Local coroners now able to work together more easily in case of catastrophe

A new bill will allow local coroners to work together more easily to sort through the wreckage when tornadoes and earthquakes destroy towns and swallow up neighborhoods.

Up until a month ago, Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton would have been understaffed to handle a catastrophe that would include multiple casualties.

Coroners are responsible for retrieving and identifying bodies of the deceased and seeing the bodies are properly cared for until next of kin can take custody.

"It could be overwhelming for one coroner office" in the event of a large-scale disaster, Clifton said.

But on Aug. 28, Gov. Matt Blunt signed a bill that allows coroners to act as deputy coroners in other counties in a mass-casualty event.

"With various potential natural disasters that could hit Missouri, individual coroner offices need the ability to deputize additional deputy coroners," said state Rep. Nathan Cooper, R-Cape Girardeau, who introduced the bill.

While a sheriff or sheriff's deputy could act as a deputy coroner, and has in Cape Girardeau County in the past, an earthquake or tornado would require those officers to perform their regular duties, according to Clifton.

Prior to the bill's passing, an event in which additional deputy coroners were needed would have had to meet the approval of county commissioners, possibly stalling efforts.

The new bill sidesteps that red tape, Clifton said, equating the law to mutual aide responders.

When a catastrophe occurs, all a county coroner has to do now is call up coroners from other counties to seek their assistance.

Every coroner has a list of home phone, cell and pager numbers for coroners in other counties, allowing for a quick response, according to Clifton.

"As soon as they get here, they're deputy coroners," he said.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127