This post was written by first-year student Haylee Fletcher.
In the fall of 2013, Jake Wood was a guest speaker at the Clinton School of Public Service. He spoke about Team Rubicon, an organization he founded that unites the skills of our veterans with medical professionals, to deploy teams for disaster relief across the country. I never imagined that I would have the opportunity, honor and privilege of working alongside the men and women of Team Rubicon, but I did last week. I worked with Clinton Foundation staff, Clinton School students, staff, and faculty and other incredible folks from all walks of life; young and old, men and women, to contribute in the relief efforts for those affected by the recent tornadoes in central Arkansas.
As I reflect on my experience volunteering to clean up debris from the deadly tornadoes that ripped through Arkansas on April 27, I walk away humbled, blessed, and moved beyond belief. The magnitude of the devastation is difficult to put into words; people’s lives were destroyed, their belongings blown into the calm water below where homes once stood. As we drove down the quiet road in Mayflower, Ark., piles of debris lined the street, roofs blown away, gaping holes in houses, and cars smashed beyond recognition. It was a horrific scene. So heartbreaking, it is hard to conceptualize how people begin to rebuild their lives, or where to start after such destruction.
Having lived in “tornado alley” for many years, I can say I wasn’t too alarmed when the sirens roared through Little Rock; however, after witnessing life on Dam Road in Mayflower post-tornado, I will forever react differently when I hear those sirens. I will think of the man who lost his home and all of his belongings. I will think of the seemingly untouched kitchen standing tall amidst piles of rubble, mounds of broken, torn and shredded trees, and the American flag flying high above it all. The intact kitchen appeared as if it was a display from Home Depot, plopped into the center of destruction.
After we had finished moving everything out of the water, off of the hill, and toward the road above, I stood on the property next door and watched the owner standing solemnly on his property. It broke my heart to imagine what was going through his mind in that moment. Appreciation that there was a small army out there to help in the clean-up efforts, but I am sure devastation, and sadness consumed him. When we arrived earlier that morning, we were instructed to place anything of value in a Tupperware…by the time we finished with his property, a total of 10 items had been placed in the bin: an undamaged photo of a child, a health card, a blank check, and scraps of papers. I cannot fathom walking in his shoes, but I know that our hearts go out to that man, his family, and all of the other families who suffered such loss and devastation after the storms.
At the Clinton School, teamwork, partnerships, and patience go a long way. As Dean Skip Rutherford often says, “little things go a long way.” Because of the strong leadership of Team Rubicon and the countless partnerships that have formed after the tornado destruction in Mayflower and Vilonia, rubble is being cleared, and scraps of the life that once was are now being collected so that residents can begin again.
The academic year has come to an end, and while our time with Team Rubicon was brief, its work will continue for as long as needed. For more information please visit http://teamrubiconusa.org/
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