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"From the first hours of the emergency, HHS received offers of help from Americans all over the country," Secretary Thompson said. "Since then, many health-related companies and other firms have offered their services, and several foreign governments have also offered help. This tragedy has struck a deep chord of sympathy across the country and around the world."

Offers of resources or services by individuals were processed by HHS' Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP), to determine which might be immediately needed. In most cases, offers are being maintained on record for possible future needs.

"The immediate emergency needs were handled primarily by the local jurisdictions and by the disaster assistance systems that were called rapidly into service," Secretary Thompson said. "However, this emergency will require long commitment and extensive resources. The need for help will extend for a prolonged period, and over time many Americans will be involved in the response to these disasters."

Secretary Thompson emphasized that one long-term need is blood donation. "The need for blood is an on-going, ever-present reality," he said. "This emergency has made the need especially visible, and tens of thousands of people responded. I have the strongest hope that this spirit will now translate into a long-term commitment on the part of millions of Americans to become regular blood donors throughout the year."

Healthy individuals can generally donate blood as often as every eight weeks.

At present, blood supplies are reported adequate in the affected areas and elsewhere in the nation. HHS' new daily blood monitoring system, which began operating last month, shows that reporting hospitals have a 5 to 6-day supply, which is considered fully sufficient. However, the supply needs to be replenished continually, Secretary Thompson noted.

"When this disaster is behind us, the need for blood will still be here, and we need to do a better job in maintaining steady, reliable donation," he said.

Offers from foreign governments included search and rescue resources, blood, and funding. Countries contacting HHS included Brazil, Israel, Japan, Russia, Croatia, Germany, The Netherlands and Australia. In most cases, offers were referred to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to determine need.

HHS response highlights today included:

• Relief of one of the original New York disaster medical teams, with a Florida-based team rotating in
• Continued expansion of duties for the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Teams deployed to New York
• Deployment of additional Epidemic Intelligence Service officers to New York to assist in patient care and measuring follow-up needs
• HHS web site adds new "response" page to improve links and access to information.

Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT)

One of the first DMATs to respond to the need for back-up medical services, coming from White Plains, N.Y., was to be rotated home today, and a DMAT from the Florida panhandle, was taking its place. These DMATs include private sector medical personnel who are made available to city health officials to be deployed as needed in the city. So far, six DMATs have been deployed to New York. DMATs are part of the National Disaster Medical System led by HHS.

Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Teams (DMORT)

So far, four DMORTs have been deployed to New York to assist in victim identification and disposal of remains. Personnel called into service in the DMORTs are deployed as needed by the city's Medical Examiner and Coroner. DMORTs have established a base near the site of the World Trade Center, and are serving in morgues, including temporary facilities. DMORT personnel are also experts in helping families and achieving identification of victims, and some DMORT personnel are serving in two Family Assistance Centers which have been established in New York

(See DMORT Fact Sheet.)

National Medical Response Team (NMRT)

A National Medical Response Team is operating in Washington, D.C., to assist workers at the site of the airplane crash at the Pentagon, including washing down these workers as they leave the site. They have assisted about 1,000 workers in the last 24 hours. HHS supports four NMRTs nationwide, who are trained specifically to confront terrorist situations, including protection from chemical and other dangers.

CDC personnel

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) deployed 14 additional personnel, including 13 members of the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), to assist the New York City Health Department in patient care and follow-up needs. The deployment is in addition to the 35 EIS members sent to New York on Friday, Sept. 14. The EIS officers are assigned to hospitals to assist New York health officials and physicians monitor diseases, conduct a medical and health needs assessment and determine if there are new medical needs or better ways of using deployed health resources. CDC currently has 57 response personnel stationed in New York.

Enhanced Web Page

HHS re-organized its web page to make it easier to find information on resources available to those affected by the
September 11 terrorist attacks. The new home page is a one-stop site for people to turn to for information on how to help if they want to and where to get help for themselves. The site also provides factual information of the public health issues relating to the aftermath of the attack.

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