Regional Transportation and Supply Chain Modeling for Large-Scale Emergencies

Largescale emergencies (or major emergencies) are defined as any event or occurrence that overwhelms local emergency responders, that severely impacts the operation of normal life, and that has the potential to cause substantial casualties and property damage. Examples are natural disasters (earthquake, hurricane, flooding, etc.) and terrorist attacks, like the one that took place on September 11, 2001. To manage the risks and consequences of largescale emergencies and to mitigate their impacts to the population, widescale distribution plans of medical supplies must be developed. Careful and systematic preplanning, as well as efficient and professional execution in responding to a largescale emergency, can save many lives. Rational policies and procedures applied to emergency response could maximize the effectiveness of the scarce resources available in relation to the overwhelming demands. A key ingredient in an effective response to an emergency is the prompt availability of necessary supplies at emergency sites. It is challenging for practitioners to manage the huge volume of medical supplies to guarantee the readiness of the delivery and the freshness of the stock, as well as to deliver these massive supplies in a short time period to dispersed demand areas. Operations research models can play an important role in addressing and optimizing the logistical problems in this complex distribution process. Larson and colleagues (2005, 2006) conducted a detailed analysis based on wellknown and recent largescale emergencies. They emphasized the need for quantitative, modeloriented methods provided in the operations research field to evaluate and guide the operational strategies and actions in response to major emergencies. In certain emergency settings, medication or antidotes must be applied within a specified time limit from the occurrence of the event to maximize their