Are we going to experience a burial plot shortage in the US? These are sobering questions that lead us to face our own mortality, and they also beg us to look for an alternative to burial options — perhaps sooner rather than later.
The Cold Hard Facts
According to the US Census Department, "Deaths in the United States increased by 19% between 2019 and 2020 following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 — the largest spike in mortality in 100 years."
It doesn’t take a math wizard to understand that even without these uneasy spikes in mortality rates, death tolls eventually add up. How old is the United States? How many people have died and are buried here? The problem of experiencing a burial plot shortage is also real, not imagined. Just ask Europe.
The Birth of a Dire Problem
To exacerbate the issue is the number of births in the US too. Based on data from the CDC, the "…number of births for the United States in 2021 was 3,659,289, up 1% from 2020 and the first increase in the number of births since 2014."
Once again, it doesn’t require rocket science to see the writing on the wall. The number of people being born is increasing, and the number of deaths each year is increasing. And based on this recent data, those additions are rapidly increasing. However, the number and size of burial facilities in the US aren’t changing or growing.
Averting a Crisis
There are some options, as unenviable as they might be (e.g., stacking coffins), but there is also an alternative to burial solution that could help us avert the impending burial shortage crisis entirely too. Those are options like cremation.
A dignified, respectable, and often-used process for honoring the body after death, cremation has been used for years. People also appreciate the keepsakes offered during the cremation process. Many urns have been the piece they needed to continue, and many others just like having a part of their loved ones around.
Cremation is also the obvious solution to the inevitable burial plot shortage in the country. The choice will always be ours, but using cremation services can offer a lot of benefits for everyone.
Steedley Monument Works
Welcome to Steedley Monument Works. As a premier monument maker serving Waterboro and the surrounding communities since 1968, we are proud to help you during this difficult time.
That is also why, as a third-generation family-owned and operated company, we strive to deliver personalized services at a fair price. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule an appointment for services. We are sorry for your loss, and thank you for visiting Steedley Monument Works.