View Resource Typing Definition

12-508-1217

Name

Fatality Management Disaster Portable Morgue Unit

Status

Published

Version

1.2

Updated

11/18/2019 2:31:57 PM

Original Release

11/07/2017

Last Major Release

11/18/2019

Description

The Fatality Management (FM) Disaster Portable Morgue Unit (DPMU) is a mobile facility consisting of personnel, equipment, and supplies to support specially trained teams that respond to a mass fatality incident. The Medical Examiner/Coroner (ME/C), under the designated medico-legal authority, assists the local jurisdiction in identifying human remains through forensic dental pathology, forensic anthropology, latent print examination, and DNA testing. The DPMU also prepares and ensures the disposition of human remains.

Resource Category

Medical and Public Health

Primary Core Capability

Fatality Management Services

Secondary Core Capability

Resource Kind

Unit

Overall Function

The FM DPMU establishes contact with the Mass Fatality Management Group Supervisor designee and the ME/C to determine where to set up the temporary morgue and: 1. Sets up and manages the operation of a temporary morgue (cache of prepackaged equipment and supplies) with necessary work stations for processing within 24 hours of activation 2. Provides inventory management 3. Collaborates and coordinates with the Fatality Management Assessment Team, Human Remains Recovery Team, Victim Information Center Team, Morgue Identification Center Team, Family Assistance Center, and state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal authorities in the identification and return of human remains 4. Delivers and maintains equipment and supplies to operate the Mass Fatality Management Group and temporary morgue

Composition and Ordering Specifications

1. Discuss logistics for deploying this unit, such as working conditions, length of deployment, security, lodging, transportation, and meals, prior to deployment 2. Requestors can order additional vehicles, equipment, and supplies, such as human remains transportation vehicles for temporary storage of human remains 3. Requestor can order additional units based on cause of death complexity, the geographic scale and scope, and the number of victims 4. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is mission-specific

Supporting Core Capabilities
None

Minimum Personnel Per Unit

Not Specified

Component Types
Type	Attribute
Type 1	7
Type 2	7

Management and Oversight Personnel Per Unit

Not Specified

Component Types
Type	Attribute
Type 1	1 – NIMS Type 1 FM DPMU Leader
Type 2	1 – National Incident Management System (NIMS) Type 2 FM DPMU Leader

Support Personnel Per Unit

Not Specified

Component Types
Type	Attribute
Type 1	Same as Type 2
Type 2	1 – NIMS Type 1 FM DPMU Communications Coordinator 1 – NIMS Type 1 FM DPMU Communications Information Technology Specialist 1 – NIMS Type 1 FM DPMU Communications Programming Specialist 1 – NIMS Type 1 FM DPMU Building/Arrangements Specialist 1 – NIMS Type 1 FM DPMU Supply Specialist 1 – NIMS Type 1 FM DPMU Facilities Specialist

Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Response Capability Per Unit

Not Specified

Component Types
Type	Attribute
Type 1	Hazmat capable
Type 2	Not Specified

Self-contained Temporary Morgue Equipment Per Unit

Not Specified

Component Types
Type	Attribute
Type 1	Same as Type 2
Type 2	1. Portable x-ray unit 2. Human remains pouches 3. Medical instruments for autopsies 4. Radiation survey equipment 5. Portable autoclave 6. Digital cameras 7. Specimen containers and preservatives 8. Refrigerated storage

Transportation Equipment Per Unit

Not Specified

Component Types
Type	Attribute
Type 1	Same as Type 2
Type 2	1 – Four-wheel drive vehicle with the ability to carry four passengers 1 – Truck with trailer, or a specially-designed vehicle to transport the DPMU

Electronics Equipment Per Unit Member

The software assists with collecting, organizing, and analyzing ante-mortem and postmortem data, and has the ability to capture unique identifiers, including photographs and x-rays.

Component Types
Type	Attribute
Type 1	Same as Type 2
Type 2	Laptops, tablets, or mobile devices equipped with data management and analysis software capability

Communications Equipment Per Unit Member

Consider alternate forms of communication, such as satellite phones, based on the mission assignment and unit needs.

Component Types
Type	Attribute
Type 1	Not Applicable
Type 2	1. Portable two-way radio 2. Cell phone

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Per Unit Member

The following standards address PPE: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.120: Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response; OSHA, 29 CFR Part 1910.134:, Respiratory Protection; OSHA, 29 CFR Part 1910.1030: Bloodborne Pathogens.

Component Types
Type	Attribute
Type 1	Hazmat PPE that is mission-specific, such as: 1. Full-face or half-mask, air purifying respirators 2. Hooded chemical-resistant clothing 3. Coveralls 4. Chemical-resistant gloves 5. Boots 6. Boot-covers 7. Hard hat 8. Face shield 9. Chemical tape 10. Chemical filters specific to the event
Type 2	PPE is mission-specific, such as: 1. Non-porous protective outerwear 2. Masks/Respirators 3. Eye protection 4. Disposable gloves 5. Protective footwear

Data Collection and Dissemination Supplies Per Unit

Not Specified

Component Types
Type	Attribute
Type 1	Same as Type 2
Type 2	1. General morgue forms 2. Release forms 3. Death certificates

683

Notes

References
Reference
FEMA, NIMS 509: Fatality Management Disaster Portable Morgue Unit Communications Information Technology Specialist
FEMA, NIMS 509: Fatality Management Disaster Portable Morgue Unit Communications Programming Specialist
FEMA, NIMS 509: Fatality Management Disaster Portable Morgue Unit Building/Arrangements Specialist
FEMA, NIMS 509: Fatality Management Disaster Portable Morgue Unit Communications Coordinator
FEMA, NIMS 509: Fatality Management Disaster Portable Morgue Unit Facilities Specialist
FEMA, NIMS 509: Fatality Management Disaster Portable Morgue Unit Leader
FEMA, NIMS 509: Fatality Management Disaster Portable Morgue Unit Supply Specialist
FEMA, NIMS 509: Mass Fatality Management Group Supervisor, pending publication
FEMA, National Incident Management System (NIMS), October 2017
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.120: Hazardous Materials Awareness, latest edition adopted
OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.120: Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, latest edition adopted
OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.134: Respiratory Protection, latest edition adopted
OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.1030: Bloodborne Pathogens, latest edition adopted

Version	Publish Date	Document Type
Published Versions
1.2	11/18/2019 2:31:57 PM	PDF
1.1	9/28/2018 5:08:13 PM	PDF
1.0	11/7/2017 3:20:39 PM	PDF