Disaster preparedness for better response: Logistics perspectives

Disaster occurs frequently around the world and is no more considered an isolated event. Thus, disaster management has become a hot issue in urban development and human security. However, selecting suitable measures in disaster preparedness is a complex task. Some mitigation measures, which include making dams and updating building codes, prove ineffective and can themselves become a source of added vulnerability. Therefore, the importance of preparedness cannot be ignored, and the relief distribution aspect needs to be appraised as a measure of disaster preparedness. This study integrates disaster preparedness and response. Many parameters cannot be known before a disaster, while relief demand is a key parameter in disaster preparedness modelling. A decision maker needs to identify the properties of relief demand. Seven influencing factors of relief demand are identified. Then, a facility location model is proposed, and the model results are analysed. The results show that the hub-and-spoke distribution system brings higher social benefits.