Humanitarian Supply Management and Logistics in the Health Sector

Preparedness
After these questions have been answered satisfactorily, we must draw
up a list of preparatory activities. The more time and effort we invest in
such activities, the greater the return in terms of our knowledge of the
theater of operations, our weaknesses and those of our partners, eventual
needs, and alternative solutions depending on different scenarios.
These activities, which are described below, can be broken down by
national regions, depending on the size of the country, beginning with
those areas most at risk from natural disasters. Alternatively, organizations
may decide on which geographical areas they will focus their
attention.
Preparedness must also be based on the vulnerability and resource
assessments normally carried out to develop a national or regional
emergency response plan. We must never forget that logistics has to be
a key component of any such plan.
Preparatory activities must include the following:
Chapter 2: Logistics 11
◆ Assessing the vulnerability of key infrastructure—The goal is to identify
the strengths and weaknesses of public works and strategic
structures of the country or region—highways, water supply systems,
schools, hospitals—as well as alternative actions that may be
required should the infrastructure collapse. Specific actions would
include:
▲ Systematically mapping and evaluating national transport
infrastructure (ports, airports, highways, railroads, and waterways),
taking into account the capacity and potential weaknesses
of strategic routes, possible bottlenecks (bridges, ferries),
availability of communication resources, and risks to the infrastructure
in the event of an emergency. It is essential to determine
the vulnerability of ports and airports to natural disasters.
We must consider, for instance, the exposure of hangars and
warehouses, or loading and fueling equipment, to the impact of
a hurricane or an earthquake;
▲ Analyzing the historical meteorological records of the country
or region to determine the impact that severe weather might
have on the capacity of the transport system at different times
of the year;