In the near future, we will introduce legislation to create a PA Task Force Urban Search and Rescue team, based in Allegheny County, to assume primary coverage in the western part of the state.

Currently, the main PA task force (PATF-1) is in Philadelphia, with a few smaller ones throughout our commonwealth. With the size and population density in the Pittsburgh region, it makes sense to ensure an Urban Search and Rescue Operation exists on the other side of Pennsylvania.

Under our legislation, no coverage or resources will be drawn from Eastern PA. It simply requires a creation of this second major task force. These two teams would have the same resources, training, and equipment, but each will be able to respond to events closer to their home bases for quicker and more effective recovery.

You will recall the recent train derailment in East Palestine, and previously the Fern Hollow bridge collapse where local first responders couldn’t determine the existence of any fatalities for many hours because this type of rescue operation doesn’t exist in western PA. PATF-1 arrived as soon as they could, however it took six hours until their team arrived at the scene simply because they are based on the opposite side of our commonwealth.

This is a crucial need, and with the creation of a Western PA Task Force Urban Search and Rescue, lives will surely be saved. Please join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation.