The death rate in New York City overwhelmed its system for burying the dead. Someone in
the city died every 2 minutes, four times the normal death rate. Hospital morgues, funeral homes and cemeteries overflowed and backed up. Hospitals ran out of body bags, military teams were called in to assist in mortuary work, and funeral homes were working around
the clock. One funeral director said “the death rate is so high, there’s no way we can
bury or cremate them fast enough.”
Refrigerated trucks were parked behind hospitals to serve as makeshift mobile morgues. Stacked on quickly built shelves, each truck could hold 36 bodies and store them until
funeral homes could accommodate them. After dying without family or friends, the favorite aunt, the checker at the market, the teacher who had inspired kids year after year,
the beloved spouse were stored in body bags in 18 wheelers.
No comments:
Post a Comment