Michigan Mortuary Response Team (MI-MORT)

Membership Classifications

Individuals with related disaster, forensic or mortuary experience may apply for MI-MORT membership by registering on the Michigan Volunteer Registry. For more information on membership see our Teams page.

MI-MORT members are classified, based upon the level of expertise they have achieved through experience and education, in one of the following categories:

MI-MORT Commander

Primary Responsibilities

Disaster Management of Human and Equipment Assets; ME Liaison; MSU Liaison; Scheduling

Minimum Requirements

Mass Fatality Disaster Response Experience; Management and Administrative Experience

Regional Team Leader

Primary Responsibilities

Performs Go Team Duties as Back-up to MI-MORT Commander

Minimum Requirements

Mass Fatality Disaster Response Experience; Management and Administrative Experience

Family Assistance Core Team Leader

Primary Responsibilities

Supervises Family Assistance Center

Minimum Requirements

Mass Fatality Disaster Response Experience; Management and Administrative Experience

Pathologist, Forensic

Primary Responsibilities

Examines recovered remains, details anatomic observations; May serve as section leader for Pathology

Minimum Requirements

Forensic Pathology M.D. or D.O.

Pathologist, Non-Forensic, M.D., or D.O.

Primary Responsibilities

Examines recovered remains and details anatomic observations under the supervision of a forensic pathologist

Minimum Requirements

M.D. or D.O. without forensic/ postmortem experience

Anthropologist, Forensic

Primary Responsibilities

Search or examination of bone or fragments; May serve as section leader for scene or morgue Anthropology

Minimum Requirements

Ph.D. with forensic/ postmortem experience

Anthropologist, Non-Forensic

Primary Responsibilities

Search or examination of bone or fragments under the supervision of a forensic anthropologist

Minimum Requirements

Ph.D. without forensic/ postmortem experience

Odontologist, Forensic

Primary Responsibilities

Examines dental remains, processes antemortem dental records for ID; May serve as section leader for ante or post mortem Odontology

Minimum Requirements

Licensed Dentist with forensic/ postmortem experience

Odontologist, Non-Forensic

Primary Responsibilities

Examines dental remains, processes antemortem dental records for ID under the supervision of a forensic odontologist

Minimum Requirements

Licensed Dentist without forensic/ postmortem experience

Mental Health Officer

Primary Responsibilities

Monitors team member performance and well being

Minimum Requirements

M.D., Ph.D., or Nurse

Administrative Officer

Primary Responsibilities

Coordinates Administrative and Financial documentation duties with MSU

Minimum Requirements

Administrative and Financial Experience

Chaplain

Primary Responsibilities

Pastoral Care of MI-MORT staff

Minimum Requirements

Pastoral Experience

IR Computer Specialist

Primary Responsibilities

Sets up and troubleshoots network operation and VIP modifications; assists command staff

Minimum Requirements

Programming, IT or MIS Experience, MS Excel power user

Medical Investigator

Primary Responsibilities

Identification coordinator; Post mortem data entry and VIP searching for possible ID linkages; May perform FAC interviews or contact families for information; May serve as section leader for Identification Center, Medical Investigations, Admitting, Photography, Personal Effects, Body X-Ray, Remains Holding or Storage, Records Management; May assist with pathology, anthropology, odontology, DNA, or scene search sections

Minimum Requirements

Medical Examiner Forensic Investigator or Law Enforcement Death Investigation Detective

Mortuary Officer

Primary Responsibilities

May serve as section leader for Morgue Operations, Admitting, Personal Effects, Body X-Ray, Embalming, Casketing, Remains Holding or Storage, or Remains Release; May serve as FAC interviewer

Minimum Requirements

Licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer

Safety Officer

Primary Responsibilities

Monitors proper PPE usage and safety factors in the morgue environment

Minimum Requirements

Chemistry/Bloodborne Background

DNA Specialist

Primary Responsibilities

May serve as Section Leader for post mortem DNA collection and FAC DNA Section for specimen collection from families.

Minimum Requirements

Laboratory level Forensic DNA Experience

Fingerprint Specialist

Primary Responsibilities

Obtains print impressions from remains or antemortem specimens; Compares ante and postmortem prints for ID; May serve as section leader for ante or post mortem Fingerprint sections.

Minimum Requirements

Postmortem Fingerprint Experience or Latent Print Analyst

Forensic Specialist

Primary Responsibilities

Assists DNA, pathology, anthropology, odontology, photography, or personal effects sections; May serve as section leader for Photography or Personal Effects

Minimum Requirements

Laboratory level Forensic Experience: Toxicology, Chemistry, Firearms, etc.

DPMU Team

Primary Responsibilities

Equipment managers and logistics coordinators

Minimum Requirements

Administrative and Mechanical Aptitude Experience

Evidence Specialist

Primary Responsibilities

Scene search and recovery; Assists photography, personal effects, pathology (as scribe), anthropology (as scribe), odontology (as scribe), or DNA sections; May serve as section leader for Disaster Site Center or Transport, Remains Holding, Photography, Personal Effects, or Remains Storage.

Minimum Requirements

Crime Scene Technician Experience

Autopsy Technician

Primary Responsibilities

Assists pathology, anthropology, odontology, or DNA sections; May serve as section leader for Body X-Ray

Minimum Requirements

Medical Examiner Morgue Autopsy or X-Ray Experience

IR Data Entry

Primary Responsibilities

Performs data entry; Helps in any other clerical capacity

Minimum Requirements

Data Entry, Windows, and MS Office Proficiency

FAC Specialist

Primary Responsibilities

Interviews families for gathering VIP information on missing persons; Performs data entry of ante mortem information

Minimum Requirements

Training in FAC (non-Funeral Director Level)

Photographer

Primary Responsibilities

Takes photographs at any of the several morgue stations or at disaster site

Minimum Requirements

Forensic Photography Experience

Administrative Specialist

Primary Responsibilities

Helps in any clerical capacity including data entry, records clerk, or morgue scribe

Minimum Requirements

Clerical skills with basic computer skills

Dental Assistant

Primary Responsibilities

Assist odontologists at table or in clerical capacity, or serve as body escort or scribe

Minimum Requirements

Dental Hygienist or Assistant

Mortuary Assistant

Primary Responsibilities

Body escort, scribe, body storage handling

Minimum Requirements

Volunteers not otherwise defined