Ever since Hurricane made landfall, first responders have remained posted on the front lines of the emergency response, supporting impacted communities by clearing fallen debris, distributing essential supplies including food and clean water, and delivering urgent on-site medical care. Many crews have even traveled across state borders to lend extra support, with volunteer response teams coming in from far-flung states including Alabama, New Jersey, and New York to bolster local efforts.
But the critical work carried out by first responders does not begin when a hurricane first reaches land. These emergency professionals and volunteers work tirelessly year-round to complete extensive preparation long before any natural disaster ever hits. Below, we break down what it takes to train for and work as a disaster response first responder.
Before the Storm
Volunteers with Team Rubicon, a non-profit organization focused exclusively on disaster response, began drafting preparation plans for Hurricane Helene as early as May. Even when no active storm is forecast, the group trains continuously throughout the year to ensure they can jump into action for any type of emergency that arises.
The organization regularly runs collaborative planning sessions called “tabletop exercises”, where all volunteers review and confirm their assigned roles for the coming months. During these exercises, teams also map out full operational protocols for the response season, covering every detail from internal communication chains to equipment logistics to ongoing skills training.
When new first responders begin their core training, they typically select a specialization that aligns with their interests and existing strengths. For example, some trainees learn how to coordinate joint response operations with local fire departments, others train to operate heavy clearing equipment like chainsaws, and many pursue certification to provide on-site medical care for displaced residents.
“I like to use a sports analogy to explain our work: in the entire emergency management system, you can’t put together a winning team on the actual day of the game,” explains Art delaCruz, CEO of Team Rubicon. “You have to practice, you have to train consistently, and you have to bring the right people together long before a crisis ever hits.”
