The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide strike teams to Pennsylvania’s hospitals to relieve areas hit hardest by the recent COVID-19 surge from overcrowding.
The federal government will determine where strike teams are placed.
Gov. Tom Wolf made the request for support on Dec. 15. The administration outlined key areas where the state’s health care system needed support battling COVID-19. Areas included additional pandemic response support focused on rural areas and critical staffing support.
“The federal government has responded to Gov. Wolf’s request for additional support for Pennsylvania’s health care system, and we are now meeting with them daily to finalize support plans,” Acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter said. “At this time, we do know that strike teams will be sent to the commonwealth and are working with our federal partners to identify and confirm exact locations and any additional resources.”
FEMA is working with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Defense to identify available resources.
“Any federal assistance will help relieve some pressure on the health system, so there is capacity to treat people who need hospital care,” PEMA Director Randy Padfield said.