Allegheny swiftwater rescue team heads for Eastern Pa.

Allegheny County's Swiftwater/Flood Response Team sent three teams of rescuers, inflatable boats and swift-water rescue equipment to Harrisburg for deployment in the eastern half of the state Monday as part of superstorm Sandy rescue efforts.

As the storm lashes the East Coast, with more flooding and damage expected through Tuesday, 16 state certified swift-water rescuers and equipment left Allegheny County's Department of Emergency Services in Point Breeze about 2 p.m. Monday.

“We have three teams available to send out east to help while we still have sufficient resources to cover Allegheny County as needed,” said George McBriar, coordinator of the team and chief of the Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company.

The Swiftwater/Flood Response Team, made up of nine member fire and EMS departments including the Pittsburgh River Rescue Unit and volunteer fire departments from Blawnox, Tarentum and Etna, was established more than three years ago.

The three teams headed to Harrisburg include rescuers from Northwest EMS and volunteer fire departments in Blawnox, Tarentum , Etna, McKeesport, Glassport, Elizabeth and Crescent Township.

The teams are expected to help emergency personnel in the eastern part of the state for at least the next 48 hours, McBriar said.

“Locally, we are in the process of equipping additional teams within the county for flooding that may or may not happen here. We'll be ready for it,” he said.

Water rescue teams from Allegheny County have been deployed for other flooding disasters in the eastern half of the state.

The Allegheny County water-rescue team cancelled water-rescue exercises planned for Sunday on the Allegheny River.

The team was established after Allegheny County had to secure extra help for water-rescue equipment and personnel in 2004 during Hurricane Ivan, when 95 municipalities were under states of emergency.

Mary Ann Thomas is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-226-4691 or mthomas@tribweb.com.