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Iraq, Afghanistan veterans working to help victims of Sandy

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    Anna Kooiman reports from Rockaways, New York

  • Duration 3:30
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-- a group of volunteers who has seen chaos firsthand.

Now in New York to help out some of the communities hit hardest by hurricane sandy.

They call themselves team rubicon.

A nonprofit organization that sprung up after Haiti's devastating earthquake.

It consists of hundreds of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan the men and women of combat.

Using their military experience and training to help victims of disaster areas.

And they are in the New York area actually you know what they arrived just before super -- cities get ready to do what ever was needed.

And they are needed and -- live from rockaway New York tonight -- and -- this is actually therapy we understand for the veterans as well.

It they're headed to a debriefing right now -- its share some of their stories.

And in some of the things that they've been going through -- but.

Many of these veterans are reporting not experiencing their symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder that they normally have.

Error reporting not having to take their normal medications some 500 volunteers many of them veterans.

From the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are giving both their physical and emotional support.

To these victims of -- -- sandy.

They have this -- -- a sense of service.

Yeah that's what drew them to the military in the first place and when they see you know disaster -- a strike their hometown strike their backyard.

Thanks important for them and they they find it important for themselves to rise up -- meet that challenge.

They're focusing their efforts and the rockaway section of queens today the vets are giving their blood sweat and tears removing debris mud sand and -- from flooded homes.

Grateful residents are calling them the god -- They give by serving the country and that may come to -- to me individually.

They keep you sing it another try to keep you -- again.

It's -- -- -- -- so cool.

And Harris for the better and they say being a part of group a group and be able to offer this service is something that they very often.

Feel like they have avoided their lives when they get back for more and and this is filling that void.

Policy not one woman just really -- you know how much raw emotion is out there I would imagine the veterans probably have some unique ways that they can support.

Yet very often -- it's simply a shoulder to Pratt and someone to talk to that.

-- you just heard from Mary and Smith burst into tears when.

The team arrived at her -- she says she's been alone in the cold.

And wet and in the dark for nearly three weeks now and she's been told that it could be Christmas before her power is turned back line.

Now one team leader that we spoke with Kyle Murphy broke several ribs while volunteering tells us and is now taking -- more of a coordinating role you see him here hugging her Murphy says.

The tragedy -- experienced losing some of his comrades really helps him to relate to -- victims.

As -- -- -- we all hit -- low points.

It was awful it was a bad day for all of us and here I am a year later helping somebody else out and hoping for a very excited as I tell her.

You know a year from now she's -- -- -- help somebody else it's a low point.

Then I -- -- -- with -- -- hurts but it gives them -- gives them hope to.

Team river got plans to be here at least until the end of the year to folks would like to donate or volunteer head day.

Team rubicon USA dot org -- Can only imagine around the world they could see us here in America at a very best giving so much love to each other.

And equipment -- -- you have that here.

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