Rainbow Restoration of Southwest Omaha offers more than restoration of a building, but first-hand guidance on how to rebuild a life after loss.
“We really try to have compassion for our customers,” says Rachel Pounders. “Having been through a loss ourselves, we know it’s inconvenient, it’s frustrating—it’s emotional.”
Rachel and her husband Justin launched Rainbow Restoration in 2024, building it on empathy after their fire loss. Now, whether a client is dealing with fire, water, or mold damage, their team works not just to repair property, but to support the people who live there.
“No one is immune to these problems,” Justin adds. “But how we respond makes all the difference.”
From emergency care kits with essentials to helping navigate insurance, rebuild logistics, and even professional grief counseling, Rainbow Restoration offers more than technical service. They provide a steady hand, a compassionate voice, and a path forward—back home.
As Rachel says, “We are here for them—not just to fix their house.”
The Pounders' Story
About four years ago, Rachel and Justin had just wrapped up a quiet evening with friends. Unbeknownst to them, one guest put out a cigarette in what he thought was dirt, but it was flammable potting soil.
Hours later, smoke and alarms jolted them awake. With two kids, two dogs, and two cats to get out, the escape alone was traumatic.
But what came next was worse. From theft to poor communication, the process left their family feeling like just another job. “I started thinking there’s got to be another way,” says Rachel.
That frustration sparked their decision to enter the restoration industry—with a focus on doing it differently.
Their biggest advice? Document everything. “People should go around their house once a year and take photos or videos,” Justin says. “After a fire, you may not remember what you lost—there’s nothing left but ash.”
They also urge homeowners to work only with certified professionals, whether with the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) or RIA (Restoration Industry Association). These organizations set essential standards for proper restoration.
Finally, they recommend counseling. “We still get faint hints of smoke,” Rachel says. “There is definitely a large trauma piece—especially to fire.”
Amanda's Story
Amanda Rutherford serves as both Rainbow Restoration’s certified grief facilitator and sales manager. In December 2018, she and her children woke to smoke and alarms.
“It was terrifying,” she says. “My daughter even tried to throw a mattress out the window so we could jump.”
Though the Omaha Fire Department rescued them safely, they couldn’t return to their apartment—or their belongings.
“What people don’t realize with things being lost is that you have such an attachment to them,” she says. That’s why her biggest advice is simple: close your doors. “It cuts off airflow. We closed the door to our kids' rooms, and they were able to keep all of their belongings. I was not.”
Six months before the fire, Amanda’s mother had passed away, making the loss feel even heavier. “It was a one-two punch that year.”
She also urges others to lean into community. The kindness of strangers—bringing food, beds, and even money—helped her family begin to heal.
Now, Amanda brings that same spirit of compassion to others in crisis, offering not just services, but understanding.
402.403.3223 | rainbowrestores.com/sw-omaha