Written by: Tara Luther, Promega

When the Unexpected Happens

No matter how meticulously forensic teams prepare, mass fatality responses are rife with unforeseen challenges. Each event brings its own unique complications, requiring professionals to think on their feet and adapt as new problems arise. Forensic work in these situations is as much about resilience as it is about science.

Kimberly Gin, who served as Sacramento County Coroner for years, shared a story that highlighted how even seemingly straightforward cases can unravel into unexpected complexity. Her team recovered a man who had died alone at home during a disaster. With a pristine STR profile and a reference sample provided by the man’s daughter, they anticipated a quick identification.

Automation proved critical in managing the surge, but Sharon noted that it didn’t eliminate the emotional strain. “The finish line kept moving. Just when we thought we were done, more remains would come in,” he said. “It felt endless, but you push forward because that’s what the families are counting on”.

Technology That Changes Lives

Advances in forensic technology are fundamentally changing how mass fatality cases are approached. Tools like Rapid DNA and investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) are providing faster, more accurate solutions, even in the most challenging scenarios. For families waiting for answers, these advancements can mean the difference between weeks of uncertainty and timely closure.

Mark Desire, whose career in forensic identification spans decades, has seen firsthand how Rapid DNA has transformed the field. Reflecting on the aftermath of 9/11, Desire recalled how time consuming identification was before this technology was available. “Back then, it took weeks, months, even years. Now, we can provide answers in hours,” he said.

However, Gin cautioned about preserving samples for secondary analysis. “If you’re not careful, you might use up all your sample on STR profiling and leave nothing for genealogy. You have to think strategically,” she advised.

Building Bridges Before Disaster Strikes

When disaster strikes, the success of a mass fatality response depends heavily on relationships and preparation developed long before the crisis occurs. Forensic professionals must build trust and communication across agencies, ensuring that when the unthinkable happens, everyone is ready to act in unison.

“Getting to know the other agencies—finding out what they do, what they understand, [and] what they don’t understand—has paid off so many times,” said Gin. She recounted how these connections proved invaluable during the 2023 Maui wildfires. “If they needed something, I could contact California and say, ‘We need this. They don’t have it here. Can you get it to us?’” This seamless inter-agency cooperation, built through years of collaboration and communication, allowed her team to address resource shortages and meet urgent needs without delays.

For Desire, years of experience responding to disasters in New York City taught him that robust contingency planning is non-negotiable. Desire shared a chilling example from a military tabletop exercise simulating a nuclear explosion in Times Square. “The scenario was a seven-kiloton suitcase nuke,” he explained. “They told us, ‘Sir, your entire department has been killed. You are now a ghost.’” This stark scenario forced Desire’s team to confront a terrifying possibility: What if their entire operation was wiped out in an instant?

“It was a wake-up call for all of us,” Desire said. The exercise led to critical changes in contingency planning, including strategies for remote operations, redundant systems, and cross-training staff to ensure continuity of work. “You can’t just plan for the probable. You have to plan for the unimaginable,” he emphasized.

Sikorsky added another layer to the discussion: the importance of regularly revisiting and refining plans. “One of the things we’ve discovered,” she said, “is that you can’t just create a plan and leave it on a shelf. You need to make the time—deliberately make the time—to revisit it, refine it, and test it.”

Sikorsky shared how her team conducts tabletop exercises and full-scale drills to evaluate their readiness. “We discovered that one of the technologies we had originally planned to use was no longer relevant because we don’t even use it anymore,” she explained. “That’s why it’s so important to take a fresh look at your resources and adjust your plans accordingly.” These practice sessions have not only improved their response strategies but have also strengthened relationships across agencies by fostering open dialogue and collaboration.

In addition to revisiting plans, Sikorsky stressed the importance of involving everyone in the process, from senior management to field staff. “It’s not enough for the leadership to know the plan. Everyone on the team needs to understand their role and how they fit into the larger picture,” she said. “That means carving out time to sit down with your people, to explain things, to train them—not just once, but repeatedly.”

Forensic teams must also anticipate the unexpected, as both Gin and Desire emphasized. One lesson they both learned the hard way was the importance of backup resources. Gin recalled a moment during a disaster when her team needed specialized equipment that wasn’t available locally. “Because of our relationships with neighboring states, I was able to make a call and get what we needed within hours,” she said. “But without those connections, we would’ve been stuck.”

Desire echoed the sentiment. “You can’t wait until the disaster happens to figure out who you can call,” he said. “Those relationships have to be in place years ahead of time.” He urged forensic professionals to attend conferences like ISHI to meet their counterparts in other regions, exchange ideas, and establish lines of communication that could prove lifesaving in future crises.

Sikorsky added that preparedness isn’t just about logistics—it’s also about building trust within the team. “When something catastrophic happens, people need to trust that their leadership has thought things through,” she said. “If you’ve practiced together, planned together, and communicated openly, that trust is already there. It makes all the difference when the pressure is on.”

Even small, incremental changes can have a big impact. Sikorsky described how her lab has created a “living plan,” a dynamic document that evolves as new technologies, challenges, and opportunities emerge. “This isn’t something you write once and forget about. It’s something you grow with,” she said.

Ultimately, the panelists agreed that the key to a successful mass fatality response lies in a balance of preparation and adaptability. “You can’t predict everything, but you can set yourself up to respond effectively by building those bridges ahead of time,” Desire said. Gin nodded in agreement. “It’s not just about being prepared—it’s about being ready to adapt when everything changes,” she said.

The Emotional Toll

Behind every identification in a mass fatality response lies a story of profound loss. Families wait in anguish for answers, and forensic teams bear the heavy responsibility of not only finding those answers but also shouldering the grief they witness. The emotional toll on forensic professionals is immense, requiring deliberate efforts to care for their well-being as they continue this deeply human work.

In the world of mass fatality identification, the emotional toll is inevitable, but through compassion, connection, and support systems, forensic professionals find ways to sustain themselves while helping others heal.

A Mission of Humanity

At its heart, mass fatality work is about more than science—it’s about compassion, dignity, and providing families with the answers they deserve.

“Every identification we make is another family who can start to heal,” Desire said. “When you see the relief on their faces, you know it’s worth everything.”

From technological breakthroughs to human connection, the work of mass fatality identification is a powerful reminder of the resilience, compassion, and dedication of forensic professionals.