• The team is particularly focused on responding to incidents involving chemical, biological or nuclear weapons known as weapons of mass destruction.
  
  

• As the nation's second largest financial center, a major airline hub, and the only city in the world with two nuclear plants within close proximity to the downtown center, Charlotte is at risk for both intential and accidental incidences.
  
• The team's objective is to enhance and support existing emergency resources and to rapidly and appropriately treat patients injured in an emergency and to help ensure that the community's infrastructure is kept as safe and functional as possible during a disaster. 
  
• ALERT's 90 members have been selected from the Charlotte- Mecklenburg Police Department, Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Charlotte Fire Department, Mecklenburg EMS Agency, Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner's Office, and Carolinas Medical Center. Each member is highly skilled in his or her own field and cross-trained to assist other team members in their roles.
  
• Training sessions are held regularly. The ALERT team has practiced the specifics of dealing with the law enforcement, hazardous materials natural disasters, and medical mass casualty aspects of both chemical and biological. 
  
• The team receives its funding from Mecklenburg County, and the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Health and Human Services.
  
• Development of the ALERT team began in the spring of 1998, The team is currently prepared to respond to any mass casualty incident.
  
• The ALERT team is unique because its design relies on collaboration between law enforcement, public safety, and the health care community.
  
• Team policy and vision are guided by a Policy Group with representation from the highest levels to each participating agency. Several committees also exist to handle the team's routine operations

Community Preparedness
The ALERT team and the region's two hospital systems have participated in a countywide assessment of hospital capabilities.  Included in that assessment were such issues as pharmacy, staffing and equipment. The outcome of that assessment is that the both health and safety personnel are prepared to respond.