Federal disaster team visits Buchanan County for first-ever training exercise at fairgrounds
EASTON, Mo. (KQTV) -- A specialized federal team made its first visit to Buchanan County this week, conducting training exercises at the county's newly opened fairgrounds, not to prepare for a disaster, but to ensure that if one strikes, every victim is brought home.
The Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team, or DMORT, is a federal unit under the Department of Health and Human Services.
Unlike typical first responders, DMORT's mission is to identify remains following mass fatality incidents such as tornadoes, airplane crashes, or other large-scale tragedies.
This week's event marked the first time the Region 7 team, which covers Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri, has trained in Buchanan County since the fairgrounds' recent opening.
The team partnered with the Buchanan County Emergency Management Agency and local first responders, including EMS, police, and fire departments, for a collaborative exercise aimed at building relationships and mutual understanding.
"We're showing first responders and local law enforcement exactly what we do," said Kevin Willis, Team Commander for DMORT Region 7. "Some of them have never heard of us. We're learning what they do, and they're learning what we do, so we can all work together should something happen."
Willis, who has been with the team for around 20 years, explained that DMORT is activated when a local community's resources are overwhelmed.
The team works under the direction of the local coroner or medical examiner and brings in specialized professionals including forensic pathologists, DNA experts, fingerprint analysts, and X-ray technicians to identify deceased individuals.
The training involved scenario-based collaboration, allowing local agencies to see how DMORT operates while giving the federal team insight into local search-and-recovery procedures.
Willis emphasized the importance of networking, noting that knowing "who the players are" ahead of time can make all the difference in a real crisis.
"Should something happen, we're able to communicate better now because we know who each other are," he said.
Every member of the team, he said, takes pride in their work for one reason: ensuring that families receive closure.
"We're sad that the families have to go through this," Willis said. "But it's important to us that we play a role in making sure that their family members get home. We do this in such an honorable, dignified, and respectful way."
While no mass casualty event has struck Buchanan County in recent decades, officials say the training serves as a critical step in preparedness, not only by teaching locals how to respond, but by showing them what resources are available when they need help the most.
