When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Hanahan Fire Department leapt into action to fight the spread of the disease and reduce its impacts. The department worked to provide virus testing in the community, including testing at nursing homes, schools and industrial sites. It partnered with the Berkeley County Emergency Management Division to supply rapid testing and after-hours testing for essential staff. 

The fire department’s staff has a wealth of emergency management training, and began its efforts by studying and planning to ensure that its staff was equipped and trained for pandemic response. It advised city leaders, and worked with the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control to fill testing staff needs statewide. The department’s staff worked with community leaders to advocate for testing and mask usage.  

Funding for the efforts initially came from the city’s budget, with careful tracking of expenses using Federal Emergency Management Agency forms. The Emergency Operations Center was able to reimburse the city through Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding. The city also contracted with DHEC to pay for testing and for testing staff.  

By early 2021, the department handled more than 10,000 tests and worked at 149 other testing sites around the state. Staff continues to publish incident action plans, provide contact tracing and give safety updates. The department also set itself up as a vaccination site equipped with vaccine freezers. While continuing to provide its regular services, the fire department’s initiative, fiscal responsibility and community leadership during the pandemic have gone well beyond its ordinary responsibilities and helped to save lives.