Pennsylvania Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (PA-HART)

Pennsylvania Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (PA-HART) will provide a highly specialized aerial search and rescue team and overall air asset for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the nation to respond to natural and manmade disasters as well as other incidents.

Civilian agencies contiguously identify aviation support as the biggest gap filled by Defense Support to Civilian Authorities (DSCA) • This identification led to the founding of PA-HART through a joint initiative in 2006 • Multiple states have developed a HART Program capable of responding to widespread domestic emergencies, leveraging already available Federal/State/Local agency Asset • Pennsylvania continues to diligently advance the standards set forth by HART teams in North Carolina, Colorado, Texas, California, Virginia, and West Virginia who have robust programs dating back to as early as 2004

PA-HART is a joint-partnership between the Pennsylvania Army National Guard (PANG) and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) along with civilian rescue technicians and civilian-trained swift water rescue specialists

The Special Medical Response Team (SMRT) serves as a sponsoring agency, providing additional medical capability as well as direct support for the civilian technicians.