Indy, Cincy, Louisville Team Up For emergency

Indy joins 2 cities in crisis response pact By Vic Ryckaert vic.ryckaert@indystar.com The next time a disaster strikes Indianapolis, rescue crews and equipment from Louisville and Cincinnati will be on the way to help.The three cities announced this morning they are teaming in a regional effort to respond terror attacks or natural disasters. Â"WeÂ're going to take care of each other,Â" Mayor Bart Peterson said. Under the agreement, the cities are pledging to send rescue crews and equipment to help in the event one suffers some kind of event that causes mass destruction, chaos and casualties. Peterson said he hopes the agreement will help avoid the kind of frustration many felt when Hurricane Katrina destroyed parts of Louisiana and Mississippi last year. Â"We can count on Cincinnati and Louisville coming to our aid immediately,Â" Peterson said. Â"ItÂ's all part of this post-9/11 thinking.Â" The tri-city pact allows police, firefighters, public works staffers and other needed services from two cities to mobilize immediately to help the one in need — even before the stateÂ's governor has time to officially declare an area a disaster zone. That quick response can save lives, said Bill Brown, supervisor for Indiana Task Force One. Â"When there is a disaster, the local resources are maxed out,Â" Brown said. Â"Time is of the essence.Â" Brown supervises the federal search and rescue team that responded to New York during 9/11 and to Mississippi during Katrina. Â"In a disaster, we will save precious time and eliminate the red tape by having these relationships,Â" Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson said in a statement. Â"That time saved can mean lives saved.Â" Under the pact, the mayor of the city in need would declare a state of emergency and contact the other two cities for help. The assisting cities would send assistance while maintaining enough resources to protect the folks at home. After the disaster passes, the cities have agreed to work together to obtain any federal or state reimbursement that may be made available.>