What's in the boathouse by PNC Park?

Location: City of Pittsburgh River Safety Center, on the Allegheny River by PNC Park

Featured guest: Richard Linn, EMS Division Chief / Operations Chief, River Rescue

3 things that surprised me:

1. When we walked into the City of Pittsburgh River Safety Center I was expecting to see offices or storage rooms but most of the building is a boat garage. This is where the Pittsburgh River Rescue team is stationed 24/7 so that they can respond to emergencies around the area.

2. Pittsburgh River Rescue has been around since 1986 and it's a sort of fusion of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and the Bureau of Police – their mission is to prevent and respond to emergencies in our local waterways. On any given day they could be giving medical care to someone on a boat or looking for a suspect who was last seen by the water. Additionally, when parts of the city flood they can deploy an inflatable raft in those areas to help rescue people who have been stranded by the high waters.

3. When they're not responding to emergencies, Pittsburgh River Rescue's expert divers also help the police recover evidence. In the past they've discovered caches of firearms in the rivers. Occasionally they also get called on to rescue animals that have fallen in the river.