SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO—Earlier this month, the Summit County Special Operations Response Team (SORT), Hazardous Materials Branch, was one of sixteen recipients across the state to receive funding from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The agency awarded $800,000 in grants for hazmat training, with Summit County receiving $36,625. The grants are funded with fines paid by hazardous material carriers and shippers. The SORT Executive Board is administered by County Executive Ilene Shapiro’s Emergency Management Agency (EMA) which provides support and oversight to the team.
“While we always hope there is no need for the Special Operations Response Team to respond to a hazardous materials emergency, the community can be confident our team is prepared in such an instance,” said County Executive Shapiro. “This grant will help ensure our first responders are up to date on the latest tactics and practices needed to keep our community safe.”
Summit County’s SORT HazMat team is made up of highly trained hazardous materials technicians specializing in the response and mitigation of any hazardous material, including weapons of mass destruction. The team trains monthly and has had two incident responses and seven response assessments in 2022. It is classified as Type I by the State of Ohio and can respond within Summit County, Ohio Region 5 and throughout the nation. The grant will be used for specialized trainings such as Emergency Response Decision Support System and Clandestine Lab response.
“Strong collaboration between the County and our local communities enhances our Special Operations Response Team and increases the likelihood of receiving grants like this. We are thankful for the support we receive from our local and state partners,” said EMA Director Thomas Smoot.
