First call. In a funeral home, it means a death has occurred and it is the family's first contact with the funeral director. Public health officials call regional funeral directors together for a meeting. An influenza pandemic is sweeping the country. Funeral director Jennifer Spencer is appointed Area Coordinator, working with military, bereavement personnel and public health officials to manage the morgue at an arena in Niagara Falls. One of her staff is murdered. The killer makes a second attempt. As influenza claims more and more lives, overwhelmed personnel succumb to exhaustion, grief and illness. Jennifer and her staff struggle to push through the crushing workload caused by the pandemic's deadly rampage. Everyone has a breaking point and Jennifer is no exception.