Anticipating a Post-Disaster Supply Chain Disruption

Disasters, natural or manmade, disrupt society and can expose people to public health emergencies. In preparation for impending natural disasters, national agencies, such as the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will situate supplies (emergency food and rations) close enough to locations facing potential impacts but far enough away not to be compromised in a disaster area. However, these are emergency supplies and are not designed to meet long-term needs or the needs of specific individuals. Private businesses within the disaster zone can also experience supply chain disruptions and thus also need to prepare in advance. This book chapter reviews the topic of disasters and their impact on supply chains, then presents a lesson using GIS to anticipate and address a supply chain disruption, using a Florida hurricane as a case study.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY
Through a scenario of pre-natural disaster (hurricane) and using the information given related to distribution centers and retail stores, students will use GIS software to identify the distribution centers best fit to deliver the items needed in anticipation of a hurricane.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to
• recognize the importance of supply chain within retail contexts;
• articulate the connection between supply chains and natural disaster preparedness;
• utilize GIS tools to solve potential problems in real scenarios; and
• propose optimal routes for distributing critical items using GIS tools within imminent natural disaster scenarios.

This activity is part of Spatial Literacy in Public Health: Faculty-Librarian Teaching Collaborations (ACRL, 2024).