Strategies for Logistics in Case of a Natural Disaster

Abstract

The need to effectively and efficiently provide emergency supplies and services is increasing all over the world. We investigate policy options: prepositioning supplemental resources, preemptive as well as phased deployment of assets, and surge of supplies and services. We hypothesize that there exists a correlation between these policies and our disaster classification based on localization (dispersed or local) of the disaster and its speed of onset (slow or sudden). We believe that the creation of a matrix and designation of policies based on disaster type will facilitate the policy makers decision process. Exploring the efficacy of each policy option with respect to several crisis scenarios to assist policy makers to better prepare their disaster response is critical in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response.