A Golden Welcome Home Celebration

Team Rubicon’s 75th Houston rebuild marks momentous milestones

Hurricane Harvey destroyed the Houston home Jesse Thompson had lived in for more than two decades. Although part of his roof was torn off, and the home took on more than a foot of water, Thompson and his family continued to live in it through the aftermath, enduring cold, mold, bugs, and rain. Only when Team Rubicon took the home over in June did Thompson move out, and in with family in the neighborhood.

Image credit: Team Rubicon

In early November, more than two years after Harvey, rain fell on Thompson’s home once again, this time on the day of his welcome home party. Now though, storms won’t be a problem for Thompson and his family. With the help of 96 volunteers from around the country over the last few months, the home has been rebuilt to a FORTIFIED gold standard, making it resilient to future storms. Going beyond standard building codes for residential and commercial buildings, Fortified is a building method that strengthens homes against natural hazards, such as high winds, hail, severe thunderstorms, and hurricanes. 

Thompson’s welcome home party marked several exciting Team Rubicon milestones: The 75th Houston rebuild since February 2018, the first Fortified Hurricane Gold retrofit in the country, and the first nonprofit ever to accomplish the feat. 

“Essentially, we constructed this house in a way that ties the roof into the foundation, so it can’t come apart. Every single step had to be documented and inspected—from the distance between nail patterns to the angle in which screws entered the wood,” said Dani Revette, the site supervisor and a Team Rubicon Clay Hunt Fellow. Building to Fortified Hurricane Gold certification standards ensures a home can withstand up to 140 mph wind pressures and debris impact, and creates a more resilient home. “We want to rebuild homes that we’re not going to have to come rebuild the very next time there’s a flood or hurricane.” 

While dozens of Team Rubicon and extended community members excitedly gathered on Thompson’s front lawn to mark the special occasion, he wasn’t able to join. A dedicated crosswalk guard, he was out keeping his community safe. 

With the senior Thompson on guard streets away, his son, Jesse Thompson Jr., was onsite to tour the house and say a few words on his behalf. “This wasn’t the first time we’ve been knocked down by a hurricane. After Ike, we slowly rebuilt our house. After Harvey, we set out to rebuild again but met obstacle after obstacle with contractors, additional storms, and finances. You’ve all given us peace of mind knowing we don’t have to live each day in fear of another storm. We’re forever grateful.” 

Brian Calcagno, Team Rubicon Junior Associate of Strategic Partnerships, thought it fitting that Thompson Sr. was providing a service to his community while people from all over the country were working to get him back into his home. “This why we do what we do,” Calcagno said. “To be able to help somebody on their worst day or their worst year, to come back after something they may not have ever thought they were going to recover from.”

Published at: https://teamrubiconusa.org/blog/a-golden-welcome-home-celebration.