You are hereAbout DMAT CA-11
About DMAT CA-11
Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) CA-11 was founded in 2000 as a team under the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), then a part of the U.S. Public Health Service. From 2003 until 2007, we were part of the Department of Homeland Security. Currently, we are under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Our mission is to provide care to this nation during times of disaster or events of national significance (such as inaugurations, and major sporting events). Occasionally, members of the NDMS are tasked for roles outside the U.S., usually within U.S. territories.
DMATs are composed of medical and non-medical personnel, although the vast majority have medical certification and/or licensure. Medical personnel range from emergency medical technicians through physicians, and also encompassing nurses, clinical laboratory scientists, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, and more. Non-medical personnel have backgrounds in communications, electronics, and/or logistics. Teams deploy typically as 35 members, but smaller and larger teams deploy as needed.
DMAT CA-11 members have proudly served their country at Ground Zero in 2001 and 2002, during hurricanes Charlie, and Ivan in 2004, and deployed as a team to New Orleans following hurricane Katrina in 2005, and hurricane Ike in 2008. Individuals have also been an integral part of the presidential inauguration in January 2009.
Being a part of a DMAT involves commitment. We are intermittent federal employees. We earn money when on deployment, and for some training. Aside from worker's compensation, there are no other benefits from federal employment. We work in austere conditions, quite frequently as a result of a disaster in a region. Work can be very demanding, and deployments are typically 2 weeks in length.
Our team meets every other month in the Sacramento, CA area. We also have training exercises to help maintain readiness for deployment.
