Complexities of mass fatality incidents in the United States: exploring telecommunication failure
Date
2021
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Mass fatality incidents (MFIs), by definition, overwhelm the capacity of resources available to a local jurisdiction. An example of surge that a locality may experience is the increase of calls or contacts to the 911-system or center. This information surge may result in a measurable increase of contacts (911 calls or texts) beyond normal day-to-day capabilities, calls being dropped or unanswered or other types of telecommunication infrastructure failure. There is currently no means to anticipate the potential information surge or infrastructure failures following a mass fatality incident in the United States. Current assumptions on this type of data are anecdotal and based on only a small number of incidents. This lack of anticipatory knowledge has led to a major gap in the current understanding regarding the capabilities of the 911 system after a mass fatality incident, along with the resulting implications on technology and personnel resources. There is little existing research on the topic. ☐ This dissertation explores the nuances and intricacies of mass fatality incidents (MFIs) and examines how those complexities may contribute to infrastructure failure through the examination of published documents, such as After-Action Reports (AARs). A mixed methods approach is employed, utilizing events listed in a mass fatality Excel database compiled by the Harris County (TX) Institute of Forensic Sciences (HCIFS). This is the same database that is currently being used by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science’s committee on Disaster Victim Identification (DVI). It contains mass fatality incidents in the United States and U.S. waters in which 4 or more individuals died in any single event from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2018. Published data of infrastructure failure from the large scale (10 or more fatalities in one event) incidents in the database, occurring between 2010 and 2018 were then collected, along with demographic data surrounding the incident location and population, resulting in the creation of a new Enhanced Mass Fatality Database. This new database was then used to create statistical analyses and anticipatory models to explore potential telecommunication failures following mass fatality incidents in the United States. ☐ This exploratory research develops the relationship between telecommunication failure(s) occurring during and immediately after mass fatality incidents occurring in the United States. It allows local medicolegal jurisdictions, emergency management, first responders and governments, access to the scientifically-based data and knowledge to develop more informed planning documents, as well the evidence to attain, create or build the appropriate capabilities and infrastructure needed to manage the potential for an influx of communication or telecommunication infrastructure failures during and following a mass fatality incident. Accurate expectations of data contribute to determining more efficient, effective and true means of managing incident data and resources, ultimately resulting in rapid response capabilities following a mass fatality incident. This project also serves as a model for confirming and expanding upon the findings in future domestic and international studies.
Description
Keywords
Emergency management, Mass fatalities, Telecommunications