A stochastic location and allocation model for critical items to response large-scale emergencies: A case of Turkey

Abstract

This paper aims to decide on the number of facilities and their locations, procurement for pre and post-disaster, and allocation to mitigate the effects of large-scale emergencies. A two-stage stochastic mixed integer programming model is proposed that combines facility location- prepositioning, decisions on pre-stocking levels for emergency supplies, and allocation of located distribution centers (DCs) to affected locations and distribution of those supplies to several demand locations after large-scale emergencies with uncertainty in demand. Also, the use of the model is demonstrated through a case study for prepositioning of supplies in probable large-scale emergencies in the eastern and southeastern Anatolian sides of Turkey. The results provide a framework for relief organizations to determine the location and number of DCs in different settings, by using the proposed model considering the main parameters, as; capacity of facilities, probability of being affected for each demand points, severity of events, maximum distance between a demand point and distribution center.