In the NCIC Unidentified Person File, what does the Catastrophe category refer to?

The Catastrophe category in the NCIC Unidentified Person File specifically refers to a victim whose identity cannot be ascertained following a catastrophic event. This category is relevant for situations where individuals are victims of disasters such as mass casualty events, where identifying the deceased may be complicated due to the circumstances surrounding the incident. The focus is primarily on the inability to determine identity rather than the context of their disappearance or the nature of the event itself.

It is important to note that this category is distinct from others, such as those referring to individuals missing due to natural disasters or wartime circumstances, which have different implications and criteria for classification. The Catastrophe category serves a specialized role in aiding law enforcement and recovery teams in systematically categorizing unidentified victims from large-scale disasters.