Due to recent mass fatality events, planners are recognizing the need to more closely manage these occurrences to minimize harm to communities. Mass Fatalities: Reflections on Planning and Managing Death in Disasteris designed as both a field guide and a reference. Filled with case studies, it includes an analysis of lessons learned from numerous international incidents.

These examples explain the importance of tackling difficult and culturally sensitive issues during the planning process rather than at the time of the occurrence. The authors define what is meant by "mass fatality incident" and describe the types of incidents that may be categorized in this way. They describe the response actions of various emergency services as well as the actions of the military, the media, and private companies. Disseminating wisdom gained from prior experiences, they also identify priorities and tensions that may occur when responding to such incidents.