9/11 first responder and Team Rubicon help Harvey victims repair their homes

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - On this day 16 years ago, Stephen Reid was a New York City police detective.

“I was walking down to court and I actually saw a plane flying overhead which you wouldn’t normally see with all the sirens and hustle and bustle going on in New York City and there it was,” Reid said.

Reid saved lives and helped others on that fateful day, but health issues from 9/11 forced him into retirement. His desire to help lingered.

“An overwhelming desire to do the right thing to help out,” Reid said. “People have always been there for me so I felt it was time to give back.”

Reid figured out how to do just that after Hurricane Sandy destroyed his mother’s house.

“She was too proud like a lot of people down here to ask for help,” said Reid.

That’s when Reid became a member of Team Rubicon.

“I got involved in Team Rubicon through my fiancé who’s now dead,” said Jennie Haskamp. “He lost his battle with PTSD and he killed himself."

Team Rubicon is a non-profit organization made up of 70 percent veterans, 20 percent first responders, and 10 percent civilians.

“Those of us who came to Team Rubicon are looking for something,” Haskamp said. “Looking for a place to belong, looking for a way to continue to serve and for a way to give back.”

Since Reid arrived here the Tuesday after Harvey hit he’s gone from boat rescues to helping people clean and repair their water logged homes.

"Helping is healing,” Reid said.

“We’ll be here as long as Houston needs us,” Haskamp said.

Team Rubicon is being housed, fed, and laundered for free by Wildwood United Methodist Church in Magnolia. If you’d like to see if Team Rubicon can help you with your home repairs for free, or if you’d like to be a member of Team Rubicon, you can find more information here: https://teamrubiconusa.org/