09/18/2026
Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed September 20-26 as CERT Week in South Carolina, recognizing the important role Community Emergency Response Teams play in helping our communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.
We figured CERT Week gives us an excuse to do just a little humble bragging about Spartanburg CERT.
What began as a community preparedness program has grown over the years into something we are incredibly proud of.
To date, Spartanburg County has trained 1,921 Basic CERT graduates through 101 CERT classes.
But training people has always been just one part of the story.
Our activation history now includes:
267 Search and Rescue activations through SCSAR.
283 support activations ranging from firefighter rehab and disaster distribution to community events, exercises, damage assessment, medical support and plenty of things that simply needed somebody willing to help.
145 shelter activations supporting everything from severe weather and extreme cold to hurricanes, cooling shelters and other community needs.
64 DART activations helping ensure our four-legged family members aren't forgotten during disasters and shelter operations.
47 EOC support activations
And since CERT91 began taking requests for service in February 2024, our volunteers have responded to more than 3,500 requests for service
There are also programs that don't always make the highlight reel.
Silver Checks continues to provide another set of eyes on residents who live alone, are homebound or may simply benefit from someone checking to make sure they're okay. It may not involve emergency lights or dramatic pictures, but sometimes preparedness and service are as simple as making sure somebody knows they haven't been forgotten.
Searches. Shelters. CERT91. DART. Rehab. Communications. Disaster response. Community events. Weather radios. Smoke alarms. Silver Checks. Training.
None of it happens without volunteers.
The numbers are something we are proud of, but behind every number is somebody who gave up an evening, a weekend, a holiday, a good night's sleep or time with their own family to help somebody else FOR FREE.
So during CERT Week, we aren't really celebrating a program.
We're celebrating the people who continue to show up.
To every person who has volunteered over the years, completed a CERT class, answered an activation, staffed a shelter, searched for a missing person, checked on a neighbor, ran a medical call, or simply asked, "What can I do to help?" — thank you.
You built this.
Happy CERT Week, South Carolina!
Spartanburg County Community Emergency Response Team National CERT Association FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
