NYS Funeral Directors Form Commission To Help Families With Vital Services After Disasters

The New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA) has formed the Family Assistance Commission (FAC) to respond to incidents similar to the tragic capsizing of the Ethan Allen Tour Boat on Lake George on October 2, 2005, which resulted in the death of twenty people. The 23 FAC members are volunteer funeral directors from all across the state who will take action after a disaster occurring within the State of New York.

After such a disaster, FAC members will interview survivors and process paperwork to assist in identifying and facilitating the release of remains to the next-of-kin or other representatives. They have been chosen based on their experience working with families after the occurrence of a disaster with mass fatalities throughout the United States. Bonnie McCullough, Executive Director of NYSFDA stated that “we are happy to be able to offer the services of this group of volunteers to families throughout the State of New York, but we all hope that it will never be necessary to call the FAC into action”.

According to NYSFDA Disaster Committee Chairman Doug Brueggemann, “Funeral directors are the most qualified group of professionals equipped to help families and other survivors work through these very difficult, yet necessary, processes following the loss of a loved one due to a sudden accident or disaster”. FAC members, working with state and local officials, as well as other participants, will provide families with these vital services during a time of extreme confusion and grief.

The NYSFDA Disaster Committee held a training session on November 14, 2007 in Albany for FAC members. Don Bloom, Deputy Commander, Disaster Mortuary Response Team Family Affairs Division, provided training on the forms used to interview family members of potential victims of a disaster with mass fatalities. FAC members also received training on the process of working with local municipalities in the event that a disaster occurs which requires the deployment of FAC volunteers.

FAC will operate under the auspices of the New York State Tribute Foundation, which is the charitable arm of NYSFDA. The NYS Tribute Foundation is a non-profit foundation dedicated to supporting education, outreach and research programs that advance the public's understanding of end-of-life issues. Visit www.tributefoundation.org for more information about the Tribute Foundation.

The following is a complete list of all FAC Members:

(Click the following group photo to view a larger version):

James Whitty John Keegan Kenn Grosser Leslie Francisco . Louis Morse Marie D Major Mark DeSimone Mark Phillips . Melissa Trano Randy McIntire Warren Riles Susan O'Connor . Wesley A. Powell