DMORTs are made up of professionals (doctors, dentists, forensic scientists, police officers, medical examiners, funeral home directors, medical investigators, and other technical specialists) from all across America who volunteer to make themselves available to assist the nation in the event of a mass fatality incident that overwhelms local and state resources. FEMA calls up these professionals on very short notice when disaster strikes.

When DMORT members are called up, they leave their homes, families and jobs for two-week deployments, usually working 12-hour days, seven days a week. They often live in Spartan conditions, sometimes sleeping on cots, in tents or on the ground, often eating cold meals on the go. Some will extend their stay for more than two weeks or in a long-term mission such as the response to Hurricane Katrina, they may rotate out and back several times.