ID
12-508-1220
Name
Fatality Management Morgue Processing Unit
Status
Published
Version
1.2
Updated
11/18/2019 2:44:42 PM
Original Release
11/07/2017
Last Major Release
11/18/2019
Description
The Fatality Management (FM) Morgue Processing Unit (MPU) provides personnel support for the receipt, processing, identification, storage, and release of human remains in a temporary morgue facility during a mass fatality incident, under the designated medico-legal authority.
Resource Category
Medical and Public Health
Primary Core Capability
Fatality Management Services
Secondary Core Capability
 
Resource Kind
Unit
Overall Function
The FM MPU: 1. Retrieves or delivers human remains to other morgue stations (including but not limited to anthropology, radiology, odontology, pathology, and fingerprint stations), with appropriate specialists as staff 2. Manages personal effects 3. Tracks decedents through the victim identification software system 4. Ensures security, accountability, and documented chain of custody for all remains and personal effects 5. Adheres to human remains-related religious and cultural customs to the extent the law or circumstances permit
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. Requestor can order additional units based on cause of death complexity, the geographic scale and scope, and number of victims 3. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is mission-specific 4. The requestor should supplement communications systems (such as laptops, phones/pagers, and radios) for the purpose of relaying status reports and activation needs 5. The Requestor should specify if Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) capabilities are necessary 6. Disaster Portable Morgue Unit (DPMU) cache will be available at the designated temporary morgue site 7. The Type 1 and Type 3 teams have the ability to work in Hazmat environments or with decedents exposed to hazardous materials
Supporting Core Capabilities
None
Components
Component Notes  
Minimum Personnel Per UnitNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 128
Type 228
Type 311
Type 411
Management and Oversight Personnel Per UnitNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 3, PLUS: 1 – NIMS Type 1 Morgue Processing Unit Leader
Type 2Same as Type 4, PLUS: 1 – NIMS Type 2 Morgue Processing Unit Leader
Type 31 – NIMS Type 1 Morgue Processing Unit Leader
Type 41 – National Incident Management System (NIMS) Type 2 Morgue Processing Unit Leader
Support Personnel Per UnitNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 3 PLUS: 1 – NIMS Type 1 FM Morgue Admitting Specialist 7 – NIMS Type 1 FM Morgue Escort 1 – NIMS Type 1 FM Forensic Photographer 1 – NIMS Type 1 FM Personal Effects Specialist 2 – NIMS Type 1 FM Human Remains Storage and Release Specialist 4 – NIMS Type 1 FM Embalming and Casketing Mortuary Specialist
Type 2Same as Type 4, PLUS: 1 – NIMS Type 2 FM Morgue Admitting Specialist 7 – NIMS Type 2 FM Morgue Escort 1 – NIMS Type 2 FM Forensic Photographer 1 – NIMS Type 2 FM Personal Effects Specialist 2 – NIMS Type 2 FM Human Remains Storage and Release Specialist 4 – NIMS Type 1 FM Embalming and Casketing Mortuary Specialist
Type 31 – NIMS Type 1 FM Morgue Admitting Specialist 3 – NIMS Type 1 FM Morgue Escort 2 – NIMS Type 1 FM Forensic Photographer 2 – NIMS Type 1 FM Personal Effects Specialist 2 – NIMS Type 1 FM Human Remains Storage and Release Specialist
Type 41 – NIMS Type 2 FM Morgue Admitting Specialist 3 – NIMS Type 2 FM Morgue Escort 2 – NIMS Type 2 FM Forensic Photographer 2 – NIMS Type 2 FM Personal Effects Specialist 2 – NIMS Type 2 FM Human Remains Storage and Release Specialist
Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Response Capability Per UnitNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 3
Type 2Same as Type 4
Type 3Hazmat capable
Type 4Not Specified
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Equipment Per Unit MemberThe 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 1Same as Type 3
Type 2Same as Type 4
Type 3Hazmat 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 4PPE is mission-specific, such as: 1. Non-porous protective outerwear 2. Respirators 3. Eye Protection 4. Gloves 5. Protective footwear
Communications Equipment Per Unit MemberConsider alternate forms of communication, such as satellite phones, based on the mission assignment and unit needs.
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 3
Type 2Same as Type 4
Type 3Same as Type 4, PLUS: Radio Harness for under/over Hazmat gear
Type 41. Short range hand-held 2 way portable radio 2. Cellular phone
Electronics Equipment Per UnitNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2
Type 2Same as Type 3, PLUS: 10 – Laptops, tablets, or mobile devices equipped with data management and analysis software capabilities
Type 3Same as Type 4
Type 48 – Laptops, tablets, or mobile devices equipped with data management and analysis software capabilities
Data Collection Equipment Per UnitNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2
Type 2Same as Type 3
Type 3Same as Type 4
Type 4Forms: 1. Post-mortem 2. Decedent tracking 3. Death Certificates 4. Release Forms
841
Notes
References
Reference
FEMA, NIMS 508: Fatality Management Disaster Portable Morgue Unit
FEMA, NIMS 509: Fatality Management Embalming and Casketing Mortuary Officer
FEMA, NIMS 509: Fatality Management Forensic Photographer
FEMA, NIMS 509: Fatality Management Morgue Admitting Specialist
FEMA, NIMS 509: Fatality Management Morgue Escort
FEMA, NIMS 509: Fatality Management Personal Effects Specialist
FEMA, NIMS 509: Fatality Management Human Remains Storage and Release Specialist
FEMA, National Incident Management System (NIMS), October 2017
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Immunization Recommendations for Disaster Responders
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
Published Versions
Version Publish Date Document Type
1.2 11/18/2019 2:44:42 PM PDF
1.1 9/28/2018 5:08:16 PM PDF
1.0 11/7/2017 3:21:01 PM PDF