Emergency medical teams from Pennsylvania have arrived in New Jersey to aid residents in the hurricane-ravaged state. Gov. Tom Corbett shook hands with 50 first responders who left Friday morning after rendezvousing at Turnpike Commission headquarters.
The 15 ambulances and heavy duty trucks, some pulling trailers, came from as far west as Allegheny County and Lancaster County to the east. An additional 20 ambulance crews from the Commonwealth also arrived in New Jersey.
These volunteers are part of a regional task force system that was developed state-by-state and nationwide following the 9-11 attacks. Gov. Corbett told the EMT’s that the beauty of this country is that it comes together in time of emergency…even in a very partisan time with the election next Tuesday.
“Everybody is coming together for one sole purpose to help their fellow man, to help their fellow Americans," cited Gov. Tom Corbett. "In this case, the ladies and gentlemen behind me are going to New Jersey to Atlantic City and Met Life Stadium to help people there. We know we can count on these people to come to help us to if we had the same type of problem here.”Jeff Salisbury is one who answered the call. The assistant chief of the Cumberland-Goodwill EMS in Carlisle is on his first out-of-state response.
“Absolutely, I’m sure it will be an experience," Salisbury told us. "Most of all there’s a lot of pride going out to help the people. I think going out there and doing what we do is the most important thing.”
Salisbury and his crew are assigned to the Met Life Stadium in Rutherford, New Jersey. Although he doubts he’ll have the opportunity to attend the Steelers’ game there Sunday, he’ll definitely be rooting for Pittsburgh.
The Governor also said he has approved the deployment of Pennsylvania National Guardmens to New York City. An MP company is to assist with law enforcement and a transportation company will deliver food and other supplies to city residents.