Title
Proclamation recognizing the Allegheny County Hazardous Materials Response Program upon the occasion of its 20th anniversary.
Body
WHEREAS, since 1988, the Allegheny County Hazardous Materials Response Program has been serving and protecting the residents of Allegheny County; and
WHEREAS, a project that was introduced in October 1984, the Hazmat Program was brought to life by the efforts of the then-Allegheny County Board of Commissioners, the Allegheny County Office of Emergency Management, the Allegheny County Fireman's Advisory Board, and the residents of Allegheny County; and
WHEREAS, training for the program began in June of 1987, with more than 2, 200 firefighters attending the 33 programs offered at the Allegheny County Fire Training Academy in the first year alone; and
WHEREAS, on June 28, 1988, the Allegheny County Commissioners presented the first specially equipped Hazmat unit to the East Boroughs Response Association; and
WHEREAS, during the past 20 years, the Hazmat units have grown considerably, with the Blue Team (NEARA) serving the Northeast and Northwest areas; the Red Team (East Boroughs Response Association) serving the Eastern areas; the Green Team (Specialized Intervention Team) serving the entire South Hills; the Silver Team (North Hills Response Team) serving 25 municipalities north of the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers; and the City of Pittsburgh Gold Team, responding to emergencies within Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, from 1988 through 2007, Allegheny County's five Hazmat teams responded to 2,900 incidents involving hazardous materials and other emergencies, including the September 11, 2001 disasters and the January 31, 2005 train derailment near East Deer Township;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Allegheny County Council joins with the Local Emergency Planning Committee in celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Hazardous Materials Response Program. We extend our deepest thanks for the dedication of our emerg...
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