OSAC 2022-N-0020 Standard for Mass 

Fatality Incident Management

OSAC 2022-N-0020 

Standard for Mass Fatality 

Incident Management

Disaster Victim Identification Task Group

Medicolegal Death Investigation Subcommittee

Medicine Scientific Area Committee

Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science
OSAC 2022-N-0020 Standard for Mass 

Fatality Incident Management

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Draft OSAC Proposed Standard

OSAC 2022-N-0020 Standard for Mass 

Fatality Incident Management

Prepared by 

Medicolegal Death Investigation Subcommittee

Version: 1.0

July 2022

Disclaimer:

This OSAC Proposed Standard was written by the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) 

for Forensic Science following a process that includes an open comment period. This Proposed Standard 

will be submitted to a standards developing organization and is subject to change.

There may be references in an OSAC Proposed Standard to other publications under development by 

OSAC. The information in the Proposed Standard, and underlying concepts and methodologies, may be 

used by the forensic-science community before the completion of such companion publications.

Any identification of commercial equipment, instruments, or materials in the Proposed Standard is not a 

recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Government and does not imply that the equipment, 

instruments, or materials are necessarily the best available for the purpose.
OSAC 2022-N-0020 Standard for Mass 

Fatality Incident Management

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1 Standard for Mass Fatality Incident Management

2 Foreword

3

4 Mass	 fatality	incidents	are	 complex,	which	may	present	 commingled	 biological	 remains,	 personal	

5 effects,	and	other	probative	evidence	distributed	widely across	the	scene.	The	information	presented	

6 herein	is	compatible	with	many	of	the	standard	principles	used	in	crime	scene	and	medicolegal	death	

7 investigation;	however,	 these	practices	are	specifically	designed	 to	address	 the	unique	challenges	

8 faced	by	 the	high-volume	victim	identification	operations	commonly	associated	with	mass	 fatality

9 incidents.	It	is	possible	that	the	magnitude	of	the	incident,	the	high	numbers of	fatalities,	and	the	size	

10 of	 the	scene	may	exceed	local	capabilities	and	resources	 for	conducting	an	efficient,	effective,	and	

11 timely	recovery	and	identification	effort.	Such	challenges	demand	a	coordinated	multidisciplinary	

12 response	including	law	enforcement,	fire-rescue,	medicolegal	and	forensic	practitioners,	and	other	

13 investigative	assets.	

14

15 Disaster	 victim	 identification practitioners	 are	 encouraged	 to	 develop,	 implement,	 exercise,	 and	

16 review	their	mass	fatality	incident	response	operating	procedures	in	light	of	these	standards,	and	to	

17 update	 their	 procedures	 as	 needed.	 It	 is	 anticipated	 that	 these	 standards	 will	 evolve	 as	 future	

18 technologies	emerge.	

19

20 This standards is put	forth	by	the	Disaster	Victim	Identification	(DVI)	Task	Group	within	OSAC

21 Medicolegal	Death	Investigation (MDI)	Subcommittee.	This	document	is	intended	to	be	the	

22 overarching	standard	in	a	series	of	standards	and	best	practices	developed	by	the	DVI	Task	Group.	

23 This	document	originated	from	the	Scientific	Working	Group	on	Disaster	Victim	Identification	

24 (SWGDVI).

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45 Keywords:	mass	fatality	incident,	mass	fatality	management,	disaster	victim	identification
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46 Table	of	Contents

47

48 1. Scope ................................................................................................................................................... 5

49 2. Normative	References ....................................................................................................................... 5

50 3. Terms	and	Definitions ....................................................................................................................... 6

51 4. Requirements ..................................................................................................................................... 8

52 Foundational	Principles........................................................................................................................... 13

53 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................. 14

54

55
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56 1. Scope	

57 This	document	provides	a	standard	for	the	elements	to	address	planning	for	and	implementing	mass	

58 fatality	management	operations.	The	standard	is	intended	for	the	medicolegal	authority	responsible	

59 for	the	overall	management	of	a mass	fatality	incident.	

60 2. Normative	References

61 The	following	normative	reference	is	indispensable	for	the	application	of	this	document.	For	dated	

62 references,	only	the	edition	cited	applies.	For	undated	references,	the	latest	edition	of	the	

63 referenced	document	(including	any	amendments)	applies.

64

65 1) Annexure	1:	Principles	of	Good DVI	Governance,	Part	b.	Interpol.	2018.	

66 https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Forensics/Disaster-Victim-Identification-DVI.	

67 2) Assistance	to	families	of	passengers	involved	in	aircraft	accidents,	49	U.S.	Code	§	1136	(2022)

68 3) Assistance	 to	 families	of	passengers	involved	in	rail	passenger	accidents,	49	U.S.	Code	§	1139	

69 (2021)

70

71 4) Blakeney,	R.,	Department	of	Justice,	Office	of	Justice	Programs,	Office	for	Victims	of	Crime.	

72 (2002).	Providing	Relief	to	Families	after	a	Mass	Fatality:	Roles	of	the	Medical	Examiner's	Office	

73 and	the	Family	Assistance	Center.	Retrieved	from	

74 www.ncjrs.gov/ovc_archives/bulletins/prfmf_11_2001/welcome.html

75

76 5) Disaster	Victim	Identification	Guide,	Part	A.	Interpol.	2018.	https://www.interpol.int/en/How77 we-work/Forensics/Disaster-Victim-Identification-DVI.	

78

79 6) Standard	Operating	Procedures	for	Mass	Fatality	Management.		National	Association	of	Medical	

80 Examiners.			2021.	

81 https://name.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/NAME%20Mass%20Fatality%20Plan%202021.p

82 df.		

83

84 7) Management	of	Dead	Bodies	after	Disasters:	A	Field	Manual	for	First	Responders.	Morgan	O,	

85 Tidball-Bibnz	M,	van	Alphen	D	editors.	PAHO/WHO/ICRC/IFRCRCS.	2006.	

86 https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/management-of-dead-bodies-after-disasters.	

87

88 8) National	Incident	Management	System,	3rd ed,	2017.	FEMA.	

89 https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_nims_doctrine-2017.pdf.	

90

91 9) National	Response	Framework,	4th ed.	FEMA.	2019.	

92 https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/NRF_FINALApproved_2011028.pdf.	

93 10)National	Transportation	Safety	Board,	Office	of	Transportation	Disaster	Assistance.	(2008).	

94 Federal	Family	Assistance	Plan	for	Aviation	Disasters.	
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95 11) Plans	 to	address	needs	of	 families	of	passengers	involved	in	aircraft	accidents,	49	U.S.	Code	§	

96 41113 (2021)

97

98 12) Plans	to	address	needs	of	families	of	passengers	involved	in	foreign	air	carrier	accidents.	49	U.S.	

99 Code	§	41313 (2021)

100 13) Plans	to	address	needs	of	families	of	passengers	involved	in	rail	passenger	accidents,	49	U.S.	Code	

101 §	24316 (2021)

102 3. Terms	and	Definitions

103 For	the	purpose	of	this	document,	the	following	definitions	and	acronyms	apply.

104

105 3.1.

106 Body	collection	point	(BCP)

107 A	location	providing	temporary	refrigerated	storage	of	remains	(whole	or	fragmentary)	and	related	

108 evidence	while	decedent	recovery	operations	are	ongoing	until	transport	to	a	morgue	or	other	

109 facility	where	the	remains	and	evidence	will	be	processed	for	identification	and	disposition.

110

111 3.2.

112 Disaster	Victim	Identification	(DVI)

113 Processes	and	procedures	for	identifying	and	re-associating	human	remains	via	the	application	of	

114 scientific	methods,	as	a	component	of	mass	fatality	management.	

115

116 3.3.

117 Family	Assistance

118 The	provision	of	services	and	information	to	the	family	members	of	those	killed	and	to	those	

119 injured	or	otherwise	impacted	by	the	incident.

120

121 3.4.

122 Family	Assistance	Center	(FAC)

123 The	Family	Assistance	Center	(FAC)	is	the	focus	of	services	for	family	members	following	an	

124 incident.	FACs	are	designed	to	meet	the	immediate	and	short-term	needs	of	family	members:	safety,	

125 security,	physiological	needs	(food,	sleep),	information	(about	the	victim	recovery	and	

126 identification	process	and	the	investigation),	and	crisis/grief	counseling	(normative	reference	10).	

127 The	FAC	is	designed	to	provide	information	to	families	and	friends	of	victims,	decision-makers,	the	

128 media,	and	the	public,	regarding	the	on-going	operations. The	role	of	the	medicolegal	authority	at	

129 the	FAC	includes	gathering	antemortem	data	via	the	Victim	Information	Center	and	notifying	the	

130 legal	representative	authorized	to	direct	disposition	regarding	the	deceased. FACs	can	be	

131 physically	and	/	or	virtually	established	sites.

132

133 3.5.

134 Grouped	Remains

135 Biological	tissue	that	is	either	not	identifiable	with	current	technology,	or	because	of	other	

136 constraints	is	not	associated	with	a	particular	decedent	(also	referred	to	as	common	tissue)

137

138 3.6.

139 Incident	Characterization
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140 Provides	an	initial	assessment	of	the	incident,	allowing	leadership	to	make	appropriate	decisions	

141 regarding	operational	decisions.

142

143 3.7.

144 Incident	Command	System	(ICS)

145 A	management	system	designed	to	enable	effective	and	efficient	domestic	incident	management	by	

146 integrating	a	combination	of	facilities,	equipment,	personnel,	procedures	and	communications	

147 operating	within	a	common	organizational	structure	(cite).	

148

149 3.8.

150 Joint	Information	Center	(JIC)

151 A	location	where	personnel	with	public	information	responsibilities	coordinate	critical	emergency	

152 information	functions,	crisis	communications,	and	public	affairs	functions.

153

154 3.9.

155 Manifest	of	unaccounted	for	persons

156 Working	list	of	persons	potentially	involved	in	an	incident	which	may	include	deceased,	injured,	

157 and	otherwise	unaccounted	for	persons.

158

159 3.10.

160 Mass	fatality	incident	(MFI)

161 Any	incident	which	produces	fatalities	of	a	sufficient	number	or	complexity	that	special	operations	

162 and	organizations	are	required.	

163

164 3.11.

165 Mass	fatality	management

166 The	overarching	operation	involving	processing	a	disaster	incident.	This	includes	communicating	

167 with	victim	families;	search	and	recovery,	processing	and	identification	of	the	dead,	and	returning	

168 them	to	their families.	Fatality	management	operations	are	split	into	distinct	roles	including	scene	

169 operations,	morgue	operations	and	family	assistance	(aka	victim	information).	The	protocols	for	

170 each	are	held	within	the	individual	medicolegal	authority’s	mass	fatality	plans.

171

172 3.12.

173 Medicolegal	Death	Investigation	Authority

174 The	medical	examiner,	coroner or	other	office	responsible	for	medicolegal	death	investigation	in	a	

175 given	jurisdiction.	The	term	medicolegal	authority	is	an	abbreviation	for	medicolegal	death	

176 investigation	authority,	and	when	used	in	this	document,	shall	be	construed	as	though	it	were	

177 written	out	in	full.	

178

179 3.13.

180 Victim	Information	Center	(VIC)

181 The	Victim	Information	Center	(VIC),	formerly	known	as	the	Victim	Identification	Center,	is	a	

182 component	of	the	Family	Assistance	Center	(FAC)	operation.	The	VIC	is	a	controlled	area	within	the	

183 FAC	where	the	acquisition	of	antemortem	data	occurs	to	enable	the	identification	of	victims	of	a	

184 mass	fatality	incident	(MFI).	Establishment	of	the	VIC	is	the	responsibility	of	the	local	medicolegal	

185 authority.
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186 4. Requirements

187 Medicolegal	 jurisdictions	 shall	 establish	 an	 organizational	 response	 framework	 to	 include	 an	

188 operational	definition	of	a	mass	fatality	incident	and	define	objectives	for	successful	operations.	This	

189 should	include	a	plan	for	operating	within	and	alongside	local,	state,	and	federal	government	entities	

190 in	addition	to	non-government	organizations	(NGO)	and	private	industries.

191

192 4.1. Operational	Definition	of	Mass	Fatality	Incidents	(MFIs)

193

194 A	mass	 fatality	incident	 can	generally	 be	 defined	 as	 any	incident	involving	 a	 number	 of	 fatalities	

195 which	exceeds	the	resource	capacity	of	a medicolegal	authority	to	respond	with	internal	resources,	

196 while	maintaining	day-to-day	operations.	Local	jurisdictions	shall develop	a					definition	of	a	mass	

197 fatality	incident	which	 serves	as	an	 operational	 trigger,	allowing	 for	 rapid	and	effective	 decision198 making	 when	 minimal	 information	 is	 available.	 This	 definition	 shall consider	 incident	

199 characterization,	analysis	of	hazards,	and	assessment	of	capacities	(e.g.	human,	equipment,	structural	

200 and	financial	resources).		

201

202 Some	factors	in	determining	whether an	incident	should	be	classified	as	an	MFI	include:

203 a) The	number	of	potential	fatalities based	upon	the	preliminary	incident	characterization.

204 b) The	need	for	protracted	or	complex	victim	recovery operations.

205 c) Complicating	circumstances:

206 i) Scene	 hazards	 such	 as	 contamination	 by	 chemical,	 biological,	 radiological,	 nuclear	 or	

207 explosive	agents	or	materials;	

208 ii) Factors	complicating	the	recovery	such	as	fragmentation	of	remains,	fire	damage,	land	vs.	

209 in-water;	scene	access	and	other	physical	/	environmental	challenges;	

210 iii) The	 need	 for	 multi-agency	 response	 or	 cross-border	 political	 and	 diplomatic	

211 considerations

212

213 4.2. Operational	Objectives	of	MFI	Management

214

215 Incident-specific objectives	shall	be	established	and	allow	for	adaptation.	Operational	objectives	shall	

216 include	the	following:

217 1) Establish	medicolegal	jurisdiction	over	the	 fatality	management	operation.	The	legal	authority	

218 for	conducting	disaster	victim	recovery	and	identifications	resides	solely	with	the	medicolegal	

219 authority	in	the	jurisdiction	where	the	disaster	incident	occurred.

220 2) Articulate	 roles	 and	 responsibilities.	 Incidents	 are	 multi-agency	 responses	 requiring	 a	

221 collaborative	effort	between	local,	state,	and	federal	agencies,	in	addition	to	non-governmental	

222 organizations	(NGO),	tribal	entities	and	private	industry.

223 3) Establish	a	system	for	documentation	of	operations	and	accountability	of	resources.

224

225 4) Develop	a	health	&	safety	plan	to	ensure	that	operations	are	conducted	in	a	safe	manner.		The	

226 plan	 shall	include	a	 strategy	 for	 responder	 critical	incident	 stress	management,	 self-care,	and	

227 situational	awareness.

228

229 5) Establish	 a	 strategy	 for	 victim	 accounting	 which	 shall	 include	 a	 centralized	 mechanism	 for	

230 collecting	and	sharing	data	on	those	missing	and	potentially	involved	in	the	incident.

231
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232 6) Document and	preserve	all	remains,	personal	effects,	and	other	physical	evidence	germane	to	

233 disaster	victim	identification	operation.

234

235 7) Recover,	transport,	and	process	remains	and	personal	effects	in	a	dignified	manner.

236

237 8) Adhere	to	the	standards	of	disaster	victim	identification.

238

239 9) Certify	cause	and	manner	of	death.

240

241 10) Coordinate	with	local	authorities to	integrate	into	Family	Assistance	Center	 (FAC)	operations.	

242 The	medicolegal	authority	is	responsible	for	establishing	a	Victim	Information	Center	within	the	

243 FAC.

244

245 11) Exchange	 factual	and	timely	information	with	 families	in	a	compassionate	manner	and,	where	

246 possible,	in	advance	of	public	release	of	information.

247

248 12) Coordinate	 the	 release	 of	 the	 victims’	 remains	 to	 their	 legal	 representative,	 accounting	 for	

249 fragmentation	and	protracted	identifications.

250

251 13)Demobilize	operations	and	prepare	an	after	action	report.	Incorporate	lessons	learned	in	future	

252 responses.	

253

254 4.3. Policy	Decisions	and	Considerations	Prior	to	Commencing	Operations

255

256 Policy	 decisions	may	 be	 the	 sole	 responsibility	 of	 the	medicolegal	authority,	 or	in	 part	 under	 the	

257 authority	 of	 the	 presiding	 jurisdiction(s)	 which	 may	 include	 stakeholders	 with	 overlapping	

258 responsibilities	or	functions	within	the	incident	operation.	

259

260 4.3.1. The	medicolegal	authority	shall	develop	strategies	to	address	scene	operations:

261 4.3.1.1. Assert	jurisdiction	for	human	remains	management	in	scene	operations.

262 4.3.1.2. Integrate	a	representative	with	decision-					making	authority	in					 the	on-scene	command	

263 structure	to	ensure	top-down	integration	is	acknowledged,	and	MFI	operational	goals	are	

264 considered	in						incident	planning.

265 4.3.1.3. Assess	the	incident	characteristics	through	early on-scene	presence	with	consideration	of:

266 i) Site	ingress	and	egress

267 ii) Hazmat	and	safety	concerns

268 iii) Body	collection	points	and	transportation	of	remains

269 iv) Equipment	and	personnel	needs

270 v) Factors	complicating	remains	recovery

271

272 4.3.1.4. Develop	a	scene	processing	and	victim	recovery	plan	in	coordination	with	other	responding	

273 agencies.	

274

275 4.3.2. The	medicolegal authority	shall	develop	strategies	to	address	disaster	morgue	operations

276 4.3.2.1. Separate	day-to-day	operations	from	DVI	operation,	where	necessary.

277 4.3.2.2. Establish	the	location	of	a	disaster	morgue.	

278 4.3.2.3. Establish	the	workflow	for	disaster	morgue	operations.

279 4.3.2.4. Establish	a	morgue	reference	numbering	system	that	is	simple,	intuitive	and	scalable.

280 4.3.2.5. Establish	morgue	protocols	for	processing	and	analyzing	human	remains

281 4.3.2.6. Determine	criteria	for	analyzing	fragmented	human	remains
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282 4.3.2.7. Establish	a	data	management	system	and	document	retention	plan	for	all	postmortem	data	

283 collected.

284

285 4.3.3. The	 medicolegal	 authority	 shall	 develop	 strategies	 with	 other	 local	 agencies	 to	 address	

286 family	engagement	and victim	information	center	(VIC)	operations

287 4.3.3.1. Participate	in	establishing	the	location	of	the	VIC.

288 i) Consideration	should	be	given	to	separate	staging	areas	for	the	media,	access	points	for	

289 families,	and	rest	areas	for	staff.

290 4.3.3.2. Initiate	family	communications	via	briefings	and	outreach.	

291 4.3.3.3. Coordinate	antemortem	data	collection,	including	DNA	sampling.	

292 4.3.3.4. Establish	a	data	management	system	and	document	retention	plan	for	all	antemortem	data	

293 collected.

294 4.3.3.5. Coordinate	services	with	other	response	agencies	within	the	Family	Assistance	Center.

295

296 4.3.4. The	medicolegal	authority	shall develop	strategies	to	address	victim	accounting	

297 4.3.4.1. Develop	a	centralized	reporting	process	of	unaccounted	for	persons.

298 4.3.4.2. Develop	a	manifest	of	unaccounted	for	persons	potentially	involved	in	the	incident.	

299 4.3.4.3. Coordinate	 with	 the	 Joint	 Information	 Center	 to	 provide	 media	 with	 current,	 accurate	

300 information	 regarding	 the	 numbers	 of	 missing	 persons,	 recovered	 human	 remains,	 and	

301 identified	decedents.	

302

303 4.3.5. The	medicolegal	authority	shall	develop	strategies	to	address	disaster	victim	identification.

304 4.3.5.1. Conduct	a	deliberate	process	of	comparing	antemortem	data	with	postmortem	data	to	yield	

305 tentative	identifications	for	reconciliation.

306 4.3.5.2. Establish	a	reconciliation	process	to	determine	the	criteria	for	an	identification	threshold	

307 in	order	to	review	and	confirm	or	reject	tentative	identifications	presented.

308 4.3.5.3. Establish	a	policy	for	re-associating	and	releasing	all	fragmentary	remains	associated	with	

309 a	single	individual.

310

311 4.3.6. The	 presiding	 jurisdiction	 shall develop	 strategies	 to	 address	 storage	 of	 remains	 and	

312 personal	effects

313 4.3.6.1. Establish	a	transportation	plan	for	movement	of	remains	and	personal	effects.

314 4.3.6.2. Establish	storage	of	remains.

315 i) A	body	collection	point	for	on-scene	collection	of	remains	and	evidence.

316 ii) Temporary	storage	for	all	remains	undergoing	processing	at	the	morgue.

317 iii) Long	term	temporary	storage	of	unclaimed	and	unidentified	remains.

318 4.3.6.3. Establish	policy	regarding	future	access	to	the	remains	for	additional	analysis	or	release	to	

319 the	legal	representative.

320 4.3.6.4. Establish	a	procedure	for	preservation,	chain	of	custody,	storage	and	release	of	personal	

321 effects.

322

323 4.3.7. The	presiding	jurisdiction	shall develop	strategies	to	address communication	with	families	

324 and	release	of	remains	and	personal	effects.

325 4.3.7.1. Consider	applicable	state	law	governing	data	privacy.

326 4.3.7.2. Consider	applicable	state	law	governing	the	right	to	control	final	disposition	and	release	of	

327 personnel	effects.

328 4.3.7.3. Strategy	 should	 balance	 religious/cultural	 considerations	 with	 the	 medicolegal	

329 responsibility.	
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330 4.3.7.4. Medicolegal	jurisdictions	should	be	forthcoming	and	transparent	regarding	the	condition	

331 of	 remains	 and	 the	 potential	 for	 fragmented	 remains	 to	 be identified	 over	 an	 extended	

332 period	of	time.	

333 4.3.7.5. The	medicolegal	authority	 should	establish	a	 system	 to	 facilitate	 the	wishes	 of	 the	legal	

334 representative	 authorized	 to	 direct	 disposition	 regarding	 subsequent	 notifications,	

335 allowing	for	future	modifications.

336 4.3.7.6. Establish	a	consistent,	direct	and	long-term	contact	 for	 the	legal	representative	with	 the	

337 medicolegal	authority.	

338 4.3.7.7. Consult	 with	 the	 organized	 family	 groups	 to	 develop	 a	 final	 disposition	 strategy	 for	

339 unclaimed	and	grouped	remains.	

340

341 4.3.8. The	 presiding	 jurisdiction	 shall develop	 strategies	 to	 address	 logistics	 support	 for	 all	

342 operations	(scene,	morgue	and	VIC).

343 4.3.8.1. The	 medicolegal authority	 has	 the	 responsibility	 to	 manage	 the	 overall	 fatality	

344 management	 operation	 regardless	 of	 current	 resource capabilities.	 Utilization	 of	 the	

345 incident	command	structure	(ICS)	is	highly	recommended.

346 4.3.8.2. Identify	 the	 positions	 and	 quantities	 of	 personnel	 required	 to	 support	 mass	 fatality	

347 management	operations.

348 4.3.8.3. Identify	the	types	and	quantity	of	equipment	and	supplies	required	to	support	mass	fatality	

349 management	operations.

350 4.3.8.4. Develop	site,	infrastructure	and	security	requirements	for	scene,	morgue,	VIC	operations	

351 and	support	staff.

352 4.3.8.5. Coordinate	 with	 local	 emergency	 management	 to	 submit	 and	 fill	 resource	 requests	 to	

353 support	mass	fatality	management	operations.	Resource	requests	that	cannot	be	sourced	

354 locally	should	be	escalated	to	partnering	jurisdictions,	the	state	and	federal	governments.

355 4.3.8.6. Resource	 requests	 should	 include	 all	 support	 required	 to	 operate	 the	 equipment	 (e.g.,	

356 personnel,	fuel,	maintenance)

357

358 4.3.9. The	medicolegal	authority shall	develop	strategies	to	address	quality	assurance.

359 4.3.9.1. Ensure	qualified	personnel	have	been	provided	 the	 training	necessary	 to	perform	 those

360 tasks	assigned	to	them.

361 4.3.9.2. Establish	a	feedback	mechanism	between	the	scene,	VIC	and	morgue	operations	specific	to:

362 i) Packaging,	 storing,	 labeling	 and	 transporting	 remains	 to	 mitigate	 damage	 and	

363 commingling.

364 ii) Packaging,	 storing,	 labeling	 and	 chain	 of	 custody	 for	 personal	 effects	 and	 evidence	

365 collected	from	antemortem	interviews.

366 4.3.9.3. Perform	an	inventory	of	remains	 at	regular	intervals.

367 4.3.9.4. Conduct	a morgue	exit	review	prior	to	placing	remains	in	long	term	storage	to	ensure	all	

368 appropriate	examinations	have	been	completed	and	data	filed.

369 4.3.9.5. Audit	case	files	at	regular	intervals	to	ensure	completeness,	accuracy	and	legibility.

370 4.3.9.6. Establish	 procedures	 for	 regularly	 documenting,	 maintaining	 and	 calibrating	 morgue	

371 equipment.

372 4.3.9.7. Conduct	 an	 anthropological	 review	 when	 fragmentary	 remains	 are	 associated	 with	the	

373 same	individual to ensure	anatomical	integrity.

374 4.3.9.8. Unidentified	remains should	be	re-examined	periodically	utilizing	emerging	and enhanced	

375 technologies	to	determine	whether	additional	decedent	identifications	can	be	made.

376 4.3.9.9. Establish	 a	 process	 for	 reconciling	 the	manifest	 of	 unaccounted	 for persons	 against	 the	

377 unidentified	remains	inventory.	

378 4.3.9.10. Reconciling paper	 files	 against	 electronic	 files	 should	 be	 performed	 as	 a	 final	 quality	

379 assurance	measure.
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380

381 4.3.10. The	presiding	jurisdiction	shall develop	strategies	to	address	demobilizing	operations.

382 4.3.10.1. Develop	a	demobilization	plan	to	include:

383 iii) Criteria	 and	 proposed	 date	 for	 ending	 the	incident	 specific	mass	 fatality	management	

384 operations.	

385 iv) Communication	 strategies	 for	 notifying	 the	 decedent’s	 legal	 representatives,	 local	

386 government	officials,	emergency	management,	and	other	response	agencies.

387 v) Criteria	for	re-establishing	mass	fatality	operations.	

388 vi) Policy	for	handling	remains	recovered	after	operations	have	demobilized.

389 4.3.10.2. Plans	should	allow	for	phased	demobilization	of	operations.

390 4.3.10.3. Plans	 should	 address	 inventory,	 maintenance,	 and	 reconstitution	 of	 the	 equipment	 and	

391 supply	cache.	

392 4.3.10.4. Establish	 procedures	 for	 returning	 acquired	 resources	 to	 the	 appropriate	 agency	 or	

393 authorized	representative.

394 4.3.10.5. Documentation	should	be	finalized	and	distributed	to	authorized	personnel/agencies.

395 4.3.10.6. Personnel	should	be	debriefed	to	gain	lessons	learned	from	the	operation.

396 4.3.10.7. The	 medicolegal	 authority	 should	 prepare	 an	 after-action report	 (AAR)	 for	 their	 mass	

397 fatality	management	operations	and	provide	input	into	the	overall	incident	AAR.

398
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399 Annex	A

400 (informative)

401 Foundational	Principles

402

403 1. The	 established	 medicolegal	 authority	 is	 responsible	 for	 fatality	 management	 operations

404 following	 a	 mass	 fatality	 incident.	 Jurisdictional	 authorities should	 articulate	 their	 roles	 and	

405 responsibilities	in	a	mass	fatality	incident.

406 2. Identifications	should	be made	through	generally	accepted	scientific	modalities.

407 3. Reasonable efforts	 should	 be	 made	 to identify,	 or	 account	 for,	 all	 the	 persons	 deceased	 or	

408 unaccounted	for	in	the	mass	fatality	incident.

409 4. Operations	 and	 communications	 must	 be	 conducted	 respectfully	 and	 with	 sensitivity	 to	 the	

410 victims	and	their	families	religious	and	emotional	needs.

411 5. The	 medicolegal	 authority	 is	 responsible	 for	 determining	 cause	 and	 manner	 of	 death,	

412 documentation,	recovery	and	preservation	of all	human	remains,	and	associated	personal	effects.

413
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414 Annex	B

415 (informative)

416 Bibliography

417

418 The	 following	 bibliography	 is	 not	 intended	 to	 be	 an	 all-inclusive	 list,	 review,	 or	 endorsement	 of	

419 literature	on	this	topic.	The	medicolegal	death	investigation	authority	shall	develop	a	list	tailored	to	

420 its	specific	needs.	The	goal	of	the	bibliography	is	to	provide	examples	of	publications	addressed	in	

421 the	standard.

422

423 1. Best	Practice	Recommendations	for	DNA	Analysis	for	Human	Identification	in	Mass	Fatality	

424 Incidents, ANSI/ASB	006,	2019.

425

426 2. Carroll,	E.,	Johnson,	A.,	Mazone,	D.,	and	DePaolo,	F.	 2018.	Introduction	to	Mass	Fatality	

427 Management.	In	Medical	Legal	Handbook.	(Chapter	6).	Hammers J. &	Fitzsimmons,	R. eds.	Juris	

428 Publishing,	Huntington,	NY.

429

430 3. Conlon,	E.	2014.	Mass	Fatality	Management	and	the	Effects	of	Commingling.		In	Commingled	

431 Human	Remains:	Methods	in	Recovery,	Analysis	and	Identification.		(pp.	469-490).	B.J.	and	Byrd,	

432 J.E.	eds.	Elsevier	Ltd,	Oxford,	UK.	

433 4. Examination	of	Human	Remains	by	Forensic	Pathologists	in	the	Disaster	Victim	Identification

434 Context, ANSI/ASB	009,	2019.

435

436 5. Forensic	Anthropology in	Disaster	Victim	Identification:	Best	Practice	Recommendations	for	the	

437 Medicolegal	Authority, ANSI/ASB	010,	2018.

438

439 6. Forensic	Odontology	in	Disaster	Victim	Identification:	Best	Practice	Recommendations	for	the	

440 Medicolegal	Authority, ANSI/ASB	108,	2021.

441

442 7. Hennessey,	M.	2008.	Data	Management	and	Commingled	Remains	at	Mass	Fatality	Incidents.	In	

443 Recovery,	Analysis,	and	Identification	of	Commingled	Human	Remains.	Adams,	B.J.	and	Byrd,	J.E.	

444 eds.	Humana	Press,	Totowa,	NJ.	

445 8. Kontanis,	E.J.	and	Sledzik,	P.S.	2008.	Resolving	Commingling	Issues	During	the	Medicolegal	

446 Investigation	of	Mass	Fatality	Incidents.	In	Recovery,	Analysis,	and	Identification	of	Commingled	

447 Human	Remains.	Adams,	B.J.	and	Byrd,	J.E.	eds.	Humana	Press,	Totowa,	NJ.	

448 9. Mass	Fatality	Scene	Processing:	Best	Practice	Recommendations	for	the	Medicolegal	Authority,

449 ANSI/ASB	008,	2021.

450

451 10. Postmortem	Impression	Recovery:	Guidance	and	Best	Practices	for	Disaster	Victim	Identification,

452 ANSI/ASB	094,	2021.

453

454 11. Postmortem	Impression	Submission	Strategy	for	Comprehensive	Searches	of	Essential	Automated	

455 Fingerprint	Identification	System	Databases, ANSI/ASB	007,	2018.
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456 12. Regional	Mass	Fatality	Management	Response	System	2015	Victim	Information	Center	Field	

457 Operations	Guide	funded	by	the	Regional	Catastrophic	Preparedness	Grant	Program	(RCPGP)	

458 and	the	Department	of	Homeland	Security	suite	of	grants	(881180,	881293,	C881203	and	

459 C971810,	Office	of	Chief	Medical	Examiner, New	York	City,	NY

460 13. Regional	Mass	Fatality	Management	Response	System	2015	Scene	Operations	Field	Operations	

461 Guide	funded	by	the	Regional	Catastrophic	Preparedness	Grant	Program	(RCPGP)	and	the	

462 Department	of	Homeland	Security	suite	of	grants	(881180,	881293,	C881203	and	C971810,	

463 Office	of	Chief	Medical	Examiner,	New	York	City,	NY

464 14. Regional	Mass	Fatality	Management	Response	System	2015	Disaster	Morgue	Field	Operations	

465 Guide	funded	by	the	Regional	Catastrophic	Preparedness	Grant	Program	(RCPGP)	and	the	

466 Department	of	Homeland	Security	suite	of	grants	(881180,	881293,	C881203	and	C971810,	

467 Office	of	Chief	Medical	Examiner,	New	York	City,	NY.

468 15. Sledzik,	P. (2002). Flight	93	Morgue	Protocols. Disaster	Mortuary	Operational	Response	Teams	

469 (DMORT).

470 16. Texas	Mass	Fatality	Operations	Response	Team	Mass	Fatality	incident	rapid	assessment	guide	

471 https://www.dshs.texas.gov/commprep/response/ToolsInfo.aspx

472 17. US	Department	of	Justice,	Transportation	Safety	Board	joint	publication,	Mass	Fatality	Incident	

473 Family	Assistance	Operations:	Recommended	Strategies	for	Local	and	State	Agencies:	

474 https://www.ntsb.gov/tda/TDADocuments/Mass%20Fatality%20Incident%20Family%20Assi

475 stance%20Operations.pdf

476 18. US	Department	of	Justice,	Transportation	Safety	Board	joint	publication,	Mass	Fatality	Incident	

477 Family	Assistance	Operations:	Recommended	Strategies	for	Local	and	State	Agencies:	

478 https://www.ntsb.gov/tda/TDADocuments/Mass%20Fatality%20Incident%20Family%20Assi

479 stance%20Operations.pdf

480 19. Williams, J.A.	and	Weedn,	V.W.	2022. Disaster	Victim	Identification	in	the	21st	Century:	A	U.S.	

481 Perspective.	Williams, J.A.	and	Weedn,	V.W.	eds.	Wiley,	Hoboken,	NJ.