Mass fatalities

A mass fatalities response goes far beyond returning the remains of a loved one to surviving family members. Those charged with this grim but critical responsibility will find themselves immersed in multiple tasks involving diverse individuals, organizations, and priorities. Mass Fatalities: Managing the Community Response examines multiple complex issues while providing practical guidance to communities and responders as they plan for, respond to, and recover from a mass fatalities incident. This book explores the immense array of tasks such as:

• Managing resources and personnel
• Protecting a potential crime scene
• Conducting a comprehensive search and recovery of the remains
• Identifying and returning the remains and personal effects
• Ensuring family members of the deceased are treated with compassion, dignity, and respect
• Making sure responders have the proper tools to complete their responsibilities
• Providing family members, responders, and the impacted community the necessary support to cope with the physical, spiritual, and emotional stressors of a mass fatalities incident

The book explains in detail the functions performed at the mass fatalities operational sites, including the Disaster Site, Victim Identification Center, Family Assistance Center, and Staff Processing Center. It provides organizational charts with job descriptions detailing the roles and responsibilities for an effective leadership team and describes the management of the disaster site, presenting step-by-step procedures for search and recovery. The book also discusses the registration, initial interview, and Notification of Death for family members at the Family Assistance Center and covers best practices for the Victim Identification Center operations. Throughout, chapters emphasize the need for mental health services--exploring the essential elements of providing effective and compassionate support to surviving family members (including children), to responders and their families, and to the community.

An increase in catastrophic disasters in recent years has highlighted the need for sound guidance outlining the protocol for handling these events. Mass Fatalities: Managing the Community Response is an indispensable resource for this formidable task.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Mass Fatalities

What Is a Mass Fatalities Incident?

What Is the "Threshold Number" for Activating a Mass

Fatalities Response Plan?

Four Categories of Disasters

Tenets of a Mass Fatalities Response

Additional Tenets of a Mass Fatalities Response

Core Planning Issues

Psychological and Social Impact of a Mass Fatalities

Incident

Public Information during a Mass Fatalities Response, Robert Howard

Incident Command (ICS)

Chapter Reflections

Chapter 2: Disaster Site

Introduction

Key Definitions

Disaster Site Chain of Command

Support Functions at the Disaster Site

Disaster Site Staff

Initial Assessment

General Guidelines for Disaster Site Operations

Search and Recovery Team General Guidelines

Disaster Site Search Operations

Search Operations at the Disaster Site

Monitoring the Disaster Site

Closure of Disaster Site

Disaster Site Closure Checklist

Disaster Site Supply List

Chapter Reflections

Chapter 3: Family Assistance Center

Introduction

Site Selection Considerations

Defining the Term Family Member

Family Assistance Center Leadership Team

Family Assistance Center Support Services

Family Assistance Center Staffing

Family Assistance Center Operational Guidelines

Crisis Hotline Services

FAC Service Areas

FAC Registration Common Family Reactions

Family Assistance Center Family Intake Process

FAC Family Orientation

Health Services

Security

Lodging

Family Assistance Center Child Care Center, Judy Bezon

Notification of Death

NTSB Office of Transportation Disaster Assistance Division

Joint Family Support Operations Center (JFSOC)

Victim Support Tasks (VST)

FAC Family Member Registration Form

FAC Family Member Statement of Health

FAC Family Member Authorization Form

Funeral Information and Release Form

Media Request Form

Chapter Reflections

Chapter 4: Staff Processing Center

Introduction

Planning for Staffing a Mass Fatalities Incident

Staffing Resources

Local Documentation of Disaster Responders

The Staff Processing Center

Staff Processing Center Leadership Staff

Staff Processing Center Support Functions

SPC Staff Qualifications

SPC Staff Orientation

SPC Daily Staff Registration

Staff Policies

Registration of Response Staff

Reassignment of Staff

Staff Orientations

Security Badges

Staff Lodging

Out-Processing of Staff

Staff Processing Center Facility Specifications

Staff Processing Center Work Areas

Forms and Supplies

Staff Processing Center Supply List

Staff Registration Form

Staff Registration Form

Statement of Health

Staff Daily Registration

Confidentiality Standards Agreement Form

Description of Staff Responsibilities and Duties

Chapter Reflections

Chapter 5: Victim Identification Center

Introduction

Victim Identification Center Site Selection Considerations

Victim Ide...