National Disaster Medical System HHS is the primary agency for coordinating health, medical and health-related social services under the Federal Response Plan, which provides for medical, mental health and other human services to victims of catastrophic disasters. The NDMS also comprises more than 7,000 private sector medical and support personnel organized into 80 disaster assistance teams. These teams are deployed to provide immediate medical attention to the sick and injured during disasters, as well as mortuary and veterinary care, when local emergency response systems become overwhelmed. HHS also provides medical teams to assist the FBI, Secret Service and Department of State in the field. Preparing for Possible Terrorist Acts Terrorist attacks in Tokyo, Oklahoma City, New York at the World Trade Center, and against U.S. embassies in Africa demonstrate the importance of being prepared to respond.
Early responses are critical, particularly for incidents involving explosives and chemical releases.
Both injury and public panic may be reduced if the government response is prompt and competent. Potential terrorist use of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons raises special concerns because of the potential massive effects of such weapons. The primary consequence of such an attack could be a widespread health and medical emergency that would require the rapid and highly coordinated response of the public and private sectors to assist the victims. The MMRS, which enhances capabilities of the local system, serves to coordinate the public safety, public health and health services sector responses to such a terrorist incident. At the same time, HHS is improving the federal capability to rapidly augment state and local responses.