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.