|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The MPA in Emergency and Disaster Management
| |
SubscribeLinksRecent Posts
Categories
ResourcesMCNY BlogsMCNY's Emergency and Disaster Management Blog What To Do?August 23rd, 2008 There are numerous disaster scenarios in which a large loss of human life is a strong possibility. In addition to natural events such as earthquakes, tsunami, and tropical cyclones, there are human-made scenarios like chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear events that have the potential to claims tens of thousands of lives. Under such catastrophic circumstances, it may prove difficult or even impossible for local, state, and federal jurisdictions to conduct their response and recovery operations while simultaneously observing many of the religious and cultural traditions and rituals associated with the disposal of decedent remains. What are your thoughts on this challenge? Do you believe that in catastrophic scenarios it is possible to achieve operational effectiveness while observing burial and interment practices? Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! · Post a Comment » Posted by David Longshore in Natural Disasters, Emergency Preparedness. David Longshore is the former Director of MCNY’s Emergency and Disaster Management MPA Program. 3 Responses to “What To Do?”Leave a Reply
| |
© 2008, Metropolitan College of New York
 |
(800) 33 THINK | 212 343 1234
August 26th, 2008 at 10:39 am
You post a very complicated question that there are multiple solutions for multiple incidents. The idea of a catastrophe is that it completely overwhelms all local and state response/resource capabilities, and outside help is required (by other states, country government, and other countries). Typical emergency and disaster plans generally cannot sustain a catastrophic response.
During a catastrophe when tens of thousands of people die, it would be almost impossible to observe cultural, traditional, and/or desirable burial practices. However, a standard could be established that would meet the most honorable burial process available. This heavily depends on the country where the event occurs. Each culture has its own religious/cultural beliefs and the country needs to have burial plans in place that will honor the most basic burial processes. This of course depends on the following:
1) With such significant loss of life, the dead bodies can contribute to great environmental hazards. Bodies might need to be removed as quickly as possible to protect the population’s health. Bodies would need to be collected into a centralized area and then it would take significant amounts of time and effort to identify the deceased bodies for cultural/ritual burial. There will also be many bodies that no one will claim or cannot be identified.
2) The conditions of the bodies. How can we identify thousands of people when the body parts are found severed or when no actual full body can be found? In a nuclear, chemical or other WMD attack/accident that involves large explosions, search and rescue teams might only be left recovering body parts. Will the country be required to identify thousands of people by severed feet or hands? Depending on the country’s resources, this might be impossible.
3) The time it would take to manage a morgue of thousands of people would overwhelm most response capabilities. Significant time could elapse between the incident and the body could be handed over for cultural/ritual burial. The body, in the mean time, could become more of a hazard unless it is properly stored (which would be unlikely in such a large catastrophe).
4) In the event of a dangerous biological or radiological catastrophe, decisions might need to be made for the government to dispose the bodies safely in a short amount of time. It might not be safe to turn over bodies to relatives.
And this list can go on and on…
The country will not be able to meet each individual burial request and must establish a standard procedure to dispose of the bodies humanely in a catastrophe. The country will need to establish standard, basic burial procedures depending on the type catastrophe (whether man made or natural). The key will focus on communicating and justifying their actions to the public and setting up offices to manage the grieving family’s cultural needs.
1) The idea of a catastrophe is that it completely overwhelms all local and state response/resource capabilities, and outside help is required (by other states, country government, and other countries). Typical emergency and disaster plans generally cannot sustain a catastrophe response.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:58 am
Thanks, JM, for your thoughtful, detailed, and practical response to Disaster Central’s post. It’s a complex challenge, yes; but as you point out, it’s one that should be addressed by all communities in advance of any event.
It’s accurate to say that a “catastrophic incident” - around 100,000 dead, another quarter of a million people seriously injured - would severely tax the response and recovery operations and capabilities of most (if not all) local and state jurisdictions. It’s equally accurate to say that the federal government will require several days (perhaps as long as 120 hours) to mount an effective response to such a catastrophe.
Odd as it may seem in light of this assessment, it seems therefore likely that the handling of decedent remains would fall to the local jurisdiction. Why? Simply because of the time element and, as you recognized, the secondary hazard of disease.
Your suggestion that guidelines be drafted to address this concern is an excellent one. Which jurisdiction should have the primary responsibility for doing so? Should it be the responsibility of the federal government, or would a partnering approach between the federal, state, and local governments prove more effective in establishing guidelines?
I keep remembering what the Marquis of Pombal said to the King of Portugal following the “catastrophic” earthquake of November 1, 1755, in Lisbon: “Sire, we feed the living and bury the dead.” To date, the EM community has done a good job in planning for the first - but what about the second?
August 27th, 2008 at 10:44 am
It would be the responsibility of the state/local governments to lead this effort and call upon support from the Federal government. According to the January 2008 National Response Framework (NRF), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the lead agency responsible for Emergency Support Function (ESF) #8 – Public Health and Medical Services to “provide the mechanism for coordinated Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local resources in response to a public health and medical disaster, potential or actual incidents requiring a coordinated Federal response, and/or during a developing potential health and medical emergency.” (http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nrf/nrf-esf-08.pdf).
It also states “ESF #8, when requested by State, tribal, or local officials, in coordination with its partner organizations, will assist the jurisdictional medico-legal authority and law enforcement agencies in the tracking and documenting of human remains and associated personal effects; reducing the hazard presented by chemically, biologically, or radiologically contaminated human remains (when indicated and possible); establishing temporary morgue facilities; determining the cause and manner of death; collecting antemortem data in a compassionate and culturally competent fashion from authorized individuals; performing postmortem data collection and documentation; identifying human remains using scientific means (e.g., dental, pathology, anthropology, fingerprints, and, as indicated, DNA samples); and preparing, processing, and returning human remains and personal effects to the authorized person(s) when possible; and providing technical assistance and consultation on fatality management and mortuary affairs. In the event that caskets are displaced, ESF #8 assists in identifying the human remains, recasketing, and reburial in public cemeteries.”
In a catastrophe where tens of thousands of lives could be lost, State/local governments will rely heavily on Federal support. With international catastrophes, other countries and Non-Government Organizations (NGO) will assist as requested.