IRSC to Host the Florida Emergency Mortuary Operations Response System Preparedness Exercise

May 10, 2022 Suzanne Seldes

FORT PIERCE, FL—The Indian River State College (IRSC) School of Public Service Education, in collaboration with the University of Florida, will bring the Florida Emergency Mortuary Operations Response System (FEMORS) Preparedness Exercise to its Treasure Coast Public Safety Training Complex in Fort Pierce on May 25 and 26. The two-day exercise will attract 120-160 participants from multiple state and local agencies, including FEMORS members and groups and individuals from the Department of the Medical Examiner, a U.S. Army Transportation Unit, and the Florida Department of Health (Emergency Support Function #8).

FEMORS assists local medical examiners in a mass fatalities incident, whether a human-made or natural catastrophic incident. In a mass fatality situation, the investigative and identification process is a multidisciplinary endeavor requiring multiple forensic and medical specialists who come together rapidly under adverse conditions. The FEMORS Preparedness Exercise is a full-scale training that implements protocols developed by the State of Florida and the William R. Maples Center for Forensic Medicine. The exercise will utilize a disaster site for fatality recovery operations, a temporary morgue, a morgue identification center, and a victim information center.

Media interested in covering the event should contact Suzanne Seldes at 772-462-7265.

About FEMORS
FEMORS is a sponsored activity of the University of Florida in collaboration with the Maples Center for Forensic Medicine. FEMORS is supported by the Florida Department of Health with funding made available through the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP).

About the IRSC School of Public Service Education
The Indian River State College School of Public Service Education offers 18 programs that range from Bachelor’s and Associate degrees to technical certificates. The Division is housed at the IRSC Treasure Coast Public Safety Training Complex, one of the nation's most comprehensive, technologically advanced public safety training facilities. The 50-acre, eight-building complex also supports advanced training for regional first responders.