The 20th Anniversary of the Quecreek Mine Rescue was celebrated last week at the Somerset County Mine Rescue Site organized by the Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation.

On July 24, 2002 miners broke through into an abandoned, water-filled mine flooding the Quecreek Mine with over 150 million gallons of water.  Nine miners scrambled to safety, but nine were trapped in a pocket of air in the dark, cold, water filled mine.

The nine miners were rescued four days later through the combined efforts of state and federal mine rescue agencies and hundreds of workers and local volunteers.

Here is media coverage about the 20th anniversary this week--

-- TribLive Editorial: Quecreek Mine Rescue Brought Us Together, It Would Serve Us Well To Remember That

-- WTAJ: 20 Years: Fmr Gov. Schweiker Reflects On Quecreek Mine Rescue [Video]

-- Tribune-Democrat: ‘Lasting Bond’: Fmr Gov. Schweiker Looking Forward To Reunion With Quecreek Miners

-- TribLive - Renatta Signorini: 20th Anniversary Of The Quecreek Mine Rescue: ‘A Complete Miracle’

-- TribLive - Paul Peirce: ‘77 Hours Of Sheer Hell’: Fmr Gov. Mark Schweiker Says Quecreek Rescue Proof Miracles Do Happen

-- TribLive - Paul Peirce: ‘Burst Of Joy’: Good Feelings Still Reverberate 20 Years After First Word That Quecreek Miners Were Alive

-- TribLive - Renatta Signorini: ‘That Was My Last Day’: Quecreek Miner Says Of Rescue Date After 30-Year Career

-- TribLive - Renatta Signorini: How Rescuers Saved The Trapped Quecreek Miners

-- TribLive - Renatta Signorini:  A Timeline Of Events In Quecreek Mine Rescue

-- TribLive - Deb Erdley: Mine Safety Emerged As Top Priority After Quecreek Mine Accident

-- AP: 6 Of 9 Miners Rescued At Quecreek Mine 20 Years Ago Gather For Reunion

-- Daily American: How 2 Events-- Crash Of Flight 93, Quecreek Mine Rescue-- Less Than A Year Apart Changed Somerset County Forever

-- Erie Times: The Quecreek Mine Rescue: How Excellent Training And Crucial Decisions Saved 9 Lives

-- Tribune-Democrat: ‘Special And Spectacular’: Quecreek Mine Rescuers Celebrate Teamwork 20 Years Later

-- Tribune-Democrat: Quecreek Miners, Rescuers Reunite To Commemorate 20th Anniversary Of Historic Event

-- PennLive: ‘Nine For Nine’: The 20th Anniversary Of The Miraculous Quecreek Mine Rescue

-- KDKA: Quecreek Miner Shares Story Of Survival As 20th Anniversary Approaches

-- WPXI: Quecreek Mine Collapse Survivor, Robert ‘Boogie’ Pugh Looks Back On Experience 20 Years Later

-- Tribune-Democrat: For Miner Unger, Quecreek Rescue Meant Opportunity To Live Life To Fullest

-- Tribune-Democrat: ‘Miracle’ Of Quecreek Mine Rescue Worth Retelling, Remembering For Property Owner Where Rescue Happened 20 Years Ago

-- Post-Gazette: 20 Years Later, Quecreek Mine Visitor Center Works To Keep Story Of Rescue Alive

-- TribLive: Quecreek Miners, Fmr Gov. Schweiker Kick Off Rescue Reunion

-- Post-Gazette: Quecreek 20 Years Later - Miners Reunite At Racetrack

-- WJAC: ‘Nine For Nine’: 20th Anniversary Of Quecreek Mine Rescue Celebrated This Weekend

Resource Links:

-- Commonwealth Media Services: Quecreek Mine Rescue - Critical Decisions  [Video]

-- Click Here for the DEP Commemorative Booklet “Nine for Nine” with lots of photos from each phase of the rescue and the names of key DEP players.

-- Click Here for the DEP Timeline Of The Quecreek Mine Rescue.

-- Feature: Rock - Water - Air: A Personal Account Of The 2002 Quecreek Mine Rescue - By Former DEP Secretary David Hess  [PaEN] 

[Posted: July 24, 2022]

7/25/2022