HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania officials say thousands of hours of training and expanded interstate disaster response efforts are helping strengthen the state’s emergency management system as the commonwealth prepares for future disasters.
What This Means for You
- Pennsylvania emergency responders have completed thousands of hours of disaster preparedness training.
- State teams have deployed to assist disaster recovery efforts in other states.
- The governor’s proposed budget includes funding to support disaster recovery programs.
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency on Thursday outlined recent efforts to improve disaster preparedness, response, and recovery across the state.
Officials said the work includes expanded training programs for emergency management personnel and first responders at the state, county, and municipal levels.
“A comprehensive state-wide emergency management program requires a professionally trained workforce to meet the needs of the communities and people in Pennsylvania that could be affected by disasters,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield.
Training and Certification
Between 2023 and 2025, PEMA delivered nearly 150 courses totaling more than 2,700 hours of training for state agencies, local emergency management officials, and first responders.
During the same period, 214 emergency managers completed certification requirements and received either associate- or professional-level credentials from the agency.
Officials said the certification process requires specialized coursework and practical exercises covering disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. Emergency management professionals must renew certifications every five years by completing at least 75 hours of continuing education and demonstrating ongoing participation in emergency management programs.
Interstate Disaster Response
Pennsylvania has also sent emergency personnel to assist other states responding to natural disasters through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
The compact is a nationwide mutual aid agreement that allows states to share personnel and equipment during emergencies, with the requesting state covering the costs.
Since 2023, more than 100 personnel and specialized teams from Pennsylvania agencies—including PEMA, PennDOT, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Pennsylvania National Guard—have deployed to states including California, Vermont, Hawaii, North Carolina, Florida, Alaska, and Rhode Island.
“These deployments provide invaluable opportunities for our teams to refine the very skills they would need to respond effectively to a major disaster here in the Commonwealth,” said PEMA EMAC Coordinator Jonathan Anschutz.
Recovery Efforts and New Tools
PEMA officials also highlighted efforts to improve disaster recovery operations within Pennsylvania.
The agency recently trained emergency management professionals on a new damage assessment tool integrated into the state’s crisis management system. Local officials use the tool to evaluate disaster damage at the municipal level and determine whether communities may qualify for federal or state disaster assistance.
“Damage assessments are the backbone of the recovery process,” said PEMA Deputy Director for Recovery Larry West. “They set the foundation for recovery and help determine which areas may qualify for disaster assistance.”
Funding for Disaster Recovery
Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2026–27 budget includes $5 million for the Disaster Recovery Assistance Program, which provides aid to residents recovering from disasters.
Since the program was created in 2023, it has provided more than $450,000 in assistance to Pennsylvanians affected by events including flooding in Somerset County and apartment building fires in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
State officials also said PEMA has been authorized to establish a Commonwealth Public Assistance Program to help municipalities repair damaged public infrastructure when federal aid is not available.
Officials said the effort is intended to ensure communities can recover more quickly after disasters and maintain critical infrastructure.
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