Hurricanes, tornados, snowstorms, earthquakes, wildfires – every year natural disasters cause untold loss, the worst of which is loss of life. In any given natural disaster dozens of lives, or even hundreds of lives, can be lost in an area all at once.
Unfortunately, for some families arranging funeral services is a part of the recovery process. On average, 372 people die from natural disasters in the U.S. each year. However, that number can swing much higher depending on the year and the natural disasters. One thing is for sure looking at the data that’s been collected over the last 40+ years. Natural disasters are taking a bigger toll, and more families will likely end up having to plan funeral services post-disaster.
Below are some things that we’ve learned over the years helping families in Texas in the aftermath of hurricanes, snowstorms, epidemics and more.
Initial Focus Will Be on Safety and Recovery
So much is happening during and right after a natural disaster your initial focus may not be on arranging funeral services for a deceased family member. A disaster can leave people stranded in their homes for days or longer before help arrives. Serious injuries and hospitalizations can occur. Often communication isn’t good, or it could be impossible to reach others for an extended period.
The first priority after a natural disaster is making sure that the living are safe and secure. This includes ensuring an area is inhabitable, there’s adequate water and medical attention is available. From that point on, families can shift their attention to caring for the deceased and starting to recover.
Evacuations May Cause Delays
If an area is evacuated before or after the natural disaster it can cause significant delays in arranging funeral services. It could take hours, days or weeks for an area to open back up after an evacuation. And then people have to make their way back, sometimes traveling great distances. Getting things back to some semblance of normalcy can take time after an evacuation. Understand that in best case scenarios services still won’t be handled as quickly as they normally would if there were evacuation orders.
Funeral Services May Take Longer Than Usual to Perform
Funeral homes in an area may be running full-time on a regular basis. In the aftermath of a natural disaster where there is a death toll, the local funeral homes could be a bit overwhelmed, especially if a rural area is hit hard. Even if funeral professionals in nearby cities come to provide relief, you should still anticipate funeral services taking longer than they usually would.
Another consideration is whether any of the local funeral homes were damaged in the disaster. This can have a significant impact on not only how quickly services can be provided, but what funeral services are available. Families that want alternatives like eco-friendly funeral services may have to broaden their search for a funeral home. Likewise, if a family plans to have a direct cremation they may find it’s easier to arrange services in a nearby city that wasn’t affected by the natural disaster.
It May Take More Time to Get Death Certificates and Other Documents
Funeral homes aren’t the only ones that can be overwhelmed after a natural disaster. Government agencies are maxed out as they work to meet the additional needs of state residents and coordinate federal relief.
The county medical examiner’s office and coroner’s office are among those that can be stretched thin by a natural disaster. Simply storing the remains could prove to be a challenge if there were many casualties. On top of that, if the area was evacuated, locating someone to identify the remains or to arrange transport of the body may prove to be a challenge.
All this has a trickle down effect that can impact other aspects of the process like getting death certificates and other types of documentation like a cremation approval form. Understand that the estimated time for receiving such documents is under normal circumstances and may not apply shortly after a natural disaster.
Holding In-Person Services May Be Difficult
Some families that originally planned to hold traditional funeral services prior to the cremation or burial may decide to hold a ceremony afterward instead. There are only so many hours in a day, and a funeral home can only accommodate so many families at a single time. Families may find that they have to wait a lot longer than expected, which can increase the cost.
Another factor that affects in-person funeral services after a natural disaster is whether people are in the area and able to show up. Anyone who lost their home in the disaster may still be sheltered or staying with others far from the affected area. Even when people make it back, making it around may not be that easy.
Insurance Claims Should Be Made ASAP
Another related issue that should be handled as soon as possible is filing home and life insurance claims, especially if the benefits are needed to pay for unexpected funeral services or to repair the deceased’s property after the disaster.
Here again, in the wake of a natural disaster where many people are affected at once, insurance companies may get overwhelmed quickly. They work on a first come first served basis, so it’s important to get paperwork in order and file claims immediately.
Cremation.Green is headquartered in Austin, TX where we are able to help families across the state arrange funeral services under any circumstance. If you are arranging funeral services after a natural disaster our supportive team can provide guidance on what to expect as you work through the process during this difficult time.
The Cremation.Green team can be reached any time of day by phone, text or email.
