2006 News
October 12, 2006
Readying our Region
Regional Emergency Preparedness and Response Officials Convene to Protect Delaware Valley
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Counterterrorism Task Force sponsored a Tri-State Preparedness Symposium on October 11 as part of its efforts to improve the Delaware Valley’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The Symposium was part of the Task Force’s Urban Area Security Initiative for the Delaware Valley to protect the combined 6 million people who live in the region.
“It is our hope that this collaborative effort will provide a powerful planning tool for improving our region’s capabilities to detect, prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from any kind of emergency,” remarked Bucks County’s Emergency Management Agency Director John D. Dougherty, Jr., who is also the task force chair.
Approximately 300 preparedness and response officials from Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania attended the symposium held at the Willow Gove Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base in Horsham, Pennsylvania. Participants included federal, state, county and local officials who reviewed the progress of landmark interoperability projects that are currently underway and those already completed. Their goal is developing and improving mutual aid, communications, and overall system and equipment interoperability so that regional emergency responders and emergency service providers will be able to work seamlessly to enhance the safety and security of the public. Among represented agencies was the FBI, US Department of Homeland Security, several branches of the military, SEPTA, and the Delaware River Port Authority.
Bucks County Commissioner, James F. Cawley, Esq, chairman, emphasized the importance of multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency communications and planning. “I applaud the task force for their leadership efforts in ensuring we approach emergency preparedness regionally.” Commissioner Cawley further extended his appreciation to the many first responders who took the time to participate. “We need first-hand feedback from the field to make the most prudent decisions moving forward.”
The conference also provided a forum for participants to see first-hand unique emergency response vehicles such as mobile field labs, emergency communications trailers, hazardous materials trucks, decontamination units, and specially equipped air or bomb sensing units.
The afternoon was dedicated to gathering into workgroups such as agriculture, education, health and medical, law enforcement, fire and rescue, communications, transportation, utilities and service groups, in order to hear ideas for improving emergency preparedness systems from those in the field.
United States Senator Rick Santorum and Congresswoman Allyson Y. Schwartz were among those elected officials who attended the symposium. Joining the task force executive committee members at a press conference, Senator Santorum commended the Southeastern Pennsylvania Task Force for creating the Delaware Valley Preparedness Work Group and for integrating surrounding counties in New Jersey and Delaware in their emergency preparedness and response planning initiatives.
Created in 1998, the task force has an established history of regional cooperation and collaboration among agencies from Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. Its focus has broadened from counterterrorism, to all hazards including incidents such as natural disasters and accidents. The Delaware Valley Preparedness Work Group includes representatives from the state governments of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware; representatives from Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware Montgomery, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem and New Castle counties; and regional, federal and transportation partners whose roles and responsibilities cross jurisdictional boundaries. The Symposium marks the official kickoff of many joint briefings and meetings that will be planned by the Delaware Valley Preparedness Work Group.