January 29, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Ginni Linn
Director of Communications
(717) 763-0930
|
Township Association Encourages Townships
to Strengthen Emergency Response Plans
Improved national security begins in own
back yard
HARRISBURG, Pa. - As national security is being
debated in the nation's capital, the supervisors of Pennsylvania's
1,457 townships of the second class are being urged to strengthen
their existing emergency and terrorism response plans to protect
the lives and property of their 5.1 million residents.
The leadership of the Pennsylvania State Association
of Township Supervisors (PSATS) is encouraging townships to increase
their levels of preparedness to ensure that the most effective measures
are in place to protect people, property, and resources within township
borders. PSATS' leadership expects to engage township supervisors
across the state in an ongoing dialogue and training designed to
keep Pennsylvania a leader in emergency preparedness and management.
PSATS Executive Director R. Keith Hite says, "PSATS'
Executive Board is recommending that each of our member townships
readdress their local emergency preparedness planning following
the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C.,
and Pennsylvania. We are asking each of our members to review their
current emergency response plans, identify potential threats, coordinate
response preparedness with adjacent municipalities and state and
federal agencies, and communicate key components of their emergency
management plans to residents and businesses in their areas."
Hite points out that townships are frequently
the first to respond to disaster situations because they are the
body of government closest to the residents. "Townships often
take the lead in responding to a disaster because they have the
most immediate understanding of the situation, geography, and people
involved," he says. "No one large government agency such
as the federal government can be expected to protect everyone 24
hours a day. Township supervisors realize that a crisis can happen
on their own turf, as demonstrated on September 11 when an airplane
crashed in Stonycreek Township, Somerset County." (see enclosed
article)
Norm Smith, lead counter-terrorism planner for
the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, is working with PSATS
to help its member townships improve their emergency response planning.
"It is a unique challenge to inventory and coordinate the various
members of township, county, state, and federal agencies available
to assist in any one situation," Smith says. "Often a
local situation involves regional response teams.
"We are excited about the PSATS initiative
to enhance public security and safety, and we look forward to further
strengthening our already solid working relationship. This spirit
of cooperation will keep Pennsylvania a leader in emergency preparedness."
PSATS' leadership is reviewing various additional
levels of emergency preparedness and will be providing, in cooperation
with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, ongoing training
for township leaders to enhance their emergency response plans.
This training will address township supervisors' leadership role
during a crisis and the importance of townships building public
awareness of emergency preparedness planning.
"Townships are very often on the front line
of a crisis and have a proud history of coordinated response to
emergencies affecting their residents," says Donna Mindek,
chair of PSATS' Executive Board and supervisor of Harborcreek Township,
Erie County. "We realize that every township in Pennsylvania
has people and resources at risk. Pennsylvania's urban, suburban,
and rural townships each face unique emergency preparedness issues.
The effects of terrorism or natural disasters, which often get national
media exposure, are always a local issue to someone. We recognize
our need to be prepared and to sustain a solid state of readiness."
"We should expect another terrorist strike
perpetrated by an international or domestic source," says Cliff
Jones, a recognized economic and municipal government consultant
who facilitated the PSATS Executive Board's discussion of townships'
emergency preparedness role. "I applaud townships for taking
very proactive measures to enhance the protection of their citizens
and businesses."
The next step in the association's emergency preparedness
initiative will be a training session presented at its annual state
convention in Hershey April 14-17, 2002. More than 3,500 township
supervisors are expected to attend.
The Pennsylvania State Association of Township
Supervisors represents Pennsylvania's 1,457 townships of the second
class and is committed to preserving and strengthening township
government and securing greater visibility and involvement for townships
in the state and federal political arenas. Townships of the second
class represent more residents - 5.1 million Pennsylvanians - than
any other type of political subdivision in the commonwealth.
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version
then right-click to download
| Economic and municipal government consultant
Clifford L. Jones facilitates a discussion of townships' emergency
management roles and responsibilities at a recent meeting of
the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania State Association of
Township Supervisors in Camp Hill. Jones worked with the 12-member
board to brainstorm about what the association can do to help
its 1,457 member townships strengthen their emergency and terrorism
response plans to protect the lives and property of their 5.1
million residents. |
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
|
Clifford L. Jones, economic and municipal government consultant,
standing, facilitates a discussion of townships' emergency management
roles and responsibilities at a recent meeting of the Executive
Board of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors
in Camp Hill. He joined Norm Smith, sitting, lead counter-terrorism
planner for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, in
working with the 12-member board to brainstorm about what the
association can do to help its 1,457 member townships strengthen
their emergency and terrorism response plans to protect the
lives and property of their 5.1 million residents. |
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
|
Economic and municipal government consultant Clifford L. Jones,
left, facilitates a discussion of townships' emergency management
roles and responsibilities at a recent meeting of the Executive
Board of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors
in Camp Hill. Jones worked with the 12-member board to brainstorm
about what the association can do to help its 1,457 member townships
strengthen their emergency and terrorism response plans to protect
the lives and property of their 5.1 million residents. |
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
|
Economic and municipal government consultant Clifford L. Jones,
center, facilitates a discussion of townships' emergency management
roles and responsibilities at a recent meeting of the Executive
Board of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors
in Camp Hill. Jones worked with the 12-member board to brainstorm
about what the association can do to help its 1,457 member townships
strengthen their emergency and terrorism response plans to protect
the lives and property of their 5.1 million residents. |
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
|
Edward C. Goodhart III, First Vice President of the Pennsylvania
State Association of Township Supervisors, Camp Hill, and supervisor
of Manor Township, Lancaster County, second from left, participates
in a discussion on townships' emergency management responsibilities
at a recent meeting of the association's 12-member board. In
response to the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United
States, the association's leadership is encouraging townships
statewide to review their current emergency response plans,
identify potential threats, coordinate response preparedness
with adjacent municipalities and state and federal agencies,
and communicate key components of their emergency management
plans to residents and businesses in their areas. PSATS will
conduct a training session at its annual state convention in
Hershey in April on township supervisors' leadership role during
a crisis and the importance of townships building public awareness
of emergency preparedness planning. |
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
|
Donna Mindek, chair of the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania
State Association of Township Supervisors, Camp Hill, and supervisor
of Harborcreek Township, Erie County, leads a discussion on
townships' emergency management responsibilities at a recent
meeting of the association's 12-member board. In response to
the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the
association's leadership is encouraging townships statewide
to review their current emergency response plans, identify potential
threats, coordinate response preparedness with adjacent municipalities
and state and federal agencies, and communicate key components
of their emergency management plans to residents and businesses
in their areas. PSATS will conduct a training session at its
annual state convention in Hershey in April on township supervisors'
leadership role during a crisis and the importance of townships
building public awareness of emergency preparedness planning. |
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
|
Edward C. Goodhart III, First Vice President of the Pennsylvania
State Association of Township Supervisors, Camp Hill, and supervisor
of Manor Township, Lancaster County, participates in a discussion
on townships' emergency management responsibilities at a recent
meeting of the association's 12-member board. In response to
the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the
association's leadership is encouraging townships statewide
to review their current emergency response plans, identify potential
threats, coordinate response preparedness with adjacent municipalities
and state and federal agencies, and communicate key components
of their emergency management plans to residents and businesses
in their areas. PSATS will conduct a training session at its
annual state convention in Hershey in April on township supervisors'
leadership role during a crisis and the importance of townships
building public awareness of emergency preparedness planning.
|
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
|
Dorothy Claus, a member of the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania
State Association of Township Supervisors, Camp Hill, and supervisor
of Indiana Township, Allegheny County, participates in a discussion
on townships' emergency management responsibilities at a recent
meeting of the association's 12-member board. In response to
the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the
association's leadership is encouraging townships statewide
to review their current emergency response plans, identify potential
threats, coordinate response preparedness with adjacent municipalities
and state and federal agencies, and communicate key components
of their emergency management plans to residents and businesses
in their areas. PSATS will conduct a training session at its
annual state convention in Hershey in April on township supervisors'
leadership role during a crisis and the importance of townships
building public awareness of emergency preparedness planning. |
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
|
Dick Hadley, a member of the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania
State Association of Township Supervisors, Camp Hill, and supervisor
of Cranberry Township, Butler County, participates in a discussion
on townships' emergency management responsibilities at a recent
meeting of the association's 12-member board. In response to
the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the
association's leadership is encouraging townships statewide
to review their current emergency response plans, identify potential
threats, coordinate response preparedness with adjacent municipalities
and state and federal agencies, and communicate key components
of their emergency management plans to residents and businesses
in their areas. PSATS will conduct a training session at its
annual state convention in Hershey in April on township supervisors'
leadership role during a crisis and the importance of townships
building public awareness of emergency preparedness planning. |
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
|
Norm Smith, lead counter-terrorism planner for the Pennsylvania
Emergency Management Agency, heads a session on emergency management
planning at a recent meeting of the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania
State Association of Township Supervisors in Camp Hill. Smith
worked with the 12-member board to brainstorm about what the
association can do to help its 1,457 member townships strengthen
their emergency and terrorism response plans to protect the
lives and property of their 5.1 million residents. |
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
|
John Haiko, left, vice chair of the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania
State Association of Township Supervisors, Camp Hill, and supervisor
of West Bradford Township, Chester County, discusses townships'
emergency management responsibilities with Norm Smith, lead
counter-terrorism planner for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Agency at a recent meeting of the association's 12-member board.
In response to the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United
States, the association's leadership is encouraging townships
statewide to review their current emergency response plans,
identify potential threats, coordinate response preparedness
with adjacent municipalities and state and federal agencies,
and communicate key components of their emergency management
plans to residents and businesses in their areas. PSATS will
conduct a training session at its annual state convention in
Hershey in April on township supervisors' leadership role during
a crisis and the importance of townships building public awareness
of emergency preparedness planning. |
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
|
Theodore Kostige, secretary-treasurer of the Pennsylvania State
Association of Township Supervisors, Camp Hill, and supervisor
of Paupack Township, Wayne County, participates in a discussion
on townships' emergency management responsibilities at a recent
meeting of the association's Executive Board. In response to
the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the
association's leadership is encouraging townships statewide
to review their current emergency response plans, identify potential
threats, coordinate response preparedness with adjacent municipalities
and state and federal agencies, and communicate key components
of their emergency management plans to residents and businesses
in their areas. PSATS will conduct a training session at its
annual state convention in Hershey in April on township supervisors'
leadership role during a crisis and the importance of townships
building public awareness of emergency preparedness planning.
|
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
|
Kenneth Palmer, assistant secretary-treasurer of the the Pennsylvania
State Association of Township Supervisors, Camp Hill, and supervisor
of Chatham Township, Tioga County, participates in a discussion
on townships' emergency management responsibilities at a recent
meeting of the association's Executive Board. In response to
the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the
association's leadership is encouraging townships statewide
to review their current emergency response plans, identify potential
threats, coordinate response preparedness with adjacent municipalities
and state and federal agencies, and communicate key components
of their emergency management plans to residents and businesses
in their areas. PSATS will conduct a training session at its
annual state convention in Hershey in April on township supervisors'
leadership role during a crisis and the importance of townships
building public awareness of emergency preparedness planning.
|
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
|
Tim Horner, a member of the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania
State Association of Township Supervisors, Camp Hill, and supervisor
of Chapman Township, Clinton County, participates in a discussion
on townships' emergency management responsibilities at a recent
meeting of the association's 12-member board. In response to
the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the
association's leadership is encouraging townships statewide
to review their current emergency response plans, identify potential
threats, coordinate response preparedness with adjacent municipalities
and state and federal agencies, and communicate key components
of their emergency management plans to residents and businesses
in their areas. PSATS will conduct a training session at its
annual state convention in Hershey in April on township supervisors'
leadership role during a crisis and the importance of townships
building public awareness of emergency preparedness planning. |
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
|
Kenneth Grimes, a member of the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania
State Association of Township Supervisors, Camp Hill, and supervisor
of Upper Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, participates in
a discussion on townships' emergency management responsibilities
at a recent meeting of the association's 12-member board. In
response to the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United
States, the association's leadership is encouraging townships
statewide to review their current emergency response plans,
identify potential threats, coordinate response preparedness
with adjacent municipalities and state and federal agencies,
and communicate key components of their emergency management
plans to residents and businesses in their areas. PSATS will
conduct a training session at its annual state convention in
Hershey in April on township supervisors' leadership role during
a crisis and the importance of townships building public awareness
of emergency preparedness planning. |
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version then right-click
to download
|
Dr. Richard Derstine, president of the Pennsylvania State Association
of Township Supervisors, Camp Hill, and supervisor of West Rockhill
Township, Bucks County, participates in a discussion on townships'
emergency management responsibilities at a recent meeting of
the association's Executive Board. In response to the September
11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the association's
leadership is encouraging townships statewide to review their
current emergency response plans, identify potential threats,
coordinate response preparedness with adjacent municipalities
and state and federal agencies, and communicate key components
of their emergency management plans to residents and businesses
in their areas. PSATS will conduct a training session at its
annual state convention in Hershey in April on township supervisors'
leadership role during a crisis and the importance of townships
building public awareness of emergency preparedness planning. |
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version
then right-click to download
|
Clair Ferster, a member of the Executive Board of the the Pennsylvania
State Association of Township Supervisors, Camp Hill, and supervisor
of Monroe Township, Juniata County, participates in a discussion
on townships' emergency management responsibilities at a recent
meeting of the association's 12-member board. In response to
the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the
association's leadership is encouraging townships statewide
to review their current emergency response plans, identify potential
threats, coordinate response preparedness with adjacent municipalities
and state and federal agencies, and communicate key components
of their emergency management plans to residents and businesses
in their areas. PSATS will conduct a training session at its
annual state convention in Hershey in April on township supervisors'
leadership role during a crisis and the importance of townships
building public awareness of emergency preparedness planning. |
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version
then right-click to download
|
Bob Eppley, left, a member of the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania
State Association of Township Supervisors, Camp Hill, and supervisor
of Middlesex Township, Cumberland County, participates in a
discussion on townships' emergency management responsibilities
at a recent meeting of the association's 12-member board. In
response to the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United
States, the association's leadership is encouraging townships
statewide to review their current emergency response plans,
identify potential threats, coordinate response preparedness
with adjacent municipalities and state and federal agencies,
and communicate key components of their emergency management
plans to residents and businesses in their areas. PSATS will
conduct a training session at its annual state convention in
Hershey in April on township supervisors' leadership role during
a crisis and the importance of townships building public awareness
of emergency preparedness planning. |
Click on a photo to see an enlarged version
then right-click to download
|
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