Missouri SEMA Disaster Medical Assistance Team
The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Medical Assistance Team (MO DMAT-1) has deployed for numerous missions and disasters throughout its existence. Since 2010, this has included providing onsite assistance at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.
“The Missouri State Fair Volunteer Fire Department responds to all emergency calls on the fairgrounds each year,” State Fair Fire Department Public Information Officer Larry Eggen said. “We staff 5 ALS ambulances and 4 engines at our station, and we average 74 personnel daily during the fair. Without the assistance of DMAT, we would not have been able to process all the incoming calls during peak hours with our preferred level of speed. We handled more than 25 calls during a 4-hour period on Saturday, August 9, with the assistance of this team. The deployment of the mobile hospital on the fairgrounds allows us the ability to handle the call volume and not strain the local hospital and ambulance district. We had representatives from 75 FFAM member departments volunteer working throughout the duration of the 2025 fair and we appreciate their direct support of this mission.”
MO DMAT-1 staffs the 7-bed mobile medical unit all 11 days to help ease the strain on local response partners, including the Missouri State Fair Fire Department, by providing logistical and medical support on the fairgrounds near the Missouri State Highway Patrol office.
“We appreciate the important partnership from MO DMAT-1 during Missouri’s largest agriculture showcase,” Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn said. “Extreme heat conditions on several days of the Missouri State Fair led to medical issues for a number of fairgoers. The DMAT was critical during these times and we thank them for their efforts to keep people safe.”
This year, MO DMAT-1 also partnered with the Missouri Department of Mental Health, embedding a Behavioral Health Strike Team (BHST). This team was available to provide psychological first aid for fairgoers who may need medical attention or have behavioral health care needs.
“The BHST is often the first to interact with individuals in need of medical attention,” Missouri Department of Mental Health Director Valerie Huhn said. “The BHST team does an exceptional job of keeping everyone calm and focused while the medical team steps in to address the physical issues. The BHST and MO DMAT-1 collaboration provides outstanding care for individuals during times of stress and concern. The BHST looks forward to its continued partnership with MO DMAT-1.”
The BHST can be requested to deploy in response to natural and human-made disasters as well as other mass casualty events. You can find more BHST information on the DMH website under Disaster Services: dmh.mo.gov/disaster-services/behavioral-health-strike-team.
“Having MO DMAT-1 onsite during fair operations is a huge benefit, not only to EMS but to fairgoers as well,” EMS Division Battalion Chief Roy Pennington said. “Tending to patients in the medical tent is typically much easier on those who are being treated. It also results in quicker EMS turnaround times, which was especially beneficial when we were busy. Having the BHST onsite was also a key component to our success, not only to assist with metal health issues, but to help comfort the families of patients that were brought to the tent. Overall, I give MO DMAT-1 and the BHST a 10/10.”
A total of more than 150 patients were treated by MO DMAT-1, with the most common time-sensitive needs including wound care, IV fluids, and X-ray. Both Saturdays of the State Fair saw the highest influxes of patients, with the high heat and humidity exacerbating chronic conditions in those who were seen by the team. Because of the long hours spent outdoors, limited shade, and large crowds throughout this 11-day event, the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) also handed out iced-down cooling towels to help attendees combat the extreme heat and reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses by providing quick relief.
“Establishing robust healthcare capabilities in the field isn’t only about readiness but also about responsibility,” SEMA Director Jim Remillard said. “Especially if someone is experiencing a heat-related illness or serious injury – immediate medical attention is critical, and a rapid response can be lifesaving. Our goal is to ensure that regardless of the environment or conditions, MO DMAT-1 is equipped to meet evolving needs and serve citizens with the highest levels of care and compassion during times of crisis.”
For four days of the State Fair, MO DMAT-1 also assisted with onsite response at Washington Town & Country Fair by utilizing a separate deployable 6-bed mobile medical unit. Logistics staffing and setup, especially when it involves multiple locations and unrelated events, is a crucial component of any mobile hospital setting, due to the critical need of medical services outside a standard healthcare environment.
“Consistent teamwork and our ability to operate as a well-synced team during these annual events keep us mission-ready for when disaster strikes,” MO DMAT-1 Commander Kevin Tweedy said. “From triage to transport, and even in the most challenging conditions – we’re able to maximize speed and efficiency.”
MO DMAT-1’s capacity to provide this type of adaptable, highly specialized medical support is due in large part to the agency’s transformation over the past five years to become a more nimble and rapidly deployable emergency response team capable of meeting a multitude of needs across Missouri – both medical and logistical.
Beginning in 2020 as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response, a multi-agency coordination effort to expand MO DMAT-1’s response capacity resulted in an increase from 148 reserve team members to nearly 300 reserve team members today. Since the pandemic, MO DMAT-1 has completed hundreds of missions in service to Missourians.
“Our team continues to adapt and expand its operations to best serve local communities during disasters and high-profile special events,” MO DMAT-1 Deputy Commander Brendan Bagby said. “Events such as the Missouri State Fair allows our team members to regularly exercise equipment and test operational plans in a real-world environment. We continue to capture lessons learned and feedback from local partners to strengthen our response.”
Earlier this year, MO DMAT-1 was recognized by Governor Mike Kehoe with the Governor’s Award of Quality and Productivity in the Customer Service category for its exceptional work treating victims at the KC Chiefs 2024 Super Bowl celebration. When gunshots were fired on the west side of Union Station, DMAT team members worked jointly with Kansas City Fire Department, law enforcement and local medical personnel to quickly retrieve victims from the crowd and get them to the nearest medical tent where they were triaged, treated and stabilized for transport to the nearest hospital. This mass shooting event is yet another prime example of MO DMAT-1’s increased capacity and ability to respond to a myriad of medical and health care needs on an expedited basis when lives were on the line and seconds count.
“Missouri is one of the few states in the nation with a capability like MO DMAT-1,” Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Mark James said. “The team has the ability to plan for and adapt to virtually any medical need, whether it’s to support extremely high-level medical care during an emergency, providing mass testing and vaccinations, or even providing ongoing nursing care in a rural hospital facing a critical shortage of nurses.”
Currently, the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency has several part-time opportunities available for those interested in joining this high-functioning team. You can learn more about MO DMAT-1 at sema.dps.mo.gov/operations/modmat-momort.htm and apply to the current open positions at mocareers.mo.gov.
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