**Volunteers Step Up After Christmas Eve Flood in Piñon Hills**
PIÑON HILLS, Calif. (KABC) — In the wake of the devastating Christmas Eve storm that swept through the San Bernardino mountains, volunteers are stepping in to support homeowners facing overwhelming damage. Their tireless efforts are providing hope to residents who otherwise had no idea how they would recover.
Over the weekend, a group of volunteers arrived at Mike Dodgin’s Piñon Hills home, which had been severely damaged when a flood surged through the property. “All of Sheep Creek from Wrightwood came through this property,” Dodgin recalled. Aside from a single mattress, the flood claimed everything else in his home.
However, all is not lost. Team Rubicon—a veteran-led disaster response organization—is now leading the cleanup effort at Dodgin’s home. Volunteers are working tirelessly to remove load after load of mud before taking on the more difficult task of tearing out water-soaked walls.
“We have a group of volunteers that will come out to assist communities in these situations,” said Will Chiaffino of Team Rubicon. “These disasters can be pretty overwhelming.”
For Dodgin, age 78, the assistance is more than just debris removal—it’s a lifeline. “I’d be swamped. There’s no way I could do this, no way at all. If they hadn’t showed up, come by and offered their help. I’d be—I’d be down,” Dodgin said, visibly emotional.
Dodgin’s niece, Janis Miller, told Eyewitness News that without flood insurance, her uncle was prepared to walk away from his home had it not been for the volunteers and Team Rubicon. “They showed up today and they’re a total blessing. We couldn’t do it. We couldn’t do it all,” Miller shared.
Amid the devastation, there is now hope and progress. Twenty veteran-led volunteers are working shoulder to shoulder with Dodgin, transforming heartbreak into hope—one bucket at a time. “I am so lucky to have so many nice people help,” Dodgin said.
Team Rubicon has named its operations in response to this storm “Right Side Up.” The team is also collaborating with San Bernardino County to map out disaster-affected areas. They plan to be in the community until January 5 and have already received requests from several homeowners seeking help to dig out their own homes.
If you or someone you know needs assistance, or if you would like to volunteer, reach out to Team Rubicon to join the effort in rebuilding Piñon Hills, one home at a time.
https://abc7.com/post/team-rubicon-volunteers-help-homeowners-with-heavy-storm-cleanup-san-bernardino-county/18337136/