WHAT: Members of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Task Force (SEPA RTF) will practice their coordination and emergency response capabilities during a full-scale exercise that involves firefighting, hazardous materials, and urban search-and-rescue.WHO: First responders from Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Bucks and Delaware counties:
- Firefighters and hazmat & technical rescue specialists
- Members of PA-Task Force 1, the federal urban search-and-rescue team sponsored by the Philadelphia Fire Department
WHEN: Saturday, April 23
- Media is welcome to visit anytime between 10-11:30 a.m.
- Once on site, send a text or leave a short voicemail for Todd Stieritz, Public Affairs Coordinator for the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety: 215-341-9392
WHERE: Philadelphia Fire Academy, 5200 Pennypack St.Background: The Philadelphia Fire Department is hosting a large-scale exercise for SEPA RTF in which regional emergency personnel respond to a mock disaster scenario involving an explosion, fire and building collapse. Visuals will include demonstrations of urban search-and-rescue techniques, hazmat response, and technical rescues; interviews are also available. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Task Force works to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from all types of emergencies and disasters in the five-county Philadelphia area. It is funded through the Homeland Security Grant Program and is overseen by an executive board composed of the emergency management coordinators from each county.