Field Manual
The MDM Field Manual
Objectives
1 2 3
Identify the Describe the MDM
Understand the minimum Cluster in the
protocols, requirements in spectrum of pre-,
guidelines and implementing MDM during and
procedures of at the local level. post-disaster.
MDM.
Purpose of MDM
● Policies, standards and guidelines. Recommended systems and
procedures to be used to strengthen coordination and collaboration
● between and among partner agencies and stakeholders who take part in
disaster response, in general, and MDM, in particular, to ensure timely
and well-coordinated actions. Established coordination and
collaboration with the SRR Cluster for organized search and retrieval
operations and proper documentation, in support to MDM operations.
● Resource-sharing mechanisms.
●
Salient Features
Coordination and Collaboration.
Rapid Assessment, Verification and Validation.
Communication as an inherent aspect of Coordination.
Incident Command System.
Documentation and Reporting.
Monitoring.
Intended Users
Both Resource Persons for, and Facilitators of, MDM trainings, as a
technical reference.
Practitioners of MDM during emergencies and disasters.
Local Chief Executives, officers and staff of local DRRM offices, local social
welfare and development offices, local health offices.
Other stakeholders in the practice of MDM.
Transitioning from Disaster Response
This Field Manualalsoprovidesactionsintransitioningfromdisasterresponsetoearlyrecovery,asidentifiedbytheNDRRMC:
Expanded Coverage of Disaster MDM Field Manual
Response and Early Recovery
Assists the LGU in the development of disaster preparedness plan, response plan, including early recovery actions, and identifying the
actions needed to implement a well-coordinated MDM operation. Actions during the pre-emergency or pre-disaster stage have been
identified in this Manual. This ensures that LGUs are taking the correct path in preparing for and responding to every threat in their
Pre-Impact Phase locality. Systems and mechanisms that are needed to be established are also identified in this Manual. MDM L!STO are progressive
actions contingent on particular hazards in the locality.
To ensure that the LGUs will be organized to address all phases of MDM in disaster response, this Manual outlines the actions identified in
managing coordination with other Clusters (particularly the SRR Cluster), dead body management, final arrangements for the dead,
management of missing persons, and necessary interventions for bereaved families. Considering the tiered response from all concerned
Impact Phase agencies, the LGUs are expected to take on the primary responsibility as disaster first responders.
One of the most difficult decisions of the MDM team is identifying the start of the early recovery phase. While most of the indicators of early
recovery can be identified by the return to normalcy of the basic services, the bereaved families are bearing the after-effects of loss which
may lead to long-term grief. This field manual identifies the social needs of the bereaved families, which includes support systems,
Post-Impact Phase educational assistance, legal support, and other special needs such as psychosocial and mental health services.
MDM during the Pre-Emergency/Disaster Stage
L– LEVEL – OFF
!– INSTITUTIONALIZE
S– SCALE
T– TRAIN
O– ORGANIZE AND EQUIP
Level-Off
Institutionalize
REVIEW and REVISE all the existing response plans (as needed):
✔ LDRRM Plan.
✔ Contingency Plan/s.
✔ Search and Rescue Plan.
✔ Search and Retrieval Plan (indicating proper equipage, personal protection,
collection points, morgues, temporary burial sites, tags and markers)
✔ MDM Action Plan.
✔ Enter into a MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT with funeral service
providers, mortuary associations and other stakeholders, in order to
augment the resources of the LGU.
Scale
Train
Organize and Equip
Responsible Officials (President,
Secretaries, LCEs, or Head of
(Strategic) Offices/Decision Makers)
Policy
Response Cluster
Emergency Operations Center
MDM Lead SRR
DRRM Emergency Convenor Cluster
Operations Manager
(Operational)
Coordination
Operations Disaster Victim Final Management Management
Coordinator Identification Disposition of Missing of Bereaved
of the Dead Persons Families
MDM Cluster
Coordinator
Incident Management Team
Incident
Commander
Command and Control
Operations Planning Logistics Finance and Admin
Section Chief Section Chief Section Chief Section Chief
(Tactical)
SRR Group MDM Group
Supervisor Supervisor
Search and
Retrieval ST 1 Disaster Victim Final Management Management
Search and Identification Disposition of of Missing of Bereaved
TF the Dead TF Persons TF Families TF
Retrieval ST 2
Components of MDM
Management of the Dead and
Missing Persons Facilities
Collection Area One-Stop Shop
Temporary Storage Bereaved Families Holding Area
Area/Morgue Area Temporary Burial/Grave Site
Viewing Area
Data Reconciliation Area
MDM Facilities
Reporting Disaster
Casualties
Management of Dead Persons due to
Dangerous Communicable Diseases
“This manual is dedicated to all the victims of disasters
and emergencies, especially the dead, the missing, and
the bereaved families.”
Objectives
1 2 3
Identify the minimum Describe the MDM
requirements in Cluster in the spectrum
implementing MDM at of pre-, during and
Understand the the local level. post-disaster.
protocols, guidelines
and procedures of
MDM.
Thank you!
