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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep.
Tony Melio |
  
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Committees look to improve emergency response
HARRISBURG, May 16 – At a recent joint hearing of the state House and Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness committees, panel members examined the readiness of the state in emergency situations, according to House committee Chairman Tony Melio, D-Bucks.
"The purpose of the hearing was two-fold," Melio said. "We're looking into how prepared the state is for an emergency and how well we respond, and how well state and local systems are working together under Pennsylvania's current emergency response system."
Melio said the committees heard testimony from emergency management personnel from across the state, including fire and emergency medical services representatives regarding the current structure of emergency plans at all government levels.
"Our goal is to make sure Pennsylvania has the best possible plan in place that has quality prevention, coordination, response and recovery in all emergencies," Melio said. "In achieving that, it may be necessary for us to look into the current structure of the private sector in its emergency planning, considering it holds about 90 percent of essential infrastructure.
"For example, consolidating existing agencies like the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the state Office of Homeland Security may also be something we will look further into in the future."
More information on the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee is available at Melio's Web site, www.pahouse.com/melio.
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