The NTSB and DMORT

 

In 1996, the NTSB was assigned the role of integrating the resources of the Federal Government with those of local and state authorities and the airlines to meet the needs of aviation disaster victims and their families. The NTSB fulfilled this essential role through its Office of Family Affairs. In July 2002 the NTSB changed the name to the Office of Transportation Disaster Assistance to better reflect the broad range of the Office’s duties, and the extension of its services in many cases to all modes of transportation covered by the NTSB.

Family/victim support coordination, Family Assistance Centers, forensic services, communicating with foreign governments, and inter-agency coordination are just a few of the resources the Office of Transportation Disaster Assistance can provide to help communities and commercial carriers deal with a major transportation disaster. The NTSB Transportation Disaster Assistance Team stands ready around the clock to coordinate effective transportation disaster response.

The NTSB maintains agreements with DMORT and other national entities who assist them in fulfilling their duties when needed. To date, DMORT and the NTSB have worked together on numerous airline and rail incidents.