A new classification model of disasters based on their logistics implications

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Author(s)
L'Hermitte, Cecile
Bowles, Marcus
Tatham, Peter
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2013
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This paper aims to clarify the concept of disaster from a humanitarian logistics perspective. To this end, a disaster is defined on the basis of two criteria: the destructive impact and a call for international assistance. Then, the paper examines the typology of disasters commonly used in the humanitarian logistics literature and establishes that this classification focuses on physical phenomena rather than on dimensions that reflect the logistics implications. From this, a new disaster classification model is developed based on generic characteristics of disasters (over time and space) and on five situational factors ...
View more >This paper aims to clarify the concept of disaster from a humanitarian logistics perspective. To this end, a disaster is defined on the basis of two criteria: the destructive impact and a call for international assistance. Then, the paper examines the typology of disasters commonly used in the humanitarian logistics literature and establishes that this classification focuses on physical phenomena rather than on dimensions that reflect the logistics implications. From this, a new disaster classification model is developed based on generic characteristics of disasters (over time and space) and on five situational factors reflecting the influence of the external environment. Whilst the generic characteristics of disasters generate similarities in the logistics requirements, the external situational factors account for the uniqueness of each disaster. Therefore, it is argued that the characteristics of the disaster itself cannot be dissociated from the disaster's external environment
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View more >This paper aims to clarify the concept of disaster from a humanitarian logistics perspective. To this end, a disaster is defined on the basis of two criteria: the destructive impact and a call for international assistance. Then, the paper examines the typology of disasters commonly used in the humanitarian logistics literature and establishes that this classification focuses on physical phenomena rather than on dimensions that reflect the logistics implications. From this, a new disaster classification model is developed based on generic characteristics of disasters (over time and space) and on five situational factors reflecting the influence of the external environment. Whilst the generic characteristics of disasters generate similarities in the logistics requirements, the external situational factors account for the uniqueness of each disaster. Therefore, it is argued that the characteristics of the disaster itself cannot be dissociated from the disaster's external environment
View less >
Conference Title
11th ANZAM Operations, Supply Chain and Services Management Symposium
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Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2013. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. For information about this conference please refer to the conference’s website or contact the author[s].
Subject
Logistics and Supply Chain Management