Army Corps looks at Western Pa. sites for possible overflow medical facilities

The Army Corps of Engineers’ Pittsburgh District has begun evaluating possible alternate medical sites that would be used in the event hospitals are overrun treating patients with covid-19.

The number of covid-19 cases in Western Pennsylvania has not stretched medical systems to the point where more space is needed to treat patients, but authorities want to be prepared before such space might be needed, said Lt. Col. Jonathan Klink, commander of the Pittsburgh District.

The two sites being evaluated Thursday and Friday are in Western Pennsylvania, but the Army Corps would not disclose the locations until the assessments are complete.

Similar work is happening across the country in what is known as the Alternate Care Facility Conversion mission. Hotels, college dormitories and other facilities are being looked at as possible overflow medical sites that would handle either nonemergency patients or patients with covid-19.

Whether a facility becomes an overflow medical site for nonemergency patients or covid-19 patients will be determined by what is most practical and the medical need at the time, Klink said.

It will take about 48 hours to turn over the assessments to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Klink said.

PEMA declined to provide further details because it said the assessments were in progress and no agreements have been finalized.

“PEMA, along with state, federal and local partners, are assessing a number of sites across the state for consideration as possible sites for housing or medical facilities,” spokesman Ruth A. Miller.

Klink said the Army Corps is ready to design and manage the construction of potential alternate care facilities, with construction expected to take three weeks.

“The urgency is the utmost,” Klink said.