Mass Fatalities Planning & Response for Rural Communities

From the largest of cities to the most rural of communities, the possibility of a mass-fatality
incident exists every moment of every day. Whether the mass fatality results from a manmade
incident (either deliberate or accidental) or from a force of nature such as a hurricane or
tornado, the needs of the affected public remain the same. Responding to a mass-fatality
incident, which includes the recovery, identification, and reunification of the deceased, is one of
the most difficult aspects of a disaster response. Despite the grim nature of fatality
management, it is the responsibility of authorities in the jurisdiction where the incident occurs to
manage the response. The need to establish recovery, morgue, and family assistance center
(FAC) operations are the same in rural communities as they are in large metropolitan cities.
Rural communities often find it more difficult to respond due to the lack of local infrastructure
and required assets necessary to provide an adequate mass-fatality response. The goal of this
awareness-level course is to teach participants the basics of mass-fatality response while
providing them with the opportunities to exchange rural perceptions and brainstorm for solutions
to simulated emergencies.

One of the most common misconceptions regarding mass-fatality responses is that the only
difference is the number of bodies that must be dealt with following a mass fatality from that of
daily Coroner/medical examiner operations. This is an incorrect assumption as there are
significant differences in establishing and managing a response to a mass-fatality event than
that of daily coroner/medical examiner operations. This misunderstanding often leads to the lack
of preparation for responding to a mass-fatality event as the need to prepare and train is not
apparent. Additionally, there are numerous factors, including roles and responsibilities, asset
management, remains processing and identification, diversity considerations, and the
development of a mass-fatality plan; all affect the construction of a mass fatality response and
the need for rural communities to appreciate the dynamics of a response effort, as well as the
various agencies and organizations who may be involved.

By definition, a mass fatality is an event producing a number of deaths that exceed the capacity
or capability of local authorities, thereby requiring assistance from outside the local jurisdiction.
Regardless of the agencies or organizations that respond, whether governmental agencies or
private or non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the responsibility to coordinate and manage
these outside resources rests with local authorities.