Strengthening Local Capacity for Disaster Impacts Through Team Development

Team Development integrates Tennessee Special Operations Response Teams (TN-SORT) and All-Hazards Incident Management Teams (AHIMTs) to build a robust, multi-disciplinary emergency response capability across the state. Through a partnership with the Tennessee Fire Chief’s Association’s Mutual Aid System (TMAS), TN-SORT establishes a network of highly trained and properly equipped teams ready to deploy for technical rescue and special operations both statewide and nationally. Complementing this, the AHIMT program provides a structured framework for training emergency responders and community leaders in managing diverse incidents—from natural disasters to public health crises— building a statewide team response capability, enhancing coordination, operational effectiveness, and community resilience in the face of all hazards.