NEW STATE RESCUE TEAM PROPOSED FOR WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA  

A joint House-Senate committee hearing is scheduled in Allegheny County to examine if a western state urban search and rescue team can be established. The hearing by the two Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committees will hear testimony on two companion bills.   Currently, the main urban search and rescue task force is based in Philadelphia. Supporters say a team based in Allegheny County is needed especially in light of recent disasters, including the Norfolk Southern train derailment and the collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh.  Officials say when the bridge collapsed, it took the Philadelphia team six hours to arrive at the scene because of the distance involved.