Our planning also extends to mutual aid from medical facilities across the U.S , under existing military-based networks known as the National Disaster Medical System.

This system is designed to handle mass casualties from battlefields, as well as domestic disasters, like earthquakes that may destroy or otherwise overwhelm local medical systems.

Fortunately, the VA Hospital in Pittsburgh is responsible for coordinating regional NDMS responses and has conducted annual exercises at Pittsburgh International Airport to test capabilities to both send and receive patients.