Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 1, 2018

Kootenai Health security officer provides peace of mind after Hurricane Irma By Andrea Nagel After hurricanes Harvey and Irma wreaked havoc on the coasts of the southeastern U.S. and the surrounding islands, thousands of people were needed to help care for those in need and provide safety. Kootenai Health security officer Chris Gift was just one of the many people who answered the call for help. The former police officer joined a contracted team of former law enforcement personnel, military veterans and private security officers to provide security and assistance following those deadly storms. “I got a call shortly before Hurricane Irma hit and immediately started making plans to go,” Chris said. “I talked with my supervisor here at Kootenai, and he was incredibly supportive.” Lend a hand Relief efforts from the 2017 hurricane season are still underway. If you want to join efforts to support hurricane victims and rebuilding, visit redcross.org/disaster-relief . Serve andprotect Chris spent a total of two weeks in Miami, helping to protect supplies and distribution locations and be a presence on the streets to deter looting and theft. “We were there to help out as we could,” he said. “Luckily I was in a pretty safe area, where damage was pretty minimal, but I heard stories from guys in other locations where they’d hear gunshots in the night.” Support from near and far Chris was one of the few people who reported from the northwestern U.S. Most of his crew were made up of retired New York Police Department officers hailing from the East Coast and others from the Midwest. Chris relied on those he knew through other organi- zations to help him prepare for his trip. “I leaned on guys I know who had already spent time in Texas and other areas,” he said. “They helped me figure out packing and what to ex- pect. They were just coming off of Hurricane Harvey and were very knowledgeable.” Throughout his stay in Florida, Chris felt com- forted by the support of his co-workers back in Coeur d’Alene. “They checked in with me almost daily while I was down there,” he said. “I’m grateful that they supported me by shifting their sched- ules so I could go help. Their words of encouragement often made my day.” A Gift in the Storm Chris Gift, a security officer at Kootenai Health, joined a contracted group of officers to support relief efforts following Hurricane Irma. KH . ORG 17