Stochastic network models for logistics planning in disaster relief

Malaysia has experienced various types of disasters in the last 50 years. Besides natural disasters such as floods (monsoonal and flash floods), landslides, mudslides, earthquakes (especially in Sabah) and tsunami, Malaysia has also experienced man-made disasters such as fires and explosions, vehicle accidents, haze including transboundary haze and others. In almost all episodes of the disasters, the government has played a major role, starting from the formulation of the policy on disasters, disaster preparedness, rescue and relief efforts, and redevelopment of the affected areas. It is vital for the public to participate in each cycle of disaster management (pre-disaster, during disaster and post-disaster). The absence of support and understanding of local community towards disaster risk and preparedness could ruin disaster management risk reduction efforts. In many instances, the role of local communities in Malaysia’s disaster preparedness is somewhat invisible. Thus, the community should be empowered to deal and prepare for disasters to ensure the overall effectiveness of disaster management in Malaysia. In Malaysia’s context, the strength of the faith-based organisations (FBO) should also be utilised in disaster preparedness efforts. This literature review or secondary source-based article examines the current situation in disaster preparedness among Malaysian communities and discusses the challenges that lie ahead in shaping the culture of preparedness in the communities. In conclusion, Malaysia community disaster preparedness needs to be improved. The communities (including FBO), directly or indirectly affected by disasters, should also be empowered to prepare for disaster.

In recent years various disasters with enormous consequences occurred frequently around the world. Emergency Logistics, a new field of logistics which plays a key role in disaster relief and aftermath recovery, has got much attention and become a new efficient methodology in dealing with disastrous consequences. This paper illustrates the theory, practice development, specific characteristics and concept of Emergency Logistics. For emergency logistics management, the most important part is the establishment of emergency logistics system. Enlightened by the present theory and results, an Operations Reference Model for Emergency Logistics System is proposed, in which the support mechanism, compositional elements and functionalities of Emergency Logistics System are discussed in this essay. It is necessary that it has potential value for further study or practical use of Emergency Logistics Management.

Logistics distribution vehicle planning is an important issue in logistics transportation activities, and it is also a research hotspot in theoretical circles at home and abroad. At present, many studies have focused on establishing vehicle planning models and optimizing vehicle planning in different environments and have achieved rich results. As an important part of transportation production process, the efficiency of logistics distribution is very important to the whole production process. Especially for emergency logistics, every minute is very critical for emergency situations such as disaster relief. In order to improve the efficiency of emergency logistics, this paper applies multiagent technology to emergency logistics and puts forward an integrated modeling method of enterprise macromodeling, business process mesomodeling, and micromodel design. Using the agent-oriented system development method, an emergency logistics distribution vehicle planning model system is established. The development process of multiagent automatic trading system is described. The results show that it is feasible and effective to use multi-intelligent fuselage technology for emergency logistics distribution vehicle planning and decision-making. The algorithm proposed in this paper has advantages over the container order sequence processing scheme, and the total cost of order acceptance decreases sharply in the initial stage, which shows the practical convergence of the algorithm. The adjacency search method and Tabu search method deal with the calculation of total labor cost, and the Tabu neighborhood search algorithm obtains better results with lower labor cost.

1. Laurie Gillard, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSBB[⇑][1] 1. Rush University, Chicago, IL 1. Address for Correspondence: Laurie Gillard, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSBB, Director of the Specialist in Blood Banking Certificate Program, Rush University, Chicago, IL 60612 1. Recognize the different types of disasters and how they can impact blood availability. 2. Explain the importance of having massive transfusion protocols (MTP) and procedures. 3. Discuss how pathogen reduction technology (PRT) will impact platelet transfusion safety. INTRODUCTION Considering the growing scope of disasters in the United States over the past year, hospital based blood banks and transfusion services are required to have an effective emergency management plan. Disaster Preparedness in the Blood Bank will describe how to address this important public health issue. When there are victims of disasters that require transfusion, a current review of the literature for best practices for responding to hemorrhage will be presented in Managing Massive Transfusions in Diverse Patient Populations in a Non-Metropolitan Area. Bleeding patients often require platelets. In Pathogen reduction in platelets: a review of the proposed draft guidance, the author will discuss the recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance for the use of pathogen reduction technology to improve the safety of platelet transfusions. Disaster Preparedness in the Blood Bank Over the past year, many Americans witnessed firsthand the importance of having a safe, available blood supply following a disaster. During the first nine months of 2017, the United States experienced 15 disasters that claimed 323 lives; these disasters were the result of weather and climate.1 Floods, freezing temperatures, severe storms, tropical cyclones, and wildfires can all impact blood availability. In the event of a natural disaster, issues may arise in which blood donors do not donate, donor centers may become damaged, or donor centers may not have staffing to perform the processing and testing of blood; all of which, result in a disruption of the local blood supply. Hurricanes can disrupt the blood supply for days. ABBREVIATIONS: FDA - Food and Drug Administration, CBER - The Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, CDC - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, TJC - The Joint Commission, CLSI - the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute, CAP - the College of American Pathologists, TACO - transfusion associated circulatory overload, MTP - massive transfusion protocols, PPH - postpartum hemorrhage, PRT - pathogen reduction technology, PGD - Pan Genera Detection 1. Recognize the different types of disasters and how they can impact blood availability. 2. Explain the importance of having massive transfusion protocols (MTP) and procedures. 3. Discuss how pathogen reduction technology (PRT) will impact platelet transfusion safety. [1]: #corresp-1

Fire is one type of disaster that is quite potential to leave large losses if it does not get sufficient attention and handling in disaster mitigation efforts. Many people still do not understand the concept of disaster preparedness in tackling the bad impacts caused by disasters. counseling on disaster preparedness to heads of families in Lereng village, district. Kuok. Which can be identified in several specific problems, namely whether there is an impact of disaster preparedness counseling on increasing the knowledge of family heads in Lereng village, Kec. Kuok. However, after participating in community outreach activities, they will be able to understand the meaning of disaster, factors causing fire disasters, disaster preparedness, activities in disaster preparedness and benefits in preparedness. This community service activity aims to grow and increase community knowledge, especially family heads related to fire disaster preparedness that is at risk of occurring in slope villages, Kec. Kuok. This activity will be carried out using several methods, namely lectures and questions and answers. Participants in this service activity are community heads of 35 people. Regarding the problems faced by partners, the lecturer as the executor of community service (PKM) together with 3 students will provide a solution to overcome the problem of high losses caused by the fire disaster.
 Keywords : fire ; education

This study focuses on collaborative UAV/UGV routing problem in emergency logistics aiming to optimize the coordinated delivery efforts of both vehicles during disaster situations. By using a mixed integer model the study identifies the best delivery points and assigns specific drones to transport medical supplies to designated emergency assembly points. The research methodically assesses how UAV speed, UGV stops and cluster numbers affect delivery time. The results show that increasing UAV speeds and reducing stops and clusters generally lead to deliveries but achieving the time requires a careful balance due to their complex interactions. The study suggests that strategic coordination between UAVs and UGVs can significantly improve the efficiency of emergency logistics systems potentially reducing response times in disaster relief and medical supply deliveries. In conclusion the model highlights the potential for enhancements, in emergency response capabilities that could help save lives and lessen disaster impacts. Future studies should consider adapting the model for conditions and unpredictable scenarios to ensure resilience against demands.

This study explores the necessity of developing disaster risk reduction plans and increasing the level of preparedness for disasters for academic libraries in Sri Lanka. It examines some of the different types of disasters; natural, man-made, and hybrid, which can occur in university libraries. Informants were the librarians of all 15 Sri Lankan state universities. The methodology is mixed-method with data gathered through questionnaires and interviews. In this study, the researcher considered the likelihood of occurrence of various types of disaster and their potential impact on university libraries. The results reveal that fire is the most expected disaster. Results highlight the importance of disaster risk reduction plans for university libraries and emphasise that every library should adopt a plan to safeguard its legacy. This study was conducted in 2019, thus infectious diseases were identified as an ‘unlikely to occur’ disaster category. However, events of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, indicate a need for librarians to also rethink providing continuous library services during disasters such as pandemics.

Background: Nepal is highly susceptible to various types of natural disasters, with approximately 90% of its population at risk of experiencing multiple hazards. The country ranks 30th in terms of flood risk, with hilly regions prone to landslides and lowland plains frequently affected by floods. Each year, disasters such as floods, landslides, fires, heat waves, cold waves, and epidemics cause significant loss of lives and livelihood assets. Given the critical role of gender in disaster vulnerability, it is essential to analyze gender-specific perspectives on disaster risk and resilience. Objective: The study aims to explore gender roles and their associated vulnerabilities in disaster events. By examining the perceptions of males and females regarding different disaster-related variables, the research seeks to provide insights into gender-based differences in disaster preparedness, response, and resilience-building efforts. Methods: A quantitative study was conducted in Sarawal Rural Municipality of Nawalparasi West, Nepal. A total of 428 respondents were selected through random sampling, comprising 311 males and 117 females. The study employed six major disaster variables as defined by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) to analyze gender perspectives critically. Statistical methods were used to assess the association between gender and disaster perception. Findings: The study revealed a significant association between gender and disaster perceptions. Males and females demonstrated differing views on disaster risks, preparedness, and coping mechanisms. Understanding these gender-specific differences can help determine levels of vulnerability, identify associated risks, and enhance the coping capacities of different groups. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the need to incorporate gender perspectives into disaster-related research and resilience-building initiatives. Addressing gender-based vulnerabilities can lead to more effective disaster preparedness and response strategies, ultimately improving community resilience. Novelty: This study provides empirical evidence on the gendered dimensions of disaster perception in Nepal, highlighting the importance of integrating gender considerations into disaster risk management. By focusing on a rural municipality, the research offers localized insights that can inform policy and program development for gender-inclusive disaster resilience planning.

What is the relationship between resource scarcity and abundance, on the one hand, and intrastate conflict, on the other? Under what conditions do natural resources cause conflict? Which types of resources can better predict the onset, intensity, and duration of intrastate conflict? These questions and other related questions are needed to discuss how renewable as well as non-renewable resources influence the onset, intensity, and duration of intrastate conflict. In particular, there are two strands of the literature: the first strand deals with renewable resources, such as water, cropland, forests, fish stocks, etc., and examines how the scarcity of such resources leads to resource completion and subsequently to a greater risk of conflict. In this context, it also discusses the more recent literature on climate change and conflict. The second strand deals with non-renewable resources that tend to have a high value-to-weight ratio, such as fossil fuels and minerals, and evaluates how abundance of such resources affects potential “greed” and “grievance” motives of rebels to take up arms as well as a state’s capacity to put down a rebellion, both of which can lead to civil conflicts. Overall, with the exception of the very recent empirical work on climate change as a “threat multiplier,” the bulk of the empirical evidence provides non-robust and often even contradictory results and thus does not allow for a clear-cut conclusion: while some studies support the link between resource scarcity/abundance and armed conflict, others find no or only weak links. The inconclusiveness of the results might be due to various factors, such as the inability/failure of the extant literature to adequately address the mechanisms via which resource scarcity and abundance could lead to conflict as well as which types of natural resources, including climatic changes, matter most. Moreover, empirical studies differ with regard to the type of conflict under study, ranging from violence against the government (civil wars [1,000 deaths], civil conflict [25 deaths], and low-intensity conflict [protests and riots]) to intercommunal violence (conflict that occurs between competing groups within a state), the operationalization and/or measurement of the types of resource scarcity and abundance, and the appropriate level of analysis (individual, household, subnational, national).

Large-scale complex disasters and new types of disasters are occurring due to climate changes and changes in the social environment. As the type of disaster changes to a complex and large-scale trend, disaster management resources are being mobilized to minimize damage to life and property caused by large-scale complex disasters. However, because there are various types of disaster management resources and a huge number of demand stockpiles are required, it is difficult task to possess and utilize resources for each type of disaster. In addition, since the response system to the occurrence of a large-scale complex disaster is insufficient, analysis is needed to improve the problems of the disaster management resource management system. In this study, a survey was conducted focusing on the disaster management resource support and system. The survey showed that the difference in perception of distributed management in the disaster management resource-related laws showed statistically significant differences according to age. Based on the results of the survey, problems and improvement plans for disaster management resources support system were derived.

Disaster logistics presents a highly complex decision-making challenge under conditions of uncertainty, where the timely and efficient allocation of scarce resources is essential to minimize human suffering. In this context, we propose a novel Quantum-Inspired Hyperheuristic Framework (QHHF) designed to solve Dynamic Multi-Objective Combinatorial Optimization Problems (DMOCOPs) arising in disaster relief operations. The proposed framework integrates Quantum-Inspired Evolutionary Algorithms (QIEAs), which facilitate diverse and explorative solution generation, with a Reinforcement Learning (RL)-based hyperheuristic capable of dynamically selecting the most suitable low-level heuristic in response to evolving disaster conditions. A dynamic multi-objective mathematical model is formulated to simultaneously minimize total travel cost and risk exposure, while maximizing priority-weighted demand satisfaction. The model captures real-world complexity through time-dependent variables, stochastic demand variations, and fluctuating transportation risks. Extensive simulations using real-world disaster scenarios demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in generating high-quality solutions within stringent response time constraints. Comparative evaluations reveal that QHHF consistently outperforms traditional heuristics and metaheuristics in terms of adaptability, scalability, and solution quality across multiple objective trade-offs. Notably, our method achieves a 9.6% reduction in total travel cost, a 6.5% decrease in cumulative risk exposure, and a 4.7% increase in priority-weighted demand satisfaction when benchmarked against existing techniques. This work contributes both to the advancement of hyperheuristic theory and to the development of practical, AI-enabled decision-support tools for emergency logistics management.

The present study aimed to prepare various tables in line with sustainability goals in disaster preparedness and social awareness and present recommendations for different product varieties, product design characteristics, and promotion and sale of these products on the basis of earth sciences. Disaster type diversity, target groups, and Türkiye’s regional differences were taken into account when preparing tables. The geological, geographical, meteorological, topographical, urbanization and settlement type characteristics and diversity of seven regions of Türkiye's geography were emphasized. The importance of product development and sales according to the target group and regional characteristics was expressed with the diversity of disaster types and all characteristics of the regions. The possibility for society to access scientific knowledge through simpler, faster, and more sustainable forms of education and learning, through product production and sales, was presented as an approach in disaster preparedness. It was also thought that it could be internationally accepted in this way, guide international studies, and provide support to internationally recognized NGOs and foundations as a social project. Furthermore, it was estimated that contributions could be made to the country’s economy, promotion, tourism, and employment. Therefore, the recommendations in this article can significantly benefit society in terms of both sustainability and contributions.

According to Climate Risk Index, Bangladesh is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to different types of disaster because of climatic variability, extreme events, high population density, high incidence of poverty and social inequity, poor institutional capacity, inadequate financial resources, and poor infrastructure. Bangladesh initiated its actions for disaster preparedness immediately after the cyclone of 1991. At present Bangladesh has National Disaster Management Act-2012, National Disaster Management Policy, Standing Order on Disaster and National Plan for Disaster Management 2010–2015 as key documents guiding the disaster management works in Bangladesh. To implement the documents in ground works Bangladesh has Disaster Management and Relief Division, Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) and Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) under the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (NPDM, National Plan for Disaster Management 2010–2015, Disaster Management Bureau, Disaster Management & Relief Division, Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, Dhaka). The country also has disaster management mechanism at both national and sub-national levels. The Bangladesh National Plan for Disaster Management is a strategic document to be effective for a certain period of time. This is an umbrella plan that provides the overall guideline for the relevant sectors and the disaster management committees at all levels to prepare and implement their area of roles specific plans (both thematic level and different levels of administrative structure). Furthermore, the Disaster Management Act is enacted by Act No. 34 of 2012 that forms the legislative basis to desirable, integrate, and strengthen the disaster management related activities and to establish an effective institutional framework for disaster management to deal with all types of disaster in Bangladesh.

INTRODUCTION: Iran is one of the 10 most disaster-prone countries in the world and out of the 42 known types of disasters, at least 31 of them have occurred in this country. Recent disaster experiences have taught us that warnings must be taken seriously and preparedness is necessary. Family readiness is considered as one of the most important pillars of public readiness and community readiness. Achievement of this goal requires a thorough program and various packages to build the culture of preparedness and education is one of its most important parts. METHODS: The present cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 18100 families who participated in all the stages of training of the KHADEM National Program (Disaster Preparedness Program Serving Families and Communities) in Khorasan Razavi province. These families were selected based on the regional divisions of the implementation of the project and in the first stage, 18100 families were trained throughout the province. The participating families completed the Household Disaster Preparedness Index questionnaire before and after face-to-face training. FINDINGS: Assessment of the level of family readiness after the training showed an increase in this score. However, it was clear is that the distribution of the scores is not normal, and needs analysis and interpretation. CONCLUSION: The analysis of data and statistical model revealed that the training program was more effective in cities with a population of fewer than 50,000 people compared to cities with a population of more than 50,000 people.

The importance of disaster logistics and its share in the logistics sector are increasing significantly. Most disasters are difficult to predict; therefore, a set of measures seems to be necessary to reduce the risks. Thus, disaster logistics needs to be designed with the pre-disaster and post-disaster measures. These disasters are experienced intensely in Turkey and the importance of these measures becomes more evidential. Therefore, accurate models are required to develop an effective disaster preparedness system. One of the most important decisions to increase the preparedness is to locate the centres for handling material inventory. In this context, this paper analyses the response phase designing the disaster distribution centres in Turkey at the provincial level. AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) based TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method and goal programming model integration is used to decide alternative locations of distribution centres. TOPSIS method is employed for ranking the locations, which is based on hazard scores, total area, population, and distance to centre. Two conflicting objectives are first proposed in the goal programming formulation, in which maximization of the TOPSIS scores and minimization of the number of distribution centres covering all demands named set covering model are included. Although Gecimli has the highest priority with 0.8 p score in the TOPSIS ranking, Altincevre (0.77) and Buzlupınar (0.75) ensure both the TOPSIS score and coverage of the demand nodes. The results from this paper confirm that the computational results ensure disaster prevention insights especially in regions with limited data.