HERC Background

HERC is a network of acute and sub-acute care hospitals, county emergency response agencies, and community disaster partners. The Coalition collaborates on planning, training and exercising for an area-wide health and/or medical response to a disaster or incident.

After the events of 9/11 and the anthrax incident in Palm Beach County the following month, the County enacted a mock drill to determine what the capabilities and gaps were in the community’s emergency response system. The drill brought together 15 hospitals, municipal and county law enforcement, EMS/fire rescue, HAZMAT, The American Red Cross, and other regional responders. The outcome revealed that individual agencies could not act alone to effectively address a disaster or public health emergency. In 2001, with support from Palm Healthcare Foundation, HERC was formed.

Operationally, HERC has a formal structure, with bylaws, specific strategic planning goals, regular meetings and scheduled activities that are planned and managed.

2017 HERC Officers

Chair: Lisa Andrews, Delray Medical Center

Vice-Chair: Lisa Vreeland, Florida Department of Health PBC

Treasurer: Brenda Atkins, Wellington Regional Medical Center

Secretary: Sabra Henry, Good Samaritan Medical Center

Past HERC Chairs

Brenda Atkins, Wellington Regional Medical Center
Michael Self, VA Medical Center
Rebecca Creighton, Delray Medical Center
Mary Russell, Boca Raton Regional Hospital
Robbin Lee, JFK Medical Center
Bill Farrell, St. Mary’s Medical Center