Three days after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, SSI Philip B. Larkin and Medical Examiner Investigator Gina Hart boarded a plane to Atlanta, Georgia. As part of the National Disaster Mortuary Response Team (DMORT), they flew down to the region to assist in recovery operations. In Atlanta, they met up with 30 other members of DMORT, including Faruk Presswalla, the former NJ State Medical Examiner. From there, the group proceeded to Anniston, Alabama, where they became an integral part of Operation Support Center, which assists in the recovery, identification, storage and final disposition of the deceased.

DMORTs consist of civilian volunteers who provide victim identification and mortuary services. The teams set up temporary morgue facilities and handle body preparation and disposal of remains. Organized under FEMA, the teams work under direction of local authorities during an emergency. They include funeral directors, medical examiners, coroners, pathologists, forensic anthropologists, medical records technicians and transcribers, finger print specialists, forensic dental experts, dental assistants, x-ray technicians, mental health specialists, computer professionals, administrative support staff and security and investigative personnel.

Both Phil and Gina have been stationed at an air force base located outside of Biloxi, Mississippi, one of the hardest hit towns in the area.

Phil is working in a mobile morgue, using his background to fingerprint the victims to match an identification. As Administrator of the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office (RMEO) and the State Toxicology Lab, Phil oversees the day-to-day operation of both the State Toxicology Lab and the RMEO. He is the Regional Medical Examiner Office’s representative to the Somerset County Bio-terrorism Advisory Group. He is also a member of Domestic Security Preparedness Planning Group. Prior to joining the Division, Phil was a funeral director, which adds to his capability to deal sympathetically with loved ones of the deceased.

“Phil deals with family members of the deceased with compassion, and ensures superior death investigations,” Assistant Attorney General Patricia Prezioso said.

Gina has been with the RMEO for the past four years. She uses her skills as a Medicolegal Death Investigator/Forensic Anthropologist to interview loved ones at the scene of a death and to piece together a profile of the individual which helps the medical examiner in making a determination as to the cause and manner of death. As a Medicolegal Death Investigator, Gina is used to working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Phil’s and Gina’s initial deployment is for two weeks but may be extended as circumstances warrant.

Gina and Phil returned on September 26, 2005 from Mississippi.