Teams & Committees

CERT

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, a crucial emergency preparedness initiative of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), traces its roots back to a pivotal moment in 1985. The Los Angeles Fire Department, in response to a devastating series of earthquakes in the U.S. and Mexico, pioneered the CERT concept. This marked the beginning of a nationwide movement that, by 1993, had trained thousands of residents in the United States and Canada. Today, the CERT program continues to be bolstered by FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Florence County Emergency Management recognized the need for our community to be better prepared in the case of a natural or manmade disaster and developed a CERT program. The Florence County Sheriff’s Office, Florence County Emergency Medical Services, and Florence County Fire Chief’s Association also recognized this need. It partnered with Emergency Management to implement the Florence County CERT in 2016.

The Florence County CERT plays a vital role in community support, bridging the gap until first responders arrive. Trained CERT members also have the opportunity to volunteer their services to support Florence County Public Safety agencies during disaster responses, further demonstrating the program's practical application and its direct impact on public safety.

* CERT Application *

ERT

The Emergency Response Team (ERT) is a beacon of preparedness in our community. Trained and equipped to respond to hazardous material incidents, the FEMA Type II HAZMAT team comprises volunteers from area emergency management, law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical agencies. The team's presence provides emergency agencies, countywide, with the assurance of trained personnel and the necessary equipment to respond to chemical spills and hazardous material accidents within the county, instilling confidence in our community's safety.

Florence County ERT also assists during any radiological response for Darlington County, with the Florence Center serving as the reception center.

Monthly meetings are held on the third Monday of every other month at 6:00 P.M.

Please call 843-665-7255 for most recent meeting information.

Contact ERT

LEPC

The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) was established in 1986 when Congress passed the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA). This act was developed in response to a deadly chemical accident in Bhopal, India, in 1984, which claimed the lives of thousands of people. EPCRA establishes requirements for a unique public/private partnership between federal, state, and local governments and industries to plan and report on hazardous and toxic chemicals and substances.

EPCRA has four major areas: Emergency Planning for Hazardous Substances (EPCRA § 301/302/202), Reporting Chemical Accidents and Releases (EPCRA § 304), Hazardous Substances Inventory and Community Right-to-Know (EPCRA § 311/312), and Toxic Chemical Release Inventory (EPCRA § 313).

On March 6, 2008, Florence County Council passed Ordinance 21-2007/08 (Florence County Code, Chapter 8, Civil Defense, Article III, Hazardous Substance User and Reimbursement Fees). This new ordinance establishes an annual user fee of $50.00 per chemical, up to a maximum of $2,500 per business or industry, for any substance requiring an annual Tier Two report based on the guidelines contained in EPCRA. Payment of this new user fee must be submitted using the following yearly Tier Two report. Please get in touch with the Florence County Emergency Management Office at (843) 665-7255 if you have questions about this new requirement or wish to obtain a copy of the ordinance.

Contact LEPC

LEPC Executive Committee

• Mike Puckett, Chairman, Mcleod Health
• Chief Howard Worrell, Vice Chairman, West Florence FD

Current membership of the Florence County LEPC

VOAD

Pee Dee Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (PDVOAD) is an affiliate of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD). A VOAD is more than just an association of organizations. It's a platform that promotes Cooperation, Communication, Coordination, and Collaboration, fostering more effective service delivery to communities affected by disaster. Your involvement in PDVOAD directly impacts these communities, making a real difference in their recovery.

Pee Dee VOAD's membership is a community of organizations and representatives who share a joint mission. Our goal is to strengthen capabilities and respond to communities affected by disasters in South Carolina. Each member brings unique missions and technical expertise, but we all adhere to the four Cs of Cooperation, Communication, Coordination, and Collaboration, pillars of our shared values.

Contact VOAD