Medford TSA Officers Assist Super-storm Sandy Victims

A group of local TSA officers joined a first of its kind Homeland Security Mission, to assist in the Super-storm Sandy relief effort.

TSA officers Karen Stoutenburgh, Rosie Rivas and John Gatlin can usually be seen working at the Medford airport. But late last year the three left the comforts of their Southern Oregon homes to help the victims of Super-storm Sandy.

Under the Department of Homeland Security mission dubbed, “Surge Capacity Force,” they volunteered to serve 30 to 41 day missions in the New York area. They combed neighborhoods

searching for people who needed help, and then helped the victims connect with federal assistance and relief.

Of 1,100 people mobilized in the mission, 750 were TSA officers. Of those, just these three were from Medford.

Each agreed the job was emotionally challenging, but a challenge they would gladly meet again.