Legal Definitions - National Disaster Medical System

The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) is a unit of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Its main responsibility is to train, equip, and deploy teams of emergency medical responders during disasters and emergencies. NDMS also coordinates the transportation of people affected by these emergencies.

For example, during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, NDMS deployed medical teams to provide care to those affected by the disaster. They also coordinated the transportation of patients to hospitals outside of the affected area when local hospitals were overwhelmed.

Another example is during the COVID-19 pandemic, NDMS has been involved in setting up field hospitals and providing medical personnel to assist in areas with high numbers of cases.

Overall, NDMS plays a crucial role in responding to emergencies and disasters, ensuring that medical care is provided to those in need and that transportation is coordinated efficiently.