Yes, they've been planning this for a while. Check this out: http://www.azdhs.gov/pandemicflu/pdf...V4.0andApp.pdf
From the "Mission Statement" Sec 1.3
From Sec 1.4Pandemic influenza mass fatalities will present unique logistical challenges with cold storage space, human remains pouches, PPE, and related mortuary affairs supplies.
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• Stacking or piling of remains can cause unnatural bruising, discoloration and disfiguring of the remains and also slows down the cooling process, thereby increasing decomposition. Accordingly, the ability to quickly secure long-term refrigerated storage will enable medical examiners time to identify, process, and “hold” remains until final disposition.
• Basic to a mass fatality response will be the identification and selection of a number of Casualty Collection Points (CCP), using a combination of refrigerated trucks, portable preparation and storage sites (generally tents), the use of existing facilities such as vacant or unused National Guard/Reserve facilities, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, and/or abandoned or under utilized and convenient community structures. Collection sites will present significant challenges regarding access, traffic control, security, access to power, loading docks, air quality (related to diesel engines), and processes to handle the waste, effluent, and or contamination.
From Sec 2.0Disaster Portable Morgue Units (DPMU)
In support of the DMORT program, FEMA maintains two Disaster Portable Morgue Units (DPMUs) at FEMA Logistics Centers; one in Rockville, MD, and the other in San Jose, CA. The DPMU contains a complete morgue with designated workstations for each processing element and prepackaged equipment and supplies. The DPMU core team travels with this equipment to assist in the set up, operation, packing and restocking of all DPMU equipment.
• The DPMU requires a location that is completely secure and convenient to the incident scene with easy access for vehicles.
• The DPMU requires 8,000 square feet of operating area with ventilation, hot and cold water, adequate drainage, nonporous floors, some office space, rest and refreshment areas, and restrooms.
• Other support equipment required for mass fatality management operations includes refrigerated trucks, forklifts, fuel (diesel, propane etc.), and communications with the incident command post.
The Family Assistance Act of 1996 created the Family Affairs Division within the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), whose responsibility is to assist the local authorities in the coordination of victim identification and family assistance for major transportation accidents. The NTSB has agreements with FEMA and other national entities to assist them in fulfilling their duties under this law. An agreement between the NTSB and USPHS gives the NTSB the ability to request DMORT support for all transportation accidents involving multiple deaths.
From Sec 3.82.0 SITUATION
Most public health and healthcare agencies have limited experience dealing with mass fatalities and likewise most Medical Examiners normally do not have experience with mass fatality events. Communities in Arizona are unaware of what is necessary in planning for the large numbers of fatalities generated during a pandemic. Two pandemic waves of six weeks each, using a five percent crude annual, all cause death rates (similar to the influenza pandemic of 1918), and will produce about 10,000 deaths per week per wave in Arizona. This is more than 10 times the usual rate of about 900 non pandemic influenza deaths per week in the State of Arizona. This mortality rate will overwhelm the local mortuary affairs system in one or two weeks, especially if the counties have not prepared for the event.
Every community must develop a system of response to deal with mass fatality management at the local level. The State normally draws from resources within the state, however, during a pandemic all counties within the state will be affected and will be unable to assist other areas. Similar to the State, the Federal Government draws on resources from other states to assist a state during a time of crisis. The influenza pandemic will affect all states at the same time and any Federal help will be extremely limited. The Department of Defense will also be stricken and most likely will not be able to provide much relief.
I'm effectively creeped out. Is there a way to find this info for other states?3.8. SUPPLY MANAGEMENT
Counties should recommend to funeral directors that they not order excessive amounts of supplies such as embalming fluids, human remains pouches, etc., but that they have enough on hand in a rotating inventory to handle the first wave of the pandemic (that is enough for six months of normal operation). Fluids can be stored for years, but human remains pouches and other supplies may have a limited shelf life. Cremations generally require fewer supplies since embalming is not required.
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Families having multiple deaths are unlikely to be able to afford multiple higher-end products or arrangements. Funeral homes could quickly exhaust lower-cost items (e.g. inexpensive caskets) and should be prepared to provide alternatives. The OCME should be notified for approval if alternates are used (e.g. instead of approved caskets).
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Originally Posted by dannno
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