2. Ohio Mortuary OPERATIONAL Response Team Capabilities Brief

3. Purpose Mission Capabilities
State level mass fatality response capability ready and available when called to support management of a mass fatality incident.
Mission
Support local authorities with the capability to scientifically identify and return the remains of disaster victims to their family in the most professional and dignified manner as possible.
Capabilities 
The capabilities contained within OMORT include Search & Recovery (S&R), Mobile Morgue Operations, Victim Identification Center (VIC), and Command & Control (C2). 2

4. Phase I: Pre-Deployment Phase II: Deployment Phase III: Recovery/Reset
Deployment Time-Frame
Advance Party 1:  ADVON 1 (IST), 2 hours from notification to departing for mission site.
Advance Party 2:  ADVON 2 (C2), 4 hours from notification to departing for mission site.
Main Team:  6 hours from notification to departing for mission site.
Note:  Notification equals approval from Ohio EMA to deploy to mission site. 7

5. Unit Manning Roster (UMR)
Entire organization = 130 personnel
Type I Deployment Manning Document (DMD)
Entire team (84 personnel)
12 hour per day capability (single team), rotation of team 2 after 1 week
One week (non-federal; in-state)
12-hours per day (one shift per day)
Type II Deployment Manning Document (DMD)
Modular Package
S&R (28 personnel)
VIC (23 personnel)
Morgue Ops (43 personnel)
Type III Deployment Manning Document (DMD)
Individual augmentation (i.e., critical need for a Forensic Dentist) 8

6. ELEMENTS OF MASS FATALITY RESPONSE CAPABILITIES
Search & Recovery - When a disaster or major incident occurs, the first on-site responders are the local fire department, law enforcement, and emergency medical technicians.  If the incident involves mass fatalities, the Medical Examiner/Coroner Office is notified and responds with a scene evaluation team and search and recovery teams.  The next level of responders can include county, state, federal and out-of-area groups, such as specialized search and rescue teams.  In incidents involving chemical, biological, or radiological contamination, specialized teams are called in to manage search, recovery and decontamination of remains at the incident site.  
OMORT Capability: This capability is comprised of the following specialties: Transportation, Safety, Forensics, and Search Teams.
Deployment.  This element contains 19 personnel during Type I deployments (with the entire OMORT) or 28 personnel during a Type II deployment (S&R Module Only).
Note:  OMORT can expand S&R capacity when just that specific capability is required by pulling personnel from other elements (all are cross-trained in S&R). 3

7. ELEMENTS OF MASS FATALITY RESPONSE CAPABILITIES
Mobile Morgue Operations - Morgue Services are organized to support the highest standards for morgue operations, decedent identification, and data management. This is critical to ensuring the efficient, accurate, and timely identification of the deceased.   
OMORT Capability:
Forensic Group - Specialties include Radiology, Pathology, Anthropology, Finger Printing, Dental and DNA.
Admitting/Processing Group - Specialties include Property & Personal Artifacts, Embalming/Casketing, Remains Storage and Remains Escort.
Deployment.  This element contains 34 personnel during Type I deployments (with the entire OMORT) or 43 personnel during a Type II deployment (Mobile Morgue Operations Module Only). 4

8. ELEMENTS OF MASS FATALITY RESPONSE CAPABILITIES
Victim Identification Center - The Victim Identification Center (VIC) directly supports the Family Assistance Center (FAC) following a mass fatality incident (MFI). Although the specific needs of those impacted by a MFI will vary widely, family assistance presumes that the provision of information and access to services is essential.  The VIC works for and supports the FAC with a specific mission to interview family members to assist in the identification of remains.
OMORT Capability: IR Section - Specialties include Data Entry Specialists and Records Management Specialists.
Ante Mortem Information Intake Section - Specialties include Family Interview Specialists.
Deployment.  This element contains 14 personnel during Type I deployments (with the entire OMORT) or 23 personnel during a Type II deployment (VIC Module Only). 5

9. ELEMENTS OF MASS FATALITY RESPONSE CAPABILITIES
Command & Control (C2) - Under the direction of the Strike Team Leader, provide C2 for both Type I and Type II deployments.
OMORT Capability: Under the direction of the Strike Team Leader, the OMORT provides C2 for both Type I and Type II deployments. Type I Deployment - During a deployment when the capabilities of the entire team are required, the team deploys with 84 personnel.  Type II Deployment - During a deployment when one (or more) capabilities are required (specific modules), but not the entire team, OMORT will deploy a C2 element to support the capability requirement (9 personnel). 6

10. Requesting the OMORT - Exercises
If you would like the OMORT to participate in a county or regional level exercise, contact Jack Smith, OMORT Program Manager, NCMR, WSU at All costs to cover the deployment of team assets for exercises (unless previously coordinated with NCMR and covered by other funding) is the responsibility of the requesting agency (either state or county). Therefore, it is important that participation is identified early and these costs are factored into the exercise budget. These costs include: subsistence (either contract meals or per diem at $46 per day) and lodging (no personnel costs since team members are volunteers.) Note: Scheduling of exercises need panned as far out as possible to ensure team availability. 13

11. Requesting the OMORT - Missions
If you need the assistance of the OMORT for an actual mission (either the full team or an individual module) the County EMA must request support through the State of Ohio EMA. The State EMA, as the Executive Agency for OMORT, is the single authorizing authority for deployment of the team under ESF #8. All costs to cover the deployment of the team assets are the responsibility of the requesting agency (either state or county). These costs include: subsistence (either contract meals or per diem at $46 per day), lodging, round-trip mileage from member home of record, expendable items used during the mission and fuel to move ground fleet to/from mission site (no personnel costs since team members are volunteers.) The requesting agency (state or county) must also provide Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and limited liability coverage for team members. 14

12. Questions? Jack E. Smith II MA, CPM, EMT-P
Associate Director for Emergency Management
& Response Operations, OMORT Program Manager 15