The Northwest Central Pennsylvania Regional Task Force, which includes Clarion and Jefferson counties, is ready to respond if any sort of disaster along the lines of the East Palestine train derailment occurs in the region.
Denny Logue, Clarion County’s deputy director of the Department of Public Safety, is the new chairman of the task force, which also includes Cameron, Clearfield, Elk and McKean counties.
The Northwest Central PA Emergency Response Group provides emergency response training, planning and equipment to the emergency service providers in the region. The task force allows the counties to pool resources.
Logue said the task force has been working on a drone program the past two years.
“I think it will be good for us as far as search and rescue, or major motor vehicle operations go,” he said. “If something like East Palestine occurred we could fly a drone into it instead of putting people at risk.”
The drone teams consist of individuals who are trained and licensed to operate the drones. Logue said some counties, including Clarion, opted out of the program because there weren’t enough people available. He said Elk, Clearfield and McKean counties are currently in the drone program.
The drones will be available to all the counties in the task force. They are slightly bigger than what is available at retail outlets, and Logue said “that will allow us to put more cameras on them.”
“We are hoping to purchase the drones very soon,” he said.
The purchase would be funded through a federal grant.
The task force also has a swift water rescue team in Clearfield County, and Logue said several fire companies went together to secure a boat similar to a Zodiac inflatable craft.
“It has a very shallow draft and only needs a few inches of water,” he said.
The task force is also working on a communications project for emergency services.
“It started out as an Interstate 80 project to allow the various EMS and fire companies to talk with each other,” said Logue. “Now they will be able to talk with PennDOT and other agencies.”
He said the second phase will allow the 911 emergency centers to be able to talk with each other via a sort of intercom system. The third phase will allow the EMAs to talk with each other.
A mass casualty trailer is stored inside the Clarion County Sorce building in Shippenville.
“This is the first time we have had an opportunity to store the trailer indoors with all of the equipment that is needed,” Logue said.
Also stored in the Sorce building is a communications trailer, hazardous materials trailer, light trailer and a light tower.
A large generator is stored in a separate garage.
The task force receives a total federal grant of about $260,000 annually.
“Looking ahead to 2023 there are certain things we have to address such as election security and domestic terrorism. We are using some of this money for soft targets such as Groundhog Day and (Autumn Leaf Festival), said Logue.
“We try to plan for any possible situation,” Logue said.