[verum ago]

I thought it sounded kinda ominous, but it really isn't. It's just pointing out that while we have a decent idea of what to do with the survivors of a man-made mass casualty event, we're not equipped to deal with the dead, not that it really does much toward helping with that.

• • •

A BILL

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide guidance and coordination for mass fatality planning, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘Mass Fatality Planning and Religious Considerations Act’

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:

(1) Emergency preparedness often plans for how to prepare and provide for survivors of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster, but fails to plan for how to prepare for and respond to mass fatalities that result from such an incident.

(2) Funeral homes, cemeteries, and mortuaries could be overwhelmed should mass fatalities arise from a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster.

(3) Different religions have different customs surrounding death; for example, the Jewish and Muslim religions call for burial of the deceased not later than 48 hours after death.

SEC. 3. PREPAREDNESS FOR MASS FATALITIES RESULTING FROM A NATURAL DISASTER, ACT OF TERRORISM, OR OTHER MAN-MADE DISASTER.

Section 504 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 314) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

‘(c) Preparedness for Mass Fatalities- In carrying out this section, the Administrator shall provide guidance to and coordinate with appropriate individuals, including representatives from different communities, private sector businesses, non-profit organizations, and religious organizations, to prepare for and respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster that results in mass fatalities.’.

[Bryanw92]

I didn’t read the whole thing. Does it say, “Build big ovens near FEMA camps” at the bottom? That sounds like something Obama would do.

[arasina]

I thought it sounded kinda ominous, but it really isn't. It's just pointing out that while we have a decent idea of what to do with the survivors of a man-made mass casualty event, we're not equipped to deal with the dead, not that it really does much toward helping with that.

Expanding the Soviet-style "Homeland Security Act", I see. But why now? Why is this amendment being considered now? Why not 3 years ago, or 6 years ago...?

[Axenolith]

People managed to deal with it in 1918, I don’t see how government getting involved will make it any more efficient or less tragic...

[Blogger]

It is ominous. Why is this Homeland Security’s responsibility? If anything, it would seem to fall more with FEMA’s charter. And why now?