OHIO MORTUARY
OPERATIONAL RESPONSE TEAM
CAPABILITIES BRIEF
OMORT Capabilities Brief
Purpose
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).
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OMORT Capabilities Brief
Phase I:
Phase II:
Phase III:
Pre-Deployment
Deployment
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.
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OMORT Capabilities Brief
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Unit Manning Roster (UMR)
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Entire organization = 130 personnel
Type I Deployment Manning Document (DMD)
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Entire team (84 personnel)
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Type II Deployment Manning Document (DMD)
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Modular Package
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S&R (28 personnel)
VIC (23 personnel)
Morgue Ops (43 personnel)
One week (non-federal; in-state)
12-hours per day (one shift per day)
Type III Deployment Manning Document (DMD)
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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)
Individual augmentation (i.e., critical need for a Forensic Dentist)
OMORT Capabilities Brief
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).
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OMORT Capabilities Brief
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).
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OMORT Capabilities Brief
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).
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OMORT Capabilities Brief
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).
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OMORT Capabilities Brief
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
jack.smith@wright.edu. 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.
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OMORT Capabilities Brief
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.
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OMORT Capabilities Brief
Questions?
Jack E. Smith II
MA, CPM, EMT-P
Associate Director for Emergency Management
& Response Operations, OMORT Program Manager
513-615-8669
jack.smith@wright.edu
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