Team Profile and History:

In 1983 the President of the United States declared, by executive order, the formation of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS). NDMS was to have two functions:

Create a system whereby civilian hospital beds could be used in the event of a disaster within the U.S. and create Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) who could respond to those disasters.
Representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), the Defense Department (DoD), the Health and Human Services Department (DHHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were tasked with the implementation of this Executive Order with DHHS as the lead agency.

In 1985 Dr. Paul Rega, while attending a conference, heard about the National Disaster Medical System and became interested in setting up a Toledo Area Disaster Medical Assistance Team. By 1986, representatives from some Toledo area hospitals started forming teams. Teams formed at St. Vincent Medical Center, St. Charles Hospital, The Toledo Hospital and Medical College Hospitals. During the years from 1990-1992 the Toledo Area DMATs became more organized and participated in several disaster drills and training exercises. In 1991, the original sponsor of the Toledo Area DMATs, the Regional Emergency Medical Services of Northwest Ohio (REMSNO) decided to drop sponsorship of the team after NW Ohio voters failed to renew the levy supporting the agency. In the fall of 1991, Churton Budd encouraged the Medical College of Ohio (MCO) and NDMS to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which established MCO as the local supporting agency of the Toledo Area DMAT. As a supporting agency, MCO agreed to assume sponsorship of the Toledo Area DMAT and provide a meeting place and administrative support of the Toledo Area DMAT. Although sponsored by MCO, it is recognized that the Toledo DMAT is composed of members of all four area hospitals and can only function with their continued support.

Timeline:

1986 TADMAT Formed: Sponsored by the Regional Emergency Medical Services of Northwest Ohio (REMSNO) the TADMAT is one of the first groups of volunteers organized into a group primarily to become a DMAT. Prior to this, other DMATs had been formed from already established response teams or as a response arm of a civilian or military/VA hospital. The TADMAT was actually formed as three teams (OH-1 A: administrative arm, OH-1 B: TTH, OH-1 C St. Charles Hospital. MCO Joined as OH-1 D in mid1989, and St. Vincent's Hospital as OH-1 E in 1990).
11/20/1988 High Rise Disaster Drill: Members of the TADMAT participate in their first disaster drill, A simulated fire in the Owens-Corning tower.
05/07/1989 Airport Disaster Drill: The TADMAT participates in its first Toledo Express Airport disaster drill. The first of many.
09/29/1989 First Major Deployment of NDMS Team: The Albuquerque, New Mexico (NM-1) DMAT responds to St. Croix after it was devastated by Hurricane Hugo. This was the first major response of the National Disaster Medical System.
10/1990 Persian Gulf War thwarts national NDMS drill, team has local drill instead: This was going to be an NDMS national level drill, but Air support to travel to Tennessee was withdrawn due to trouble in the Persian Gulf. The team held a drill locally instead. (There are 16 other established DMAT's in the NDMS at this time - The TADMAT has 180 persons on the roster with 71 approved at the Federal level)
11/1991 TADMAT loses its sponsor: Lucas County voters turn down the REMSNO levy. The TADMAT and NDMS receive a letter canceling their sponsorship of the team. The TADMAT is advised by NDMS to find another sponsor.
04/16/1992 MOU with MCO as new sponsor: NDMS Director, Thomas Reutershan visits Toledo and convinces Dr. Frank McCullough of the Medical College of Ohio to sign an MOU with NDMS as the new team sponsor.
August 1992 Hurricane Andrew: the TADMAT was activated by NDMS and deployed with a 66 member complement to the South Miami Florida area to treat victims of Hurricane Andrew. The TADMAT treated over 3000 victims at three sites during a 4 day medical mission, sent a medical sortie into the Everglades, provided administrative assistance and manpower to the NDMS Management Support Unit and provided medical assistance to the military at our site during the 10 day deployment The TADMAT was the only DMAT functioning during the Labor Day weekend 1992 in the disaster area.
09/17/1992 CATEX 92: The teams first national level NDMS drill. The TADMAT sends members to Long Prairie, MN for CATestrophic EXercise '92. As we had just returned from a 10 day deployment, only a handful of team members are able to deploy. This drill was to be as practice for a larger exercise in October.
10/22/1992 NDMS '92 / Steel Cure II: The TADMAT sends about 30 members to Cape Girardeau, MS for another national level disaster drill. The team is co-located at Cape Girardeau Fire Station with the MI-1 DMAT a Navy medical unit and an Army Aid Station unit.
November 1992 TADMAT participates in Andrew Debriefing: Paul Rega, Kelly Burkholder-Allen and Churton Budd travel to Washington to participate in an NDMS Debriefing of the Andrew Deployment. Lessons learned from this deployment are invaluable.
January 1993 TADMAT initiates yearly dues: In an effort to trim the roster to only those truly interested in the TADMAT, a $10 yearly dues is approved by majority team vote. A point system based on attendance and training for choosing who deploys or participates in major drills is also set up.
March 1993 Deb Pfann accepts post as treasurer: TADMAT makes agreement with the MCO Foundation to set up a not-for-proffit account and the team establishes a formal bank account with them. Deb Pfann accepts the post of team Treasurer.
April 1993 Head of NDMS changes hands: Tom Reutershan is replaced by Dr. Frank Young as head of the NDMS.
May 1993 TADMAT meets with Congressperson: The team leadership meet with Marcy Kaptur, congressperson to make her aware of the team.
June 1993 SUMEX '93: The first of TADMATs SUMmer EXercise series. The team erects a GP medium tent in 9 1/2 minutes.
10/9/1993 Airport Disaster Drill: The TADMAT participates in LifeSaver '93, another Toledo Express Airport disaster drill. Kelly Burkholder Allen and Churton Budd are interviewed on Channel 24 news regarding this drill and the TADMAT.
October 1993 TADMAT has first fund-raiser: The TADMAT raises about $500 at a fund-raiser a the Arby's restaurant.
October 1993 Voicemail: MCO gives the team a voicemail number to announce team meetings and deployment updates.
October 1993 Kiwanis donate generator: The westgate chapter of the Kiwanis donate a 5KW generator to the team.
October 1993 TADMAT becomes a LEVEL - 1 team: As part of the NDMS team development program, the TADMAT is recognized as a LEVEL-1 team.
December 1993 Haitian / Cuban Refugee Crisis: Paul Rega and Churton Budd travel to Atlanta, GA for a 1 day seminar and planning session by NDMS on how best to prepare teams to handle an influx of refugees.
January 1994 GIS Experts: TADMAT establishes a relationship with the University of Toledo Geography and Planning department for Geographic Information Systems and mapping support during a deployment.
January 1994 Northridge Earthquake: the TADMAT was placed on alert to prepare for deployment of 15 persons (five, three person teams of MD's, RN's and EMTP's) to assist victims of the Northridge, California earthquake (01/17/94). The TADMAT was next to be activated for deployment, but was staged down when California Emergency Management officials decided that the response was being handled appropriately by local assets.
January 1994 Resupply Load: The team takes possession of the long awaited NDMS DMAT Resupply Load which consists of about $167,000.00 worth of soft / disposable medical supplies.
February 1994 NDMS BBS: NDMS establishes an electronic Bulletin Board System that was set up by Churton Budd at NDMS HQ.
August 1994 Battalion Aid Station equipment: The TADMAT received an unexpected an unannounced load of equipment from a decommissioned Army Battalion Aid Station that NDMS acquired.
September 1994 Dr Frank Young speaks at Grand Rounds: Dr. Young, visits Toledo to speak at the Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds.
September 1994 TADMAT develops DOSS: The team has developed a tool for pre/post disaster assessment called the Disaster Outreach Severity Score (DOSS). A field test of this using GPS mapping is performed in a Maumee neighborhood.
October 1994 NM-1 Disaster Medicine Conference: Kelly, Paul and Churton travel to New Mexico for the University of New Mexico Disaster Medicine symposium and present on the Patient Satisfaction Survey of Hurricane Andrew victims.
March 1995 NDMS National Conference in Nashville, TN: Kelly, Paul & Don McConnoughy, Churton all present lectures at this conference.
06/24/1995 OAEMS Conference disaster training: TADMAT puts on an 8 hour session including a field demonstration on "Disaster Management for all levels"
June 1995 TADMAT Khaki Uniforms: The team receives a supply of khaki uniforms from NDMS as the color is adopted as a national uniform standard.
July 1995 OMAT Forms: In an effort to try to establish an MOU with the State of Ohio, the TADMAT, OH-5 Dayton DMAT, OH-6 Youngstown DMAT and Cincinnati Medical Assistance Team form a formal group called the Ohio Medical Assistance Teams.
August of 1995 Hurricane Marilyn: the TADMAT was deployed to assist victims of Hurricane Marilyn in St. Thomas, USVI. The 38 member team deployed for 9 days and functioned in place of the Emergency Department of St. Thomas Hospital. The MA-1 team was co-located at the TADMAT site and the two teams provided round the clock emergency care to over 1500 victims in that one week. The TADMAT was rendering care 4 days after the hurricane hit the island. The team leaves all our equipment for incoming DMATs with a promise by NDMS that our assets will be replaced.
September 1995 Airshow: The TADMAT provides medical support for the Toledo Express Airshow '95. Meeting this commitment was difficult due to all of our team equipment being left in St. Thomas after our response there.
October 1995: TADMAT Special Committee (Fogel Committee) forms: In an effort to address team moral issues.
November 1995 Fall Field Exercises / Boy Scout Training: The team holds our annual field exercises with a new twist; almost 200 boy scouts also attend the two day event and receive training for their Disaster Response merit badge. They then act as victims for our mass casualty exercise.
November 1995 MOU with State of Ohio: The Ohio teams and the State of Ohio are ready to sign an MOU and have a date set. A few days prior to this event, the state cancels as the MOU as illness and resignations in their ranks occur. The MOU is never signed !
November 1995 Supply Officer resigns: The TADMAT Supply officer resigns. After discussion, his resignation is withdrawn
June 1996 county disaster drill: the team participates in TeamEffort '96 a county wide disaster drill. The TADMAT is the major medical treatment provider for this exercise and sets up a field hospital / casualty clearing point.
June 1996 fund raiser: The TADMAT holds a co-shop fund raiser at local PHARM stores.
July and August of 1996 Summer Olympic Games: team members from the TADMAT deployed to the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Team members underwent hazardous materials training and readiness and learned skills necessary to respond in the event of a chemical or biological weapon of mass destruction. Fortunately, no team members were required to respond to an actual event but the deployment was considered a good mobilization and training exercise.
October 1996 fall field exercises: the team holds is annual field exercises. Poor showing of team members but the team still hosts the Boy Scouts.
Spring 1997: Dr. Paul Rega deploys to Grand Forks as the Medical Officer for the response to the North Dakota Floods
September 1997 action Committee forms: Due to problems with our Executive Committee being too large and difficulty in getting a majority of the group together, the TADMAT leadership is restructured into an Action Committee and gives itself 1 year to complete a team reorganization.
October 1998 Storage are relocates: In a rush over a weekend, the TADMAT is told to vacate the Douglas Bldg. Lucas County ignores its MOU requiring 90 days written notice. MCO comes through for the team and provides storage in recently acquired space from TMHC.
December 1998 Unit Commander resigns: Paul Rega resigns as Unit Commander. Churton Budd is appointed Unit Commander and team leadership reorganization begins with the dissolution of the Action Committee after it's 1 year timeline.
January 1999 team elections: The team initiates elections of two new Deputy Commanders. The team establishes a Team Leadership Group consisting of the Unit Commander and four Deputy Commanders. The Special Committee begins working on team by-laws.
March 1999 winter drill: the team holds another winter drill at the Pearson Metropark Lodge.
April 1999 NATO 50th deployment: The team deploys to Washington DC to stand by in the event of a terrorist or WMD act during the NATO 50th Annual conference.
May 1999 NDMS national conference Wash DC: Kelly Burkholder-Allen is appointed as a future chair of the National Associations of DMATs (her term is to start in 2001). Paul Rega accepts the teams volunteer of the year award.
May 1999 Operation Provide Refuge: One of our team members, Jackie Hogan, deploys to Ft. Dix, NJ to assist in providing medical care to over 4000 Kosovo Refugee's
June 1999 $3000 donated: TADMAT receives a $3000 donation from the Lutheran Brotherhood
July 1999 TADMAT community open house: the team holds a local community open house to try to heighten team members employers and local community leaders awareness of the team.
September 1999 Hurricane Floyd deployment: The team deploys to Ft. Jackson, SC to stand by in the event Hurricane Floyd causes major damage or injury. As Floyd turns back over the Atlantic, the team is demobilized without needing to be utilized.
October 1999 additional bank account: The TADMAT gets an additional bank account outside of the MCO Foundation. This is the first step in our achieving Not-For-Proffit status.
December 1999 Y2K: The TADMAT prepares for a response to Y2K issues. The team is not needed.
January 2000 elections: The team passes its first by-laws. Deb Pfann is re-elected treasurer and Joyce Payne is elected Secretary of the TADMAT.
March 2000 winter drill: the team holds our annual winter drill
March 2000 Terrorism training: The team jointly sponsors a terrorism training symposium with Toledo Fire.
June 2000 Field Exercises: focusing on our module II training program, the team holds our annual field exercises.
June 2000 CISM officer resigns: Al Swingle resigns in order to enjoy his retirement.
August 2000 Taiwan training: The TADMAT gets invited to TAIWAN to provide almost 72 hours worth of training to medical personnel in Taipei who are forming two DMATs. Paul Rega and Kelly Burkholder-Allen travel and complete this task.
September 2000 Funding for storage facility: The team receives funding for warehouse space in order to move our $250,000 worth of equipment to a stable storage facility.
October 2000 fall field exercises: This years training also included MEDTEAMS training.
November 2000 team moves equipment: The team moves our equipment and takes possession of our new storage facility. 1500 sq. ft. with climate control.
January 2001 Presidential Inauguration: John VanRynan (Volunteer of the year) deploys to Washington DC for the inauguration.
April 2001 Kelly Burkholder-Allen becomes NADMAT Chair: At the 2001 NDMS conference, Kelly moved to first chair of the National Association of Disaster Response Teams
August 2001 First in team: TADMAT was a first in team for the month of August
August 2001 TADMAT on advisory for Hurricane Barry: The TADMAT was placed on advisory for 1 week while Hurricane Barry moved into the gulf near florida and came ashore.