Video: International Group Helps Winston Co. Tornado Victims

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LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — An international disaster recovery group is in North Mississippi helping with clean-up efforts after last week’s devastating tornadoes.

Dozens of people with the group Team Rubicon are helping Winston County residents in a long road to recovery.

“Most of us are military veterans or first responders, so we have the strength and the skills to hopefully make a difference for these communities,” said Erica Chomsky, Team Rubicon.

Workers with Rubicon have been there since a day after the storms blew through, assessing the damage to more than 350 homes in Winston County.

“Once we saw what had happened here, we knew we had to come and help,” Chomsky said. “For a lot of our guys, the continued service to their country and to their community is really important, and we’re really quite honored to be able to serve the residents of Winston County.”

Volunteers aren’t letting the rainy weather keep them from working.

For now, they’re cleaning and fixing up their equipment, making sure they’re ready for the 500 volunteers who will help with recovery efforts.

“We’re going to be pushing out chainsaw teams. We’re going to be pushing out debris removal teams,” Chomsky said.

Volunteers aren’t just working outside, but inside too – putting together care packages with some of the supplies collected for the storm victims.

“The help that we’ve been receiving to help them has been heart warming to say the least,” said veteran Bob Obernier, Team Rubicon.

The vet volunteers say it’s a great feeling to serve others again.

“To be able to continue helping others and helping the people in need is very fulfilling for me,” Obernier said.

Team Rubicon volunteers tell WCBI they’ll be working in Winston County for another week.

If you’d like to help, call the Volunteer Reception Center hotline at (513) 580-8722.