The United States government has a national reserve of critical medical equipment, supplies and medications known as Medical Countermeasures (MCM)(Formerly known as Strategic National Stockpile). This program is run by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In the event of a national emergency or disaster the Medical Countermeasures (MCM) program can help local healthcare providers restock supplies that may be decreasing quickly because of the crisis.
These supplies can be received locally within 12 hours of being requested. Examples include emergencies resulting from a major hurricane, pandemic flu, a smallpox event, or a terrorist event of chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear, or explosive incidents.