SORT

A number of paramedics and EMT's volunteer to serve as members of the North Carolina Special Operations Response Team/Disaster Medical Assistance Team. This team functions as part of the U.S. Public Health Service National Disaster Medical System. This group of individuals receives additional disaster relief training and is ready for deployment at a moment's notice to any part of the hemisphere that has been ravaged by natural or man-made disaster.

In 1995, members from MEDIC were among those who established the first working field hospital in Miami after Hurricane Andrew crossed South Florida. In 1996, members deployed to the Caribbean to assist residents of those island nations buffeted by several hurricanes throughout the summer. In July of 1996, S.O.R.T. members traveled to Atlanta in support of the FBI's anti-terrorist team in the event of a biochemical terrorist attack at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. In January of 1998, team members traveled to New Jersey to assist during the winter storms of El Nino, which hit the Northeast/New England area. In September 1998, team members traveled to Florida to assist with the aftermath of Hurricane Georges. In September 1999, members traveled to eastern North Carolina to assist the thousands of flood victims left homeless as a result of Hurricane Floyd. Recently, team members have traveled to Houston after devastating floods and to Washington, DC and New York City, to assist with rescue efforts after terrorist attacks.