Historical MFIs A quick internet search will produce seemingly countless examples of mass fatality incidents in the United States and throughout the world. Many of these incidents occurred in recent years and may be familiar to most, while others may seem to be more of a footnote in history. It is important to remember in each event recorded and reported, human lives were lost and loved ones were left behind. It has been said that human suffering is not ended by death, especially when death is sudden and unexpected. The death of a person will always leave an indelible mark on the loved ones left behind (PAHO/WHO, 2004). Since the dawn of mankind, there has been death and destruction that required the assistance of fellow man to care for the dead and their family members. There have been many instances in which those responding to these historical events were seen to serve in less than optimal ways. Of the most important aspects of these historical events are the lessons that were learned, and the methods and procedures refined for future use. To properly serve the victims and families affected by future events, we must look to the successes and failures from past events. The city of Galveston, Texas, was an important and industrious city in 1900. At that time, Galveston had a seaport that was said to be second only to the one in New York City. On September 8, 1900, the city experienced a normal heat wave in the middle of hurricane season. It was on this day that “The Great Storm” made landfall with winds in excess of 120 miles per hour and a tidal surge that exceeded 15 feet. The storm resulted in at least 6,000 fatalities – one-sixth of the city’s population. The headlines of The Daily Times Herald of Dallas read “Dead, dead, dead, dead everywhere.” Martial law was enacted and men were forced to load barges with deceased bodies, which were then sent out to sea. The bodies to be fixed with weights and dropped into the vast waters. In the days following this disposal method, many bodies were swept back ashore. It was then that vast funeral pyres were built, Infrastructure There are generally multiple agencies, groups, and organizations involved in the aftermath of an MFI. These can include the medico-legal system, the death care industry, health departments, faith-based organizations, voluntary organizations, offices of emergency management, and the DMORTs. The medico-legal system is the original agency of jurisdiction that will most commonly request assistance when the number of deaths exceeds its normal response capabilities. This system typically consists of medical examiners and coroners. Within the context of this course, these systems will all be used interchangeably and may be abbreviated as ME/C. When the number of deaths exceeds the normal capabilities of a ME/C, the local authorities can request assistance and additional resources. The first additional resources are typically provided by county and state offices of emergency management (OEMs) and departments of health (DOHs). These agencies, as well as ME/Cs, will often collaborate with and request assistance from other agencies, groups, and organizations. Included will be other governmental agencies, the death care industry, and other non-governmental organizations (Merrill, 2015). Local offices of medical examiners and coroners are accustomed to properly dealing with and investigating deaths on a regular basis. These agencies are adept at investigating deaths caused by homicide, suicide, accidental, and unattended manners. However, most of these agencies are not accustomed to handling mass fatalities resulting from one, or similarly related, incidents.
and the corpses burned. The funeral pyres burned on the beaches for two months straight. It was said that the air was filled with nauseating fumes that choked sailors as far as 50 miles off the coast (Kolker, 2000). In the years since the Great Storm, preparations and advanced planning have been made for MFIs. However, the devastation of storms such as this can still be just as massive. On August 27, 2005, members of the Disaster Mortuary Operations Response Team (DMORT) were deployed to State of Louisiana. There was a massive hurricane – Hurricane Katrina – expected to hit the coast in less than 48 hours. At the time, Katrina was a massive tropical storm that was growing to a Category 5 hurricane, as indicated by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Many team members flew into Dallas and more than 30 caravanned to Baton Rouge. They set up temporary morgue facilities in an empty brick warehouse in nearby St. Gabriel, Louisiana. The direct impact of Hurricane Katrina killed more than 1,200 people. Nearly 850 of the deceased bodies were taken to temporary morgue facilities in St. Gabriel where they were identified and cared for before being returned to family for final disposition (Page, 2005). In these examples, both incidents were caused by natural storms that resulted in mass causalities. Geographically, the landfall of these two storms were relatively close to one another. The difference in these two instances was the preparedness of individuals to assist in properly care for the victims and their families. There were many agencies, teams, organizations, groups, and individuals involved in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, just as with many other MFIs in recent years. Responses to other MFIs in recent history include the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, and many others. Each MFI has an infrastructure that must be followed that includes varying protocols according to various circumstances. Organizations and teams, such as the DMORTs, are specifically trained and prepared to deploy to these types of incidents. Having the specialized training, the working knowledge of various related situations, and the proper equipment, these teams and organizations can work to safely recover the deceased bodies in the most rapid time possible. Once recovered, these teams are also properly equipped and trained to accurately identify the deceased while also properly documenting the required data. The safe recovery, accurate identification, and proper documentation is all very important; however, those are not the only important steps. The victims’ families and friends must be considered. This includes providing timely and accurate information to these families and friends while also providing care for many of their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. In the aftermath of an MFI, it is crucial to consider the families and friends of the victims in a very timely manner. Following prescribed procedures and the designated plans prior to an MFI will help ensure that the loved ones and the victims are properly served. There are several ways in which these loved ones should be considered while resources are dedicated to their care and needs. The rapid establishment of a family assistance center will provide many benefits to these loved ones in a time when they need it most. Official and volunteer groups can fill roles and complete many tasks in a family assistance center. This center is often the most appropriate and helpful place for funeral directors to volunteer. Mental health support and spiritual care are also
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