What is PA Region 13 Counter-terrorism Task Force?

 

The idea for the PA Region 13 Task Force came from the exploration of the ideas and philosophies developed during 3 years of discussion in the Pittsburgh-Allegheny County WMD Working Group.  The group realized that during any significant "All Hazards" or terrorism event, the entire region or multiple counties would be called upon to assist the local responders.

 

The foundation of PA Region 13 is set in place by an unprecedented intergovernmental agreement between the 13 counties and the City of Pittsburgh in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

 

The Task Force, to date, has been operationally tested in Somerset County with the Flight 93 air crash and Quecreek Mine, and in Beaver County with the Hepatitis A outbreak in addition to numerous natural disasters and large-scale planned events such as the MLB All Stars Game and the Pittsburgh G-20 Summit.

What's New

Run. Hide. Fight

 

After the tragic mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado, the City of Houston, Texas, Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security released a video on surviving a shooter event.  The video details the key steps individuals should take when encountering an active shooter.   “Run. Hide. Fight." is titled for the three rules individuals should be aware of in order to increase the chances of safety and survival.  Houston’s website “encourage citizens to evaluate the situation and:

  • Run if a safe path is available. Always try and escape or evacuate even if others insist on staying
  • Encourage others to leave with you but don’t let the indecision of others slow down your own effort to escape 
  • Once you are out of the line of fire, try to prevent others from walking into the danger zone and call 9-1-1 
  • If you can’t get out safely, find a place to hide 
  • When hiding, turn out lights, remember to lock doors and silence your ringer and vibration mode on your cell phone 
  • As a last resort, working together or alone, act with aggression; use improvised weapons and “fight”

 

 

10 Potential Pennsylvania Emergencies

 

The first step to disaster preparedness is being informed. Learn about what types of disasters are most likely to occur in Pennsylvania.

Training Opportunities

Bioterrorism: Mass Prophylaxis Perparedness & Planning

 

 Date  29-30 August 2012
 Time  8:00 a - 4:00 p
 Location

 Mercer County BHC

8406 Sharon-Mercer Road

Mercer, PA 16137

 Hours  16 (8 lecture, 8 practical)
 EMS Con-Ed Hours  15 hours (other)

 

Description
This course is a guide for local health officials and their partners in the local public health system to coordinate plans to provide mass distribution of pharmaceuticals for the jurisdiction as they relate to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Program. The purpose of this course is to enhance a jurisdiction’s preparedness and emergency response efforts by developing (or revising) a plan addressing an all-hazards approach towards mass prophylaxis. The course is delivered by two public health professionals and consists of a combination of lectures, small group activities and an exercise.

 

Topics
The first day of training focuses on the community plan and how to achieve CDC’s 48-hour standard for mass prophy-laxis. The second day of training focuses on Point of Dispensation site preparedness. The course material is applicable to pandemic influenza, bioterrorism and epidemic preparedness. Participants also receive a mass prophylaxis planning “tool box.”

 

Audience
This training program brings together essential personnel from within a jurisdiction who would be required to manage a Mass Prophylaxis Program or staff a Mass Prophylaxis Clinic in response to a bioterrorist incident, pandemic influenza catastrophe, or other public health emergency in their community. Participants represent public health, health care ser-vices, law enforcement, emergency medical services, emergency planning, emergency communications and volunteer management.

 

 

RSVP By: Tuesday, August 21, 2012 to John Nicklin (Phone: 724-662-6147, Fax: 724-662-6145)

 

 

Hosted & Sponsored By

 Mercer County DPS

 and

 Mercer County BHC

 

 

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