OEMS Disaster Task Force 2

Current Team Status = READY

Health & Medical Emergency Response Teams

During disasters, the Health and Medical Emergency Response Teams (HMERT) provide trained volunteers to staff the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services Emergency Support Center (ESC), located in the Office of EMS. HMERT and the ESC are the hub of state health and medical disaster response. Task Forces, Coordination Teams, specialized Strike Teams (Critical Incident Stress Management, Massage Therapy) and VDH resources provide services to meet local disaster needs.

HMERT members train in the entire scope of disaster management, including all areas of disaster emergency operations. They work closely with the Virginia Department of Emergency management and the U.S. Public Health Service, to effectively coordinate local, state and federal goverenment response.

HMERT members learn how to use a standard emergency management computer system and current communications technology to mobilize and control disaster response.

EMS Disaster Task Forces

Major disasters can overwhelm the capability of a community's emergency medical services system. The Office of Emergency Medical Services, in cooperation with EMS agencies around the state, has established EMS Disaster Task Forces to give us the ability to rapidly mobilize and dispatch help in a State of Emergency declared by the Governor. These Task Forces are made up of:

  • a Basic Life Support Ambulance with crew
  • an Advanced Life Support Ambulance with crew
  • a Rescue (Squad) Truck with crew
  • a Quick Response Vehicle (QRV) or Chief's Car (optional)
  • a Disaster Truck or Trailer (optional)
  • a Specialty Unit (technical rescue, water rescue, etc.) or Trailer (optional)
  • a Task Force Commander

    Task Force Commanders are trained in a state standard eight hour course that covers Task Force organization and administration, emergency alerting, mobilization, deployment, operations, and logistics. Task Force Members attend a four hour course. In addition, Task Forces regularly test their alerting and response procedures in exercises.

    Coordination Teams

    When a Task Force is deployed, so is a Coordination Team. This six-person team works with local government and EMS agencies.

    The Coordination Team coordinates Task Force actions in the impact area, ensures that Task Forces have the logistics support needed and collect current situation information and activity reports for the ESC.

    In a major event of any type, Coordination Teams can be deployed.

    Coordination Team members are trained as experts in the Incident Command System, to work with other state government response agencies and to operate in the ESC if needed to augment HMERT.

    Virginia State Government Regular Service Volunteers

    • Reimburses lodging, meals and transportation expenses for selected training and all disaster events.
    • Provides liability coverage on the same basis as for employees.
    • Provides a complete career development structure for volunteers.
    • Recognizes superior service with awards.

    For more information, or to ask about organizing a Task Force, contact the Emergency Operatons Manager at (804) 371-3500, or write: Emergency Operations Manager, Virginia Office of EMS, 1538 East Parham Road, Richmond, VA 23228.

    Listing of Regional EMS Task Forces

    EMS Task Force 1 - LORD FAIRFAX EMS

    • Warren County Fire Department
    • Strausburg Fire Department

    EMS Task Force 2 - THOMAS JEFFERSON EMS

    • Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad
    • Western Albemarle Rescue Squad
    • Lake Monticello Rescue Squad
    • Lake Monticello Water Rescue Team
    • Greene County Rescue Squad
    • Wintergreen Fire & Rescue

    EMS Task Force 3 - NOVA

    • Dumfries-Triangle Rescue Squad

    EMS Task Force 4 - SOUTHSIDE

    EMS Task Force 5 - SOUTH CENTRAL

    • Prince Edward Volunteer Rescue Squad

    EMS Task Force 6 - CRATER

    • Southside Virginia Emergency Crew (Petersburg)
    • Petersburg Fire and Emergency Services
    • Hopewell Emergency Crew, Inc.
    • Colonial Heights Fire and EMS
    • Powhatan Volunteer Rescue Squad

    EMS Task Force 7 - METRO

    EMS Task Force 8 - NOVA

    • Sterling Rescue Squad

    EMS Task Force 9 - BLUE RIDGE

    EMS Task Force 10 - WESTERN TIDEWATER

    EMS Task Force 11 - METRO

    • Tuckahoe Rescue Squad

    EMS Task Force 12 - TIDEWATER
    EMS Task Force 13 - RAPPAHANOCK
    EMS Task Force 14 - WESTERN

    • Radford Rescue Squad
    • Radford University EMS
    • Pulaski County Rescue Squad
    • Regional EMS
    • Christiansburg Rescue Squad
    • Giles County Rescue Squad
    • Floyd County Rescue Squad

    EMS Task Force 15 - WESTERN

    ACTIVATIONS:

    September 18th, 1999 - City of Franklin (severe flooding from hurricane Floyd)
    December 31st, 1999 - Y2K (stand-by only)
    September 11th, 2001 - Northern Virginia Pentagon attack (stand-by only)
    October 14th, 2001 - Martinsville (stand-by only)
    May 3rd, 2002 - Richmond (stand-by only)
    December 20th, 2002 - Hampton (hospital move)
    May 2nd, 2003 - Richmond (stand-by only)
    July 26th, 2003 - Wise (Remote Area Medicine Program)
    September 21st, 2003 - City of Portsmouth (severe flooding from hurricane Isabel)

    AWARDS:

    2004 - Unit Comendation Award for Response Capability

    To see the current member listing, click here .
    To see pictures and read about our recent deployment to south east Virginia, go here .
    To go to the Virtual EOC, go here .
    To download a task force member application, click here .

    For Help using this system, email me at:

    jburruss@hotmail.com