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Washington Report
August - September 2008
by ICCFA General Counsel Robert M. Fells, Esq.
Mass fatalities planning: Private sector, federal agencies meet in D.C.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently convened a workshop conference in Washington to discuss with private sector representatives in the death care industry various initiatives to ensure adequate planning for mass fatalities and community needs.
Discussions at this meeting, held June 13, focused on methods to alert other sectors to the need to coordinate and prioritize services, including transportation, energy, chemical, banking and financial, and communications, among other industries.
The ICCFA was represented by General Counsel Bob Fells; other organizations represented were the Cremation Association of North America, the National Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, the Casket and Funeral Supply Association and the Dodge Co.
The main focus of the planning sessions that the ICCFA has participated in over the past two years is how to protect operations in the 18 sectors that comprise the "critical infrastructure and key resources" (CIKR). There was a consensus among the group at the June 13 meeting that in the first 24 to 72 hours following a disaster, whether caused by a flu pandemic, natural catastrophe or terrorist attack, localities would be on their own to cope with the consequences and that federal agencies could not be viewed as the "cavalry" coming to the rescue.
Losses to the workforce are generally estimated at between 25 and 40 percent, either as casualties or as caregivers, and emergency business plans should be developed by all companies in order to remain operational for CIKR purposes. The group is currently drafting sector-specific issues and needs for distribution to sectors having an impact on mass fatalities management.
For more information on this subject and on related areas, visit the ICCFA Web page at www.iccfa.com/government.htm
Copyright ICCFA 2008
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