Storm Squad

Hello! This is Gaige Clidinst. I was born in 1996 and was raised in Columbus, Indiana. My fascination with severe weather began in the passenger seat of my dad's truck, checking out local storms as they moved through the area. That early spark evolved into a lifelong mission: protecting communities through education, outreach, and operational excellence. As a Columbus Police Cadet throughout high school, I combined civic duty with meteorological curiosity. My senior project focused on enhancing Bartholomew County's emergency alert system through Everbridge, designing severe weather pamphlets, and canvassing mobile home parks with local fire departments to raise awareness and save lives. I earned my associate degree in Criminal Justice before joining the United States Air Force in 2018. I served as a Special Missions Aviator for a total of 8 years, 4 of which were spent in Okinawa, Japan. I then moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for almost 3 years and became an Instructor, training the next generation of aviators on the HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopter. I was medically retired in March of 2026. I will continue chasing my passion in weather and combine it with my motivation to rescue people through Team Dominator Storm Recovery. With over five years of recreational storm chasing under my belt, I officially joined Team Dominator Storm Recovery in 2025. Team Dominator Storm Recovery is Extreme Meteorologist Dr. Reed Timmer's sub-organization designed to help communities after devastating severe weather events, and proudly, I am 1 of 2 Search and Rescue leads alongside Casey Billings. Whether I am coordinating disaster response or mentoring new chasers, I lead with heart, strategy, and a clear-eyed commitment to public safety. My goal with this book is not only to educate our youth on severe weather events, but also to hopefully inspire and ignite the passion to pursue careers in a weather related field through a thrilling story. While this book is fictional, there is real, factual weather education sprinkled throughout. By reading this bio, you may also find hidden connections between me and the characters in the book. I hope these subtle yet meaningful details drive a deeper connection between me, the reader, and the book itself. After reading the book and coming back to reality, keep your eye out for Team Dominator Storm Recovery vehicles. Do you want more information? Do you want us to come to your school? With permission from your parent or guardian, visit our Facebook page or www.tdstormrecovery.org. If you see me or any Team Dominator Storm Recovery personnel in the field, don't be shy! We love connecting with local communities and keeping you safe! Thank you so much for choosing my first published book not only to educate you, but also to inspire and entertain you. I hope you like reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If this book gains traction, keep your eyes to the sky for part 2!