Humanitarian Logistics: Shipping Designs for the Post Disaster Cargo Surge

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: AD1078234 | Open PDF

Abstract:

In 2017 Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. The humanitarian aid community scrambled a response to support the 3.4 million people affected by the disaster. In response, thousands of shipping containers filled with supplies were sent to the island. Numerous reports surfaced regarding significant delays in receiving the shipments. This research reviews the historical account of cargo throughput into Puerto Rico following Maria. A computer simulation built in ARENA compares various what-if scenarios based on empirically collected data and interviews with FEMA, port authorities, and commercial cargo carriers to determine how the humanitarian supply chain could improve for future disaster planning. An additional goal of this research is to better inform humanitarian logisticians who must balance near-term disaster response demands with long term recovery concerns.

Author(s):
Green, Nicholas L.
Author Organization(s):
AIR FORCE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB United States
Descriptive Note:
Technical Report
Pagination:
0192

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release;

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
AFIT-ENS-MS-19-M-118, FEMA
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_7.2_Mitigate; JCA_7_Protection; JCA_4.7.2_Installation Services; JCA_4.7_Base and Installations Support; JCA_4.1_Deployment and Distribution; JCA_7.2.1_Mitigate Lethal Effects; JCA_4_Logistics; JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_7.2.2_Mitigate Non-Lethal Effects; JCA_4.5_Operational Contract Support; JCA_4.5.1_Contract Support Integration; JCA_JCA_4.1.2_Sustain the Force; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_6_Net Centric; JCA_6.1.3_Switching and Routing; JCA_5.6.1_Assess Compliance with Guidance; JCA_5.6_Monitor; JCA_8_Building Partnerships; JCA_6.1_Information Transport; JCA_1.2.5_Lessons Learned; JCA_1_Force Support
Modernization Areas:
Space
Communities of Interest:
Ground and Sea Platforms
Descriptor(s):
puerto rico, supply chain, HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, disaster management, NATURAL DISASTERS, shipping containers, supplies, hurricanes, shipping, SCENARIOS, planning, recovery, logistics, computer simulations
Field(s)/Group(s):
Logistics, Military Facilities and Supplies, Government and Political Science
Keyword(s):
Humanitarian Aid, hurricane maria, fema(Federal emergency management agency)
Report Date:
2019 Mar 01
Creation Date:
2019 Aug 08