PA Region 13 Task Force (Southwestern PA Counter-Terrorism Task Force) – Pittsburgh, PA

Regional Homeland Security and Emergency Response

The Pennsylvania Region 13 Task Force, headquartered at the Allegheny County Emergency Services Training Center on North Lexington Street, is a vital coalition dedicated to the safety and security of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Established to coordinate counter-terrorism and all-hazards preparedness, the Task Force unites 13 counties—Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland—along with the City of Pittsburgh. Operating under the guidance of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Region 13 ensures a unified and rapid response to large-scale emergencies, including natural disasters, hazardous material incidents, and terrorist threats.

Specialized Capabilities and Teams

The Task Force manages and equips several specialized regional assets that no single municipality could sustain alone. These include:

• Law Enforcement & Tactical Teams: Coordinating SWAT operations, explosive ordinance disposal (bomb squads), and tactical command for high-risk situations.
• Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Response: Deploying state-certified teams equipped to handle chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.
• Urban Search and Rescue (USAR): PA Strike Team 1 is a highly trained unit capable of structural collapse rescue, trench rescue, and confined space operations.
• Water Rescue: Swiftwater and flood rescue teams strategically positioned throughout the river-heavy region.

Intelligence and Information Sharing

A cornerstone of the Region 13 mission is the Western Pennsylvania All-Hazards Fusion Center (WPAHFC). This intelligence hub facilitates the sharing of critical information between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to identify and interdict threats before they materialize. The Task Force also oversees the region’s interoperable communications network, ensuring that first responders from different jurisdictions can communicate seamlessly during a crisis via the 9-1-1 IP network (ESInet). The facility on North Lexington Street also serves as a primary training ground, hosting exercises and educational programs for thousands of first responders annually.