Spartanburg HERT

The Spartanburg Regional Hospital Emergency Response Team (HERT) began as a direct result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

Spartanburg Regional received a request from the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) to assist in the reception of victims from the Gulf Coast. The experience prompted the development of a team that could respond to significant disasters and emergency management situations internally as well as externally. Since the team’s inception, it has grown into a highly functional volunteer organization within the walls of Spartanburg Regional and the local community.

The Spartanburg Regional HERT is unique in that it is the first hospital-based team of its type in South Carolina. We have strong ties to the community and routinely work with our community partners during drills and real life events. The HERT has formed Memorandums of Understanding and Agreement with South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) to mobilize and operate the South Carolina Mobile Medical Facility (SCMED2) and with the United States Army in conjunction with the National Disaster Medical System to deploy and augment their operations during catastrophic need or military casualty surge as mandated.

The team is comprised of clinical and non-clinical volunteer staff members, who receive detailed and specific training that focuses on the “all hazards” approach to emergency management and rsponse. The team consists of 90 individuals who have dedicated their time to preserving lives and ensuring the continuity of care for not only the healthcare system and local community but our regional and national community as well.

The following strike teams support the healthcare system and community of Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Decontamination Strike Team (DST)
Removes contaminates from patients

Surge Strike Team (SST)
Manages medical/traumatic patient influx/surge

SCMED2 Team (SCMED)
Mobile Medical Facility set up

Forward Assessment Strike Team (FAST)
Mobilization of Water Filtration System and Mortuary Response Unit

Communications Strike Team (CST)
Intelligence and communication gathering and operations

Critical Intervention Team (CIT)
Psychological and emotional support

Crisis Response Team (CRT)
Security Tactical / Lw Enforcecement

Logistics Team (LT)
Manages and secures supplies and equipment


If you would like more information about HERT, please call 864-560-5494 or e-mail us at gruiz@srhs.com.

Follow us on Twitter! @SpartanburgHERT