Caring for the deceased and the personal belongings of those people involved in an incident
is one of the most important responsibilities of both businesses and governments. It is often the first concern of families and friends. It is also one of the most visible and measurable aspect of response.
In these cases, every funeral is a special and significant event and every piece of property
becomes priceless to those involved.

Many consider the recovery and identification of deceased and return of personal belongings to be strictly a government function. In some areas that is true, in others it is not. For example identifying specific individuals and belongings within a group of deceased tourists or business persons may not be a priority for local government. It might be counter to local customs, exceed the local resources or take more time than the families would like. In these cases Kenyon has come in with the local government’s permission and support to find, identify and repatriate the deceased and their belongings.

In other cases the sheer number and condition of fatalities, such as those resulting from
a commercial aviation loss, vessel sinking, rail accident or industrial explosion can overwhelm the best prepared government. Many government agencies work very hard to maintain an efficient operation managing their normal day to day case load. When a mass fatality incident occurs, Kenyon is often called upon to augment those agencies, helping create a single source of information and contact among a multitude of agencies involved, providing surge capacity with the ability to quickly and efficiently bring needed competent resources to bear, in a very cost effective manner.

Kenyon’s name and skills are well known and because of Kenyon’s team members quality, our long standing history and adherence to best practice and international standards governments see and use Kenyon as a viable, independent and competent source of these very sensitive functions.

Kenyon’s Disaster Recovery Services include:

Search and Recovery Operations – When operations turn from search and rescue to search and recovery Kenyon teams can coordinate with local authorities to arrange for locating and recovering the deceased. Capabilities include fielding small teams using archeological and anthropological developed methods for finding hidden or remote burial locations, and collection of evidence, or using large teams for major events. A poor or incomplete search and recovery often results in family members finding human remains or personal belongings on their visits to incident locations.

Kenyon search and recovery operations have included large scale natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, large scale aviation accidents, government aircraft, and smaller corporate and private aircraft losses.

Morgue and Identification Operations – Kenyon can deploy small teams of forensic experts who can assist government teams, or if needed, independently complete the autopsy, identification, and arrange for repatriation. For large scale losses, Kenyon can establish a full-scale complete disaster morgue. Kenyon morgues are organized into two major sections:

1. Administration Section – This team supports the operation of the morgue, and the work of identification committees, gathering of antemortem records, interface with family support operations, and all logistical operations. In addition to preprinted forms, office equipment and inventory systems, this team also manages and uses the internationally recognized INTERPOL PlassData Disaster Victim Identification System™. Kenyon is the only private company with a worldwide license for PlassData™, the only such system of its kind.
    
2. Scientific Section – This team works with the human remains, operating the receiving, holding, anthropology, radiology, pathology, DNA, finger and foot printing, odontology, photography and release stations. Kenyon’s forensic scientists support staff augment government teams or alternatively work independently to complete medicolegal autopsy to establish the cause and manner of death as well as establish positive identification.

Kenyon morgue operations have deployed to large scale disasters such as the 2004 Asian Tsunami, terrorist attacks, charter aviation accidents and major aviation losses.

Kenyon maintains three deployment ready morgues, one each in Houston, Texas; Bracknell, England and Sydney Australia. Kenyon maintains hazardous shipping permits and agreements with commercial carriers to deploy equipment within 24 hours of request.

Personal Effects Operations – Returning to individuals or the families of deceased the personal belongings from an incident site is one of the most important things that can be accomplished following a loss. Although belongings are often damaged and reflect the circumstances of the loss, many families keep and treat them as priceless heirlooms. It is so important that many national and international regulations and guidelines have been published mandating the recovery, care and return of these precious items.

Collecting, inventorying, cataloguing and returning these items are however, a time consuming detailed process. A process that exposes those working it to the realities of the loss and to very private and personal information of those directly involved. It is also a zero defects environment, with mistakes proving very costly in the court of public opinion and litigation. Kenyon has been engaged in personal belonging processing longer than any other company. It is a cornerstone of our business.

Kenyon can field a technical recovery team to complete a detailed search and recovery of the incident area; this can include debris or soil removal, working with more specialized salvage teams or even deep sea recovery vessels. Belongings are then protected to prevent any further damage or deterioration and in most case transported to one of Kenyon’s specially designed and secured facilities or into local procured facilities.

Next, specially trained teams, use Kenyon’s propriety Personal Effects Information System (PEIS)™ to complete a detailed process which associates or identifies ownership of the belonging, and arrange for its return, either via post, personal delivery or through your staff. This can include recovering property from the Kenyon or Government morgue and insure its timely and proper return. A color catalogue, both print and electronic is then created so that individuals and families can look through and claim those items not directly linked (unassociated) to a specific individual. Throughout the process, constant personal communication is maintained with individuals, families or their representatives to keep them fully informed of the process and the status of their requests and claims. To meet the needs of investigations,  Kenyon maintains a complete chain of custody and closely works with investigative authorities.

Because this process can take many months and unclaimed belongings often are retained pending litigation outcome or statutory periods, Kenyon safely and securely stores these items and when appropriate arranges for the complete and secure destruction of the unclaimed belongings.

Underestimating the value and importance of personal belongings as well as the technical knowledge and resources required to collect, identify and return these items is one of the single most costly mistakes business and governments can make. Kenyon can prevent this problem.

Repatriation Services – Returning the mortal remains from an incident site, remote location or foreign country can be a daunting task for many local funeral professionals and even more so for human resources departments, emergency managers or others.

In addition to the many requirements of the country of death, transit countries and county of disposition, there are cultural and family requirements to know and observe. There is also the challenge of working with different family members who may not agree on disposition instructions, or even accept identification.

Success depends on meeting the individual needs and desires of families, while ensuring compliance with national and international laws for the transport of human remains.

During mass fatality or large scale incidents, Kenyon can deploy a team of trained specialists who will work with Kenyon morgue teams or government agencies to arrange for the release and transportation of the remains to the location directed by the family (legal next of kin). This team can include licensed and trained funeral service professionals to properly prepare the deceased, or can work with local resources ensuring best practice and international standards are met.

Kenyon begins this process by communicating with you or the family to elicit their personal desires. Kenyon then establishes a database of family desires, religious and cultural requirements, and legal requirements for jurisdictions that are involved or crossed during the operations. Above all else, our professionals work with families to find out their needs, treat them as individuals and not just numbers in a system, or force them to accept a group solution.

Kenyon then coordinates the return with commercial or charter aircraft, ground vehicles and receiving funeral homes, and government agencies involved in this process, each step of the way to confirm the smooth movement of the deceased.

For other losses, such as small group or individual, Kenyon can dispatch a small team to properly prepare the deceased, complete required documentation, collect their personal belongings and arrange transportation to a desired location. In some cases, Kenyon will be able to coordinate these activities with local agents without deploying any teams.

Kenyon also provides, on request, escorts to oversee and accompany the deceased’s movements throughout the journey. In cases requiring confirmation of identification, Kenyon can also deploy forensic experts to answer family questions or provide a second verification and confirmation. Like other Kenyon operations, throughout this process, constant personal communication is maintained with the families of the deceased or their representatives to keep them fully informed of the process and the status of the repatriation.

Repatriation of deceased from mass disasters or foreign locations is a difficult process, requiring coordination, and knowledge of various laws, customs and regulations. Every mistake or incorrect document, slows the process down and ultimately creates additional burdens for the family. Kenyon can help you avoid this using our trained professionals.

As a Kenyon Member retaining Disaster Recovery Services, you are making the choice to be professionally prepared, with real resources ready to go at any time. You protect yourself and your staff from the very real exposure to the biological and other hazards associated with these incidents, limit exposure to the emotional trauma that is inherent in responding to these events and you allow your business or agency to focus on its core business while truly caring for those who have been injured or lost.