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or the next week, your social media feeds will be filled with messages about EMS Week and honoring our profession. That’s a good thing.While it’s essential to bring attention to our work to the general public, there’s not a day that goes by that I, the board of directors, and the leadership don’t consider ourselves privileged to be surrounded by you, our NJ EMS Task Force family.

Two decades after a small group of us got together to discuss a vision for the NJ EMS Task Force, you all have made it a reality – a reality far beyond anything we envisioned at the time.

The organization has changed, grown, and evolved in ways none of us could have predicted when we began. Back then, we were focused on preparing for the big one — the next 9/11. Now, we are truly a full-scale, multi-dimensional emergency response organization that can handle anything, from floods and fires to pandemics and helping hospitals avoid evacuations by providing plans, people, and equipment to keep their doors open.

We’re ready for the big one, but we can, and we do a whole lot more.

This year, you have been tested in every way, and your drive, determination, and dependability have propelled us ahead every time. It has become clear that if grit were currency, we’d be billionaires.

We are committed to keeping the NJ EMS Task Force moving forward. The leadership team continues to fight for you and for sustainable funding to keep this mission alive and thriving. The people of this state depend on us being there when something bad happens. You can help, too. Reach out to your state legislators and let them know how important it is for them to fund this mission. You can reach them here: https://bit.ly/42SVhXI.

Day after day, year after year, you have all shown a focused commitment to give your time to help others as part of this team. You’ve sacrificed a lot to do that. You’ve given up time at home, time with your families, and time out of your life to make New Jersey a better, safer place.

For that, all of us in leadership here are incredibly grateful for all of you and for everything you do.

Happy EMS Week,

Mike Bascom,
State Leader / Non-Profit Chairman
New Jersey Emergency Medical Services Task Force

The organization, founded in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, consists of more than 200 career and volunteer EMS providers from 60 host agencies across the state who respond to large-scale disasters statewide. Since its founding, the NJEMSTF has been funded by donations, grants, and the New Jersey Department of Health.

The NJEMSTF launched as a mass casualty response team 21 years ago but rapidly expanded into developing statewide plans for evacuating healthcare facilities, supporting the NJ Forest Fire Service, coordinating EMS for the Super Bowl and a papal visit, distributing vaccines and tests during the COVID pandemic, and preparing for upcoming FIFA World Cup tournaments.

During 2024, Bascom said the team contributed more than 11,000 people hours across 420 critical responses and over 200 deployments. The team added over 50 new members, certified more than 260 Mental Health Resilience Officers, and rolled out Large Scale Incident Awareness training. He also said the NJEMSTF added 15 new physicians to the team and updated port security, passenger rail, and staging management plans.

“But despite the success, we are, quite frankly, fighting to survive,” Bascom told attendees. “The enemy? Not a person or a group, but the ever-slippery concept of sustainable funding. There’s plenty of support from the Department of Health and our legislators, but turning that support into long-term dollars? That’s where things have been tricky.”

Bascom said federal cuts are making the situation even more complex discussion to navigate. He said the NJEMSTF board, module managers, and a consultant are working hard to find funding.
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“What we do know is this: We remain the national model program,” Bascom said. “Other states are taking notes and working off our model to secure funding. This gives us hope for the future.”

Callahan praised the NJ EMS Task Force, saying it stands for renewal and hope.

“You know what people do around the country? They look to NJ, they look to the EMS Task Force, they look to OEM, they look to women and men, who put others before themselves,” Callahan said.

“If tomorrow, the most atrocious tragedy happens in the state of New Jersey, or around the world, you know who is going to raise their hand? Every single one of you in this room, including me,” Callahan said. “For the sustainability of this Task Force, personally and professionally, I will back that until I no longer have a breath to do that, and I trust that 30 years from now, we’ll be at this dinner, touting what we’ve done in the last 30 years because of you – and the women and men you pass that torch onto.”

Bascom told the team they were the best of the best.

“You are tested, trusted, and totally unflappable,” Bascom said. “You come from all different backgrounds, but share core traits – professionalism, dedication, loyalty, and an uncanny ability to be where you’re needed most, exactly when you’re needed.”

Members of the New Jersey EMS Task Force supported the Ocean County EMS Coordinators and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service earlier this week, working to fight the Jones Road wildfire in Ocean County.

The NJEMSTF was activated shortly after the fire began and partnered with the Ocean County EMS Coordinators with Incident Advance Team members, staging, planning and leadership help.

The NJEMSTF also dispatched specialty response vehicles from host agencies into the region to support the EMS branch of the attack.
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NJEMSTF leadership was on hand through late Wednesday evening.

In addition to the NJEMSTF, participating agencies included: 
AtlantiCare EMS (Atlantic)*
Barnegat First Aid Squad
Bayville EMS
Beechwood Emergency Medical Services
Brick Township EMS/Rescue*
Colts Neck FAS (Monmouth)
Evesham EMS (Burlington) 
Exceptional Medical Transport (Atlantic)
Freehold EMS (Monmouth) 
Galloway EMS (Atlantic)*
Great Bay Regional EMS
Howell First Aid (Monmouth) 
Jackson Township EMS*
Lakewood First Aid*
Lanoka Harbor EMS*
Little Silver EMS (Monmouth)
Manchester Division of Emergency Services *
Monmouth County Sheriff/EMS*
Pleasant Plains First Aid
Point Boro EMS
Point Pleasant First Aid & Rescue Squad
Robert Wood Johnson Mobile Health Services*
Shark River Hills/Neptune EMS (Monmouth)*
South Branch Emergency Services (Hunterdon) *
South Toms River EMS
Stafford Township EMS
Tri-Care Medical Transportation (Atlantic)
Toms River First Aid Squad
Toms River Police EMS
Virtua EMS (Burlington) *
Waretown First Aid Squad

* NJEMSTF Host/Sponsoring Agency

The NJEMSTF deployed four Medical Ambulance Buses, support staff, and planners to the facility shortly after 1:30 a.m. Saturday, January 25, 2025. The Montgomeryville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center was forced to evacuate after a water main broke, flooding the facility.

The Montgomery County EMS coordinator requested help from the NJEMSTF.
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The facility needed to move 144 patients to regional skilled nursing and hospital locations, so it requested the NJ EMS Task Force’s fleet of Medical Ambulance Buses, which can transport and care for multiple patients in wheelchairs simultaneously. NJ EMS Task Force MABs stationed in Keyport, AtlantiCare, North Brunswick, and Ewing responded to the incident. Additional units in the NJEMSTF MAB response were available if needed. The NJ EMS Task Force Medical Ambulance Buses transported 29 people to five facilities.

​EMS and fire officials from New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania gathered on January 16, 2025, for the first Regional EMS Task Force Preparedness Group meeting of the new year. The group discussed current EMS issues, potential threats, and preliminary plans for massive soccer events in the region over the next two years.
 
“It’s important to know the people you’ll work with,” said meeting organizer Henry Cortacans, a state planner with the New Jersey EMS Task Force. “Having this meeting is super important. This group here has the best EMS professionals in the country. We have the most experience.”
 
Some 61 professionals from the region, including the FDNY, the NJ EMS Task Force, NJ Transit, Yonkers (NY) Police Department, New York City Emergency Management, the FBI, NJSEA EMS, the Philadelphia Fire Department, and others, shared best practices and updated the group on preparedness plans in place now and what will need updating. The meeting was held at the Hudson County Office of Emergency Management in Kearny, NJ

Michael Bascom, one of the founding members of the NJ EMS Task Force and president of the non-profit board, was honored with the H. Mickey McCabe Leadership Advocacy Award during a ceremony at the National Conference on EMS in Atlantic City. 

The award, named after the late Mickey McCabe, one of the four co-founders of the statewide EMS organization, recognizes people who have demonstrated continuous advocacy and leadership that have improved patient care and the overall impact of EMS.

​“Michael’s work to improve the field of EMS has touched every corner of New Jersey – and beyond,” said Jennifer McCarthy, board member and vice president of the NJEMSTF. “His professionalism is exemplary. He drives quality initiatives and fosters innovative practices. His career reflects his unwavering commitment to advancing EMS and enhancing emergency services.”

The scenario was horrific: midway through a concert performance by the popular group The Bascom 5 at Stockton University, a section of bleachers collapsed, injuring dozens of attendees. The good news is it wasn’t real. Planners at the New Jersey EMS Task Force dreamed up the tragic scene as the centerpiece of a full-scale exercise with the University, Atlantic County OEM, and AtlantiCare, the region’s healthcare system, to test their ability to respond to such a disaster.

The “collapse” was the focus of a three-day drill for the NJ EMS Task Force (Oct. 25-27), which included 116 team members and more than 34 specialized response vehicles, including Medical Ambulance Buses, stagging trailers, mass casualty response trucks, and special operations vehicles.

“This event is important to the team; it gives us the opportunity to work together and reinforces the need for a team like this,” said Mike Bascom, president of the NJ EMS Task Force.

Michael Bascom, president of the New Jersey EMS Task Force, challenged team members to “embrace the opportunities that lie ahead and continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in emergency medical services” during the organization’s annual meeting on Monday, May 13.
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The meeting at the Hamilton Fire House in Neptune, NJ, kicked off the organization’s 20th-anniversary celebration.

“In 2024,” Bascom said, “we will focus our efforts on team building, preparing for the future by building depth and future leaders, by replacing aging equipment, strengthening and expanding our capabilities, developing our new members, and rebuilding the physician module with a focus on more expansive collaboration between our physicians, planners, leaders, and team members.”

The annual event featured speeches by NJ Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Kaitlan Baston and Assistant Commissioner Dana Johnson, NJ State Senator Declan O’Scanlon Jr., and an inspiring presentation on a systematic EMS change by Dr. Rachel Haroz of Cooper University Health Care.

Dr. Baston recalled an incident in 2023 when the NJ EMS Task Force responded to evacuate a long-term care facility. She called near the end of the incident to thank the team.

“I said thank you so much,” Baston said. “The response was, ‘Okay, mam, this is what we do. This is just what we do. We’re here for you.’ And the energy, and the ‘that’s what we do’ on the other line, I will never forget that moment … Those are heroes’ words. Those are the words you hear when you’re just doing your daily job. And that daily job is saving people, and saving lives, and helping me sleep at night knowing you are all out there.”

In 2023, Bascom noted that NJ EMS Task Force members dedicated more than 10,000 hours and responded to 111 emergency incidents statewide. The organization’s roster returned to 250+ members, and the state-supported it with more than $1.8 million.

“We want you to know we value everything you do, and we’re with you in this endeavor,” said Dana Johnson, assistant commissioner of the NJ Department of Health. “The Task Force has aided coalition members and partners by supporting evacuations, patient transfers, and providing incident management for many, many disasters. Overall, the NJ Department of Health is so grateful for the EMS Task Force’s invaluable support that helps us bolster the State’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities. Thank you for making us successful in New Jersey.”

“2023 was a pivotal year for our team,” Bascom said. “We’ve faced challenges head-on. We’ve adapted and transformed the way we respond, the way we work, and the way we serve our world.”

Bascom noted the strength and diversity of the team.

“Our knowledge base is second to none. Together, we responded to wildfires, medical facility evacuations, and ransomware attacks on healthcare facilities, supported major events, and deployed assets to support the United National General Assembly,” he said. “I can assure you that responding to ransomware attacks was not discussed in any of the founder’s meetings. But I’m honored to say that when a hospital chain in the area was hit with a ransomware attack, they turned to us for help.”

Conversations about what a collaborative EMS force would look like began before the 9/11 terrorist attacks but became a reality after the tragedy. The founders envisioned a system to unite emergency medical professionals across New Jersey to respond to crises efficiently and with expertise. Since its inception, the New Jersey EMS Task Force has been at the forefront of emergency response, tackling challenges with resilience and adaptability. From natural disasters to public health crises, from mass casualty incidents to acts of terrorism, we have stood ready to serve, providing critical care and support when it is needed most.

Bascom said the most important part of the organization is its people. He said the focus 2024 is training future leaders through educational opportunities and training sessions to give people with limited experience time in leadership roles.

“Behind every successful mission, there are countless individuals whose dedication and sacrifice make it possible,” Bascom said. “To the men and women of the NJEMSTF, I extend my deepest gratitude. Your selflessness and courage inspire us all, and your unwavering commitment to saving lives is a testament to the noblest ideals of our profession.”

Dr. Baston also noted the ongoing changes in the field of pre-hospital care.

“It’s a field that needs new ideas infused into the workforce; it needs career pathing. It needs longevity. It needs new ways to invigorate you,” she said.  

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She noted the changing types of emergencies EMS providers face every day, including mental health, substance use disorders or addiction, and people suffering alone all too often.

“It’s not just medical information and preparedness we all have to have every day to be prepared for the field. It’s emotional intelligence and the ability to connect with someone who is in mental crisis,” Baston said. “And an ability to deescalate a situation that’s escalating. It’s all these new skills that we have to hone together in order to really still be that safety net that person our neighbors are depending on. We have to be there when it's their kid who is in crisis. It’s their nephew who just overdosed. It's your neighbor’s daughter struggling out there in the field. That’s what we have to be ready for.  And I’ll tell you, if we think outside the box enough, we can get the next generation ready. And we can all be there to get them ready to serve, not just the big emergencies coming our way, but the day-to-day things that people are struggling with.”

Bascom said the NJ EMS Task Force members faced an ever-changing EMS landscape.
“Looking ahead, we must remain vigilant in the face of emerging threats and evolving challenges,” Bascom said. “The world around us is constantly changing, and our ability to adapt and innovate will be critical in ensuring the safety and well-being of those we serve.”