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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OSAC Proposed Standard

OSAC 2022-N-0020 Standard for Mass 

Fatality Incident Management

Prepared by 

Medicolegal Death Investigation Subcommittee

Version: 2.0

November 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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Standard for Mass Fatality Incident Management

Foreword

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

timely	recovery	and	identification	efforts.	Such	challenges	demand	a	coordinated	multidisciplinary	

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

investigative	assets.	

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

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

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

technologies	emerge.	

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

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

overarching	standard	in	a	series	of	standards	and	best	practices1,	4,	5,	6,	9,	10	&	11 developed	by	the	DVI	

Task	Group.	This	document	originated	from	the	Scientific	Working	Group	on	Disaster	Victim	

Identification	(SWGDVI).

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

1. Scope 5

2. Normative	References 5

3. Terms	and	Definitions 6

4. Requirements 8

Foundational	Principles 13

Bibliography 14
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Fatality Incident Management

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1. Scope

This	document	provides	a	standard	for	the	elements	to	address	when	planning	for	and	

implementing	mass	fatality	management	operations.	The	standard	is	intended	for	the	medicolegal	

authority	responsible	for	the	overall	management	of	a	mass	fatality	incident.	This	standard	lists	the	

procedures	and	protocols	that	a	forensic	science	service	provider	should	have	to	successfully	

manage	a	mass	fatality	incident	but	does	not	fully	specify	the	content	that	those	procedures	and	

protocols	must	have.	This	standard	does	not	substitute	for	standards	that	will	more	specifically	set	

forth	minimum	requirements	or	best	practices	for	the	procedures	and	protocols	mentioned	here.

2. Normative	References

The	following	normative	references	are	indispensable	for	the	application	of	this	document.	For	

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

referenced	document	(including	any	amendments)	applies.

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

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

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

Assistance	to	families	of	passengers	involved	in	rail	passenger	accidents,	49	U.S.	Code	§	1139	(2021)

Best	Practice	Recommendations	for	DNA	Analysis	for	Human	Identification	in	Mass	Fatality	Incidents,

ANSI/ASB	006,	2019.

Blakeney,	R.,	Department	of	Justice,	Office	of	Justice	Programs,	Office	for	Victims	of	Crime.	(2002).	

Providing	Relief	to	Families	after	a	Mass	Fatality:	Roles	of	the	Medical	Examiner's	Office	and	the	

Family	Assistance	Center.	Retrieved	from	

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

Disaster	Victim	Identification	Guide,	Part	A.	Interpol.	2018.	https://www.interpol.int/en/How-wework/Forensics/Disaster-Victim-Identification-DVI.	

Examination	of	Human	Remains	by	Forensic	Pathologists	in	the	Disaster	Victim	Identification Context,

ANSI/ASB	009,	2019.

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

Medicolegal	Authority, ANSI/ASB	010,	2018.

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

Medicolegal	Authority, ANSI/ASB	108,	2021.

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

ANSI/ASB	008,	2021.
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Management	of	Dead	Bodies	after	Disasters:	A	Field	Manual	for	First	Responders.	Morgan	O,	

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

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

National	Incident	Management	System,	3rd ed,	2017.	FEMA.	

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

National	Response	Framework,	4th ed.	FEMA.	2019.	

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

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

Family	Assistance	Plan	for	Aviation	Disasters.	

Plans	 to	 address	 needs	 of	 families	 of	 passengers	 involved	 in	 aircraft	 accidents,	 49	 U.S.	 Code	 §	

41113 (2021)

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

§	41313	(2021)

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

24316	(2021)

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

ANSI/ASB	094,	2021.

Postmortem	Impression	Submission	Strategy	for	Comprehensive	Searches	of	Essential	Automated	

Fingerprint	Identification	System	Databases, ANSI/ASB	007,	2018.

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

Examiners.			2021.	

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

3. Terms	and	Definitions

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

3.1.

Body	Collection	Point	(BCP)

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

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

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

3.2.

Disaster	Victim	Identification	(DVI)

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

scientific	methods,	as	a	component	of	mass	fatality	management.	

3.3.
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Family	Assistance

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

injured	or	otherwise	impacted	by	the	incident.

3.4.

Family	Assistance	Center	(FAC)

The	focus	of	services	for	family	members	following	an	incident.	FACs	are designed	to	meet	the	

immediate	and	short-term	needs	of	family	members:	safety,	security,	physiological	needs	(food,	

sleep),	information	(about	the	victim	recovery	and	identification	process	and	the	investigation),	

and	crisis/grief	counseling.		FAC	is	defined	in	NTSB	Federal	Family	Assistance	Plan	for	Aviation	

Disasters	2008. The	FAC	is	designed	to	provide	information	to	families	and	friends	of	victims,	

decision-makers,	the	media,	and	the	public,	regarding	the	on-going	operations. The	role	of	the	

medicolegal	authority	at	the	FAC	includes	gathering	antemortem	data	via	the	Victim	Information	

Center	and	notifying	the	legal	representative	authorized	to	direct	disposition	regarding	the	

deceased. FACs	can	be	physically	and/or	virtually	established	sites.

3.5.

Grouped	Remains

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

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

3.6.

Incident	Characterization

Provides	an	initial	assessment	of	the	incident,	allowing	leadership	to	make	appropriate	decisions	

regarding	operational	decisions.

3.7.

Incident	Command	System	(ICS)

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

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

operating	within	a	common	organizational	structure.		ICS	is	defined	in	FEMA	National	Incident	

Management	System,	3rd ed,	2017.

3.8.

Joint	Information	Center	(JIC)

A	facility	in	which	personnel	coordinate	incident-related	public	information	activities.	The	JIC	

serves	as	the	central	point	of	contact	for	all	news	media.	Public	information	officials	from	all	

participating	agencies	co-locate	at,	or	virtually	coordinate	through,	the	JIC.		JIC is	defined	in	FEMA	

National	Incident	Management	System,	3rd ed,	2017.

3.9.

Manifest	of	unaccounted	for	persons

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

and	otherwise	unaccounted	for	persons.

3.10.

Mass	fatality	incident	(MFI)

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

and	organizations	are	required.	
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3.11.

Mass	fatality	management

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

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

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

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

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

3.12.

Medicolegal	Death	Investigation	Authority

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

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

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

written	out	in	full.	

3.13.

Victim	Information	Center	(VIC)

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

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

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

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

authority.	

4. Requirements

Medicolegal	 jurisdictions	 shall	 establish	 an	 organizational	 response	 framework	 to	 include	 an	

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

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

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

4.1. Operational	Definition	of	Mass	Fatality	Incidents	(MFIs)

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

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

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

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

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

and	financial	resources).		

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

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

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

c) Complicating	circumstances:

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

explosive	agents	or	materials	

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

in-water;	scene	access	and	other	physical	/	environmental	challenges	
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iii) The	 need	 for	 multi-agency	 response	 or	 cross-border	 political	 and	 diplomatic	

considerations.

4.2. Operational	Objectives	of	MFI	Management

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

include	the	following:

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

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

authority	in	the	jurisdiction	where	the	disaster	incident	occurred.

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

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

organizations	(NGO),	tribal	entities	and	private	industry.

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

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

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

situational	awareness.

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

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

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

disaster	victim	identification	operations.

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

8) Adhere	to	the	standards	of	disaster	victim	identification.

9) Certify	cause	and	manner	of	death.

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

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

FAC.

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

possible,	in	advance	of	public	release	of	information.

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

fragmentation	and	protracted	identifications.

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

responses.	

4.3. Policy	Decisions	and	Considerations	Prior	to	Commencing	Operations
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Policy	 decisions	may	 be	 the	 sole	 responsibility	 of	 the	medicolegal	authority,	 or	in	 part	 under	 the	

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

responsibilities	or	functions	within	the	incident	operation.	

4.3.1. The	medicolegal	authority	shall	develop	strategies	to	address	scene	operations9.

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

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

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

considered	in						incident	planning.

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

i) Site	ingress	and	egress

ii) Hazmat	and	safety	concerns

iii) Body	collection	points	and	transportation	of	remains

iv) Equipment	and	personnel	needs

v) Factors	complicating	remains	recovery

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

agencies.	

4.3.2. The	medicolegal authority	shall	develop	strategies	to	address	disaster	morgue	operations4.

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

4.3.2.2. Establish	the	location	of	a	disaster	morgue.	

4.3.2.3. Establish	the	workflow	for	disaster	morgue	operations.

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

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

4.3.2.6. Determine	criteria	for	analyzing	fragmented	human	remains.

4.3.2.7. Establish	a	data	management	system	and	document	retention	plan	for	all	postmortem	data	

collected.

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

family	engagement	and victim	information	center	(VIC)	operations.

4.3.3.1. Participate	in	establishing	the	location	of	the	VIC.

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

families,	and	rest	areas	for	staff.

4.3.3.2. Initiate	family	communications	via	briefings	and	outreach.	

4.3.3.3. Coordinate	antemortem	data	collection,	including	DNA	sampling.	

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

collected.

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

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

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

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

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

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

identified	decedents.	

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

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

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

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

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

a	single	individual.

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

personal	effects.

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

4.3.6.2. Establish	storage	of	remains.

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

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

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

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

the	legal	representative.

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

effects.

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

and	release	of	remains	and	personal	effects.

4.3.7.1. Consider	applicable	state	law	governing	data	privacy.

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

personnel	effects.

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

responsibility.	

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

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

period	of	time.	

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

representative	 authorized	 to	 direct	 disposition	 regarding	 subsequent	 notifications,	

allowing	for	future	modifications.

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

medicolegal	authority.	

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

unclaimed	and	grouped	remains.	

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

operations	(scene,	morgue	and	VIC).

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

management	 operation	 regardless	 of	 current	 resource	 capabilities.	 Utilization	 of	 the	

incident	command	structure	(ICS)	is	highly	recommended.

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

management	operations.

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

management	operations.

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

and	support	staff.

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

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

locally	should	be	escalated	to	partnering	jurisdictions,	the	state	and	federal	governments.
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4.3.8.6. Resource	 requests	 should	 include	 all	 support	 required	 to	 operate	 the	 equipment	 (e.g.,	

personnel,	fuel,	maintenance).

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

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

tasks	assigned	to	them.

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

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

commingling.

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

collected	from	antemortem	interviews.

4.3.9.3. Perform	an	inventory	of	remains	at	regular	intervals.

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

appropriate	examinations	have	been	completed	and	data	filed.

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

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

equipment.

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

same	individual	to	ensure	anatomical	integrity.	

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

technologies	to	determine	whether	additional	decedent	identifications	can	be	made.	

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

unidentified	remains	inventory.	

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

assurance	measure.

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

4.3.10.1. Develop	a	demobilization	plan	to	include:

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

operations.	

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

government	officials,	emergency	management,	and	other	response	agencies.

v) Criteria	for	re-establishing	mass	fatality	operations.	

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

4.3.10.2. Plans	should	allow	for	phased	demobilization	of	operations.

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

supply	cache.	

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

authorized	representative.

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

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

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

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

(informative)

Foundational	Principles

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

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

responsibilities	in	a	mass	fatality	incident.

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

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

unaccounted	for	in	the	mass	fatality	incident.

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

victims	and	their	families’	religious	and	emotional	needs.

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

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

(informative)

Bibliography

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

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

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

the	standard.

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

Incidents, ANSI/ASB	006,	2019.

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

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

Publishing,	Huntington,	NY.

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

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

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

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

Context, ANSI/ASB	009,	2019.

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

Medicolegal	Authority, ANSI/ASB	010,	2018.

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

Medicolegal	Authority, ANSI/ASB	108,	2021.

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

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

eds.	Humana	Press,	Totowa,	NJ.	

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

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

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

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

ANSI/ASB	008,	2021.

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

ANSI/ASB	094,	2021.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Office	of	Chief	Medical	Examiner,	New	York	City,	NY

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

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

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

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

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

(DMORT).

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

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

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

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

https://www.nmvvrc.org/media/tw5lw23j/mass-fatality-incident-family-assistance-operations.pdf

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

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