmemberscan“attend”andbe“certified”asanapprovedequipmentoperator.

• SpecifyintheTLandATLdutiestheresponsibilitytotakecareoftheseindividualtasksbytheappropriatepeoplebeforegoingtosleepforthefirstnight.Oncethisissetup,therestofthemissionwillrunalotsmoother.

TEAMRUBICON,AfterActionReport

KEYLESSONSLEARNED

1. Reliableandrecognizableheavyequipmentismuchbetterthanabunchofchainsawsthat

nobodyknowshowtouse.2. Anequipmenttrailermaymakeorbreakamissionthatdependsonhaving“EmergencyHome

Repair”asitsmainfocus.3. Rostersneedtogetmade,reflectionsneedtogetwritten,andSITREPSneedtogetpublished.If

thesehappenthenEVERYBODYcanhelpfromTRHQthenextdaywithoutaskingtoomanyquestions.

4. MissionObjectivesmaybehesameforeverytornadoresponse.Letslearnfromourpriormissionandbereadytorock‐and‐roll.

5. StagingAreasandRallyPointswillshiftasthemissionshifts.TeamLeadersshouldlettheteamknowtheyshouldbepreparedtomoveiflodgingbecomesavailablesomewherebetter.

6. WorkeveryconnectionatTRHQ.Itmaybethe15thphonecalloftheday,butthatcouldbethecallthatgetstheteam“into”thedisasterzone.

7. Itsnotalwaysmoneythatvolunteerswanttodonate,localvolunteersmightjustwanttocooktheteamdinner,andmoneysavedismoneyweuseforthenextmission.

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KEYACTIONS

1. Identify“EquipmentTrailer”specificsandbeginplanningthepurchase,equipping,storage,andmaintenanceoftheprototype.

2. UtilizeSUMAZIwebsitefornextmissioninordertosolicitfromvolunteerswhowanttodonate“goodsandservices”insteadofmoney(i.e.dinner)

3. Buildout“mapfunction”forOrgActionsothatwecandeployvolunteersinageographicalradius.

4. Write“hippocket”manualforon‐the‐spotheavyequipmenttrainingon:Chainsaws,cut‐saws,front‐endloaders,andanythingelsewehaveused.

5. AmendTeamLeaderandAssistantTeamLeaderdutiestospecifywholooksforlodgingandwhoiswritingthedailySITREP.