Supply Chain Dynamics Relief of Sudden-Onset Disasters
Abstract
A sudden-onset disaster such as hurricane, tidal wave, or earthquake creates a nearly insurmountable challenge in bringing humanitarian relief to those who desperately need it. This paper seeks to assess the last-mile of the supply chain to ensure relief is delivered to those who need it. A model utilising a stochastic process is developed to study the supply chain distribution process as dependent on the humanitarian relief concerns. This model is analysed and critical considerations are recognised. A stochastic model was used to assess whether a last-mile relief station could run indefinitely. The answer to this question is no. The station will eventually reach a state of under-stock or overstock; both scenarios indicate ineffectiveness. Various aspects of this problem have been studied from the perspective of supply chain management to optimal facility location. This paper focuses on the last critical mile and its distribution needs.
Recommended Citation
Hilgers, M. G., Elrod, C. C., & Kampunzu, J. B. (2013). Supply Chain Dynamics Relief of Sudden-Onset Disasters. International Journal of Emergency Management, 9(2), pp. 93-112. Inderscience.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEM.2013.055149
Department(s)
Business and Information Technology
Keywords and Phrases
Disaster relief; Distribution needs; Emergency management; Humanitarian aid; Last-mile relief; Optimal facility location; SCM; Supply chain dynamics; Disaster prevention; Optimization; Random processes; Risk management; Stochastic models; Supply chain management; Disasters; Article; Classification; Cost; Destruction; Disaster; Drought; Earthquake; Food; Food safety; Funding; Human; Hunger; Hurricane; Hygiene; Indigenous people; Management; Manpower; Medicine; Organization; Planning; Poverty; Probability; Recipient; Relief work; Rescue personnel; Survival; Traffic and transport; Tsunami; United Nations; Victim; Volunteer; Work environment; Stochastic modelling; Sudden-onset disasters
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1471-4825; 1741-5071
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2013 Inderscience, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Jan 2013
