Members of the
Indiana House have approved legislation, co-sponsored by State Rep. Chuck
Moseley, D-Portage, that will help improve response times during natural
disasters and emergencies by better coordinating resources at the local,
state and national level.
Senate Bill 484
would authorize the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to utilize
national Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) task forces for crises in Indiana.
Since House members offered no amendments to the bill, it advances directly
to Governor Mike Pence for final approval.
“When something
disastrous happens, the Federal Emergency Management Agency deploys the
three closest US&R task forces to support state and local emergency
responders’ efforts,” explained Moseley. “We want to use as many resources
as possible to help people in the aftermath of natural disasters, like
tornados or floods.”
US&R team members
specialize in finding and rescuing trapped victims by safely digging them
out of collapsed concrete and metal structures. Additionally, medical
professionals are on the scene to care for the victims before and after a
rescue.
SB 484 also repeals
the obsolete Interstate Emergency Management and Disaster Compact that was
established in 1953. Indiana, along with the other 49 states, now operates
under the Emergency Management and Assistance Compact.