The Pennsylvania Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) System is divided into two branches, the Federal Branch and the In-State Branch. These branches exist to delineate personnel, policies and procedures for activation and use in support of highly-complex natural and man made disasters, large-scale structural collapses, explosions, incidents involving Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), chemical and similar events.

Pennsylvania Task Force One (PA-TF1)

Pennsylvania Task Force (PA-TF1) is one (1) of twenty-eight (28) certified, operational and deployable federal assets of the National Urban Search and Rescue System established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.

PA-TF1 is comprised of over 210 personnel from numerous participating agencies. This includes personnel staffing management, rescue, medical, search, and technical team positions. At least 70 personnel representing these specialties deploy with the task force.

The Task Force is capable of mobilization from its point of departure, to any where in the United States within 6 hours of a request for a disaster response. The task force is self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. After the first 72 hours, support for the task force is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Our personnel respond from across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey but mostly from within 100 miles of Harrisburg International Airport.

About PA-TF1

In 1990, FEMA awarded the opportunity to develop a US&R task force to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Governor Tom Ridge committed to bringing PA-TF1 to deployable status after taking office and tasked PEMA to see that this was accomplished. PEMA secured funding for training and helped obtain a grant for the City of Harrisburg to purchase much of the necessary equipment needed for deployment.

With tremendous support from the participating and sponsoring agencies, PA-TF1 passed a peer evaluation in the spring of 1996, and subsequently was declared deployable by the FEMA Director in October of 1997.

PA-TF1 distinguished itself during deployment in North Carolina during the 1999 hurricane season and led the specialty response to the Concept Sciences factory blast in Allentown, PA. In addition, the Task Force has been operationally deployed to the World Trade Center, Hurricane Katrina and various National Special Security Events (NSSEs). The Task Force is available for both in-state and out-of-state deployment as conditions warrant.

Pennsylvania Regional Elements

The instate branch of the US&R system is comprised of nine (9) Regional Elements that are operational and deployable modular assets under the State Urban Search and Rescue System as established by the Regional Task Forces and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

The Regional Elements comprise over 230 personnel statewide located within the Regional Task Forces and differ in size depending upon population, threat and available qualified personnel.

• Pennsylvania Strike Team One (PA-ST1) - South West Region
• Pennsylvania Company One (PA-CO1) – South Central Region
• Pennsylvania Company Two (PA-CO2) – South East Region
• Pennsylvania Company Three (PA-CO3) – North East Region
• Pennsylvania Company Four (PA-CO4) – North West Region
• Pennsylvania Squad One (PA-SQ1) – East Central Region
• Pennsylvania Squad Two (PA-SQ2) – North Central Region
• Pennsylvania Squad Three (PA-SQ3) – South Central Mountain Region
• Pennsylvania Rapid Assessment One (PA-RA1) – North West Central Region

If you have any questions or comments, please contact:

PA-TF1 USAR PROGRAM MANAGER
Attn: Marty Nevil – PA Task Force 1
(717) 234-3200