Mass fatality incidents may be either caused by humans, such as hazardous materials releases, transportation accidents, military or terrorist attacks, or they may be the result of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or severe weather.
The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 killed millions and overwhelmed response resources on a global level.
This is one important reason why jurisdictions usually include mass fatality planning as part of their overall emergency preparedness efforts.
Mass burials are usually not required for public health reasons, they increase distress among survivors and interfere with long-term community recovery.
The primary response functions in a mass fatality incident are: The Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) is part of the National Disaster Medical System and provides support to the National Transportation Safety Board and other mass fatality requirements.