2007 News

January 22, 2007

Bucks County Emergency Services Director Briefs Officials During Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Counterterrorism Task Force Meeting

Last week, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Counterterrorism Task Force (SEPRCTTF) convened with U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan, Philadelphia Mayor John Street and other regional elected officials to provide an update on regional preparation and response efforts.

The meeting, which also included representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Coast Guard, Port Authority and Transportation Authority, stressed the ongoing need for cooperation with regard to procedural and legal issues.

Bucks County Emergency Services Director and SEPRCTTF Chairman John Dougherty updated the group on work being done. The SEPRCTTF is one of nine regional counterterrorism task forces located throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Dougherty also focused on the key issues facing the Philadelphia Area Regional Work Group, which brings together five Pennsylvania counties (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia), five southern New Jersey counties, and the State of Delaware.

In addition, Meehan and Dougherty advised the elected officials about legal issues pertaining to interstate memorandums of understanding (MOU’s), issues that beg for the assistance of local and state officials in order to have them resolved.

The meeting was a follow-up to the Oct. 11, 2006 Tri-State Preparedness Conference, held at Willow Grove Naval Air Station. During that conference, 300 preparedness and response officials discussed regional responsibilities and interagency coordination. Other partners in the SEPRCTTF include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Pennsylvania State Police, the National Guard and the Department of Environmental Protection.

For more information about preparedness efforts, click here, or on the Ready Bucks logo