DMORTs are specialized teams that manage mass fatalities. They consist of forensic scientists, coroners, and other support personnel who handle every step of the process from identifying victims to disposing of remains. DMORTs are overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services and may also travel internationally for humanitarian work. Members must remain certified and accredited in their specialties and attend continuing education classes to keep their skills sharp. They also work with family members to assist in the process of applying for remains and benefits.
A DMORT is a Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team, a group of individuals who work together to manage mass fatalities. In the United States, DMORTs come from 10 regions, and the DMORT system is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services. A DMORT may also travel internationally on humanitarian work to assist with mass deaths in nations that may have trouble handling such events on their own.
The concept of the DMORT was developed in the 1980s, in response to concerns about how mass casualties were being handled. Family members of victims often complained about the process, feeling it was too slow and that they were not treated with respect, and the concept was developed of developing a specialized team that could deploy to the scene of a disaster.
When a DMORT arrives on site, they’re ready to handle every step of the process, starting with identifying the victim and ending with disposing of the remains. The team includes forensic scientists, coroners, forensic anthropologists, x-ray technicians, fingerprint specialists, funeral directors, pathologists, forensic odontologists, investigators, transcripts and other support personnel. Often, a DMORT will deploy a Disaster Portable Morgue Unit (DPMU), which is like a forensic lab in a box.
Members of a DMORT are civilians, who usually have busy lives beyond their DMORT duties. When the decision to activate a DMORT is made, civilians are treated as federal employees for the duration of the deployment, which entitles them to certain protections and benefits. After the need for the DMORT is over, the team members disperse to return to their normal lives.
Members of a DMORT team must remain certified and accredited in their specialties and many of them are among the most talented in their fields. They regularly attend continuing education classes, conferences, and other events to keep their skills sharp, and also attend DMORT training and meetings with other team members. The goal is to keep people awake and alert at all times so that when a DMORT is needed, people can spring into action quickly, as time is often of the essence in a mass fatal event.
In addition to working directly with victims of mass deaths, DMORTs also work with family members, bringing together people who may have separated and assisting individuals in the process of applying for remains and benefits. For example, after Hurricane Katrina, the Find Family National Call Center was administered by a DMORT that worked with victims to help them find family members, pledging to stay open for at least two years and possibly longer.
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