Township approves 300-page Emergency Operations Plan

The new plan is several times the size of the old plan.
By LAURA MILOSER
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Neshannock Township supervisors have approved a new Emergency Operations Plan.
According to Supervisor John DiCola Jr., the National Incident Management Systems requires all municipalities to have a plan in place.
"This plan is needed in case of a national disaster or terrorist attack," DiCola said.
He said Wednesday that the township has always had a plan in place, but as a result of Sept. 11, 2001, the township's plan increased from 50 to 300 pages.
David Congini, the townships emergency management coordinator worked on the plan for approximately four months.
DiCola commented that if the township had to create the new plan or risk losing funding from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Approved positions
The supervisors also had to approve a succession of officers if the three supervisors were killed as a result of natural disaster or a terrorist attack. They approved the township solicitor, township secretary treasurer, township emergency management coordinator and the police superintendent.
The supervisors have agreed to participate in the Lawrence County Surplus Food program, which is handled by the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank.
Township Secretary Leslie Bucci said the road department employees would pick up the food boxes at the New Castle Armory on Jan. 13.
The boxes will be distributed between 1 and 3 p.m. that same day at the rear of township municipal building. Volunteers from the fire department will aid in the food distribution.
Bucci said 20 of the 48 eligible residents have already preregistered.