Over the weekend, U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., visited the Bay County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to survey efforts to clean up debris and downed trees from Hurricane Michael. The public-private partnership between Bay County and Team Rubicon aims to not only remove the hazardous debris fueling local wildfires but also to serve as a training opportunity and provide hurricane mitigation.

“Bay County’s road to recovery has been a long one, and it’s far from done. But we are getting there, step by step,” said Dunn. “I’m grateful to Bay County officials and veteran-led Team Rubicon for teaming up to take another important step forward. This partnership proves that we are unstoppable when our community rallies together. I hope to see more partnerships like this in the future.”

“Team Rubicon has been committed to Bay County’s recovery ever since Hurricane Michael. Yet again, we’re so grateful for the opportunity to partner with this wonderful organization for the betterment of our community even now, five years later,” Bay County Commissioner Doug Moore said. “The work the team will do this weekend to clear acres of downed trees and bush in the vicinity of the Emergency Operations Center will make important progress on hurricane and fire mitigation for our facility while also providing an important training opportunity for Team Rubicon.

“These folks are the real deal,” Moore continued. “They come into a community when disaster strikes and do amazing work in the immediate aftermath, but they are also in it for the long haul. This is the team you want when the worst happens, and we are so thankful for their continued support.”

“Team Rubicon is a veteran-led humanitarian organization that serves global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises. Like many communities still reeling from the long-term effects of hurricanes like Michael, we will be working with our partners in Bay County to help mitigate future fire risks by clearing downed trees and brush. This will also give our local volunteers, known as ‘Greyshirts,’ the opportunity to sharpen core skills necessary to respond to the needs created by the rising frequency of billion-dollar disasters and long-term recovery that follows,” said Team Rubicon South Branch Director of Operations Sean Walker.

Dunn has advocated for Hurricane Michael recovery efforts, including millions of dollars for block grants to aid timber producers after Hurricane Michael caused more than $3 billion in agricultural losses and devastated the timber industry.