Group of morticians turned away by FEMA - Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc.

Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc.:

"By 3:45 p.m. he had the news he didn't want to hear.

'I am not going anywhere, I spoke with D-MORT, a group of funeral directors and embalmers, and I cannot go,' he said, his voice filled with disappointment.

The Associated Press displays daily images in newspapers and on Web sites featuring the dead lying on the ground or seated in chairs, with no one to tend to them. 'USA Today talks about the body count and the things that are going on since it has been declared a national disaster area,' he explained. 'They won't let anyone in there. You have to be FEMA-certified and I am not,' he said.

When a tragedy or disaster occurs in Arizona, trained, skilled people are allowed to help without Federal Emergency Management Agency certification, he said. 'But when a national disaster is in effect, federal rules take over and FEMA would have to approve it,' said Dudelston."