By Glenn Epps
The Express-Times
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Pa. — Some patients from a Montgomery County nursing home that was forced to close indefinitely Saturday morning will be temporarily sheltered in the Lehigh Valley .
First responders were called to Montgomeryville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center around 3 a.m. on Saturday morning for a fire alarm. The cause of the alarm was determined to be a water main break. It flooded the building, authorities said.
Calls to a number listed for Montgomery Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center were not answered on Sunday afternoon.
Crews worked throughout the morning to evacuate each of the center’s 142 patients and connect them and relocate them to one of several healthcare agencies: Laureldale Rehab Center, Bethlehem South Nursing and Rehab, Sinking Springs Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Manorcare Health Services– West Reading and Easton Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
“Our last Mobile Ambulance Bus got back to quarters at 1:30 p.m.” said Richard Huff, spokesperson for the NJ EMS Task Force.
The NJ EMS Task Force is a non-profit organization that has been operating in the state for more than 20 years. On Saturday, the task force responded to the request for assistance by the Montgomery County EMS.
“We’re glad that we were able to help our colleagues in Pennsylvania,” said Lou Sasso, NJ EMS Task Force Leader. “We’re also proud of our team that rose to the challenge to respond in the bitter cold to help those in need.‘’
The task force brings together more than 200 career and volunteer emergency medical professionals across New Jersey to respond to regional crises ranging from wildfires, floods, hurricanes and major events such as the Super Bowl.
The task force aided the VMSC Lansdale, Montgomery Township Fire Department , and North Penn Fire Company , as well as rescue agencies from Keyport, Ewing and North Brunswick helped to evacuate the nursing home.
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