About the East Central PA Regional Task Force
One of nine Regional Homeland Security Task Forces in Pennsylvania, the East Central PA Regional Task Force (ECTF) was formed in 1998 in response to the growing threat of the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and the regional effect of a potential incident. Today, the ECTF provides “All Hazards” planning, mitigation response and recovery services to citizens in the following Pennsylvania counties:
• Berks
• Columbia
• Luzerne
• Montour
• Northumberland
• Schuylkill
• Wyoming
The ECTF is directed by an Executive Board and organized by committees representing Emergency Services, Law Enforcement, Civil Officials, Health Care Organizations and others involved in disaster preparedness. The Committees of the ECTF include:
• Business, Industry and Infrastructure
• Fire, Rescue, and Hazardous Materials
• Health and Medical
• Incident Management Team
• Information Services
• Law Enforcement
Over the past thirteen years, the Executive Board and committees have guided the investment of over $20 million from various grant programs including the Homeland Security Grant Program and the Interoperable Emergency Communication funds. Projects have focused on developing solutions to close critical gaps, enhancing existing capabilities, and sustaining ECTF response assets. Keynote ECTF projects include:
• Development of regional plans and plan templates for use across the region including an Interoperable Emergency Communications Plan and Continuity of Operations Plans
• Deployment of citizen education and public awareness tools including a web-based Special Needs Tool and a region wide Mass Notification System
• Support of Public Health preparedness in the region including planning and exercising for the Strategic National Stockpile and Points of Distribution within the region
• Support through equipment, training and exercise investments for specialized teams such as the Mobile Field Force and SWAT Teams; Air Monitoring, Hazardous Materials, and Decontamination Teams; the Search and Rescue Teams; and the Mental Health (DCORT/DMAT) Teams
• Investment in mobile response resources including mobile communications vehicles and command posts; Crime Scene Units; and Mass Casualty Incident Trailers
• Development of a nationally trained incident management team
• Investment in technology solutions including the Total Visibility system which enables responders to be identified and accounted for at the scene of an incident and GIS technology to assist in overall planning and response
Working across jurisdictional and disciplinary boundaries, the ECTF will continue to build the collaborative relationships necessary to protect the over 1 million citizens located in across more than 4,000 square miles within the 320 municipalities of the ECTF region.