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Responding to Emergencies: Lessons Learned and the Need for Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Richard C. Larson

    (Center for Engineering Systems Fundamentals, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, E40-231b, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139)

  • Michael D. Metzger

    (Operations Research Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, E40-149, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139)

  • Michael F. Cahn

    (Structured Decisions Corporation, 1105 Washington Street, Suite 1, West Newton, Massachusetts 02465)

Abstract

Large-scale emergency incidents, such as acts of terrorism, human-caused accidents, and acts of nature, often overwhelm local first-responder resources. A historical review of five recent major emergencies---the Oklahoma City bombing (1995), the crash of United Airlines Flight 232 (1989), the sarin attack in the Tokyo subway (1995), Hurricane Floyd (1999), and Hurricane Charlie (2004)---shows the need for additional research to develop decision-oriented, operations research models to improve preparation for and response to major emergencies. Local emergency managers need decision guidance regarding evacuation directives, management of near-the-scene logistics, triage on the scene and at hospitals, use of volunteers and off-duty personnel, reducing telephone traffic congestion, and integration of response with second- and third-level responders from other jurisdictions. Especially promising is the potential use of data mining and statistical inference to glean more real-time information from 911 calls that may be reporting a coordinated attack at multiple locations.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard C. Larson & Michael D. Metzger & Michael F. Cahn, 2006. "Responding to Emergencies: Lessons Learned and the Need for Analysis," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 36(6), pages 486-501, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:36:y:2006:i:6:p:486-501
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.1060.0250
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter Kolesar & Warren E. Walker, 1974. "An Algorithm for the Dynamic Relocation of Fire Companies," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 22(2), pages 249-274, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jennifer C Hunter & Jane E Yang & Adam W Crawley & Laura Biesiadecki & Tomás J Aragón, 2013. "Public Health Response Systems In-Action: Learning from Local Health Departments’ Experiences with Acute and Emergency Incidents," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(11), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Eva D. Regnier & Cameron A. MacKenzie, 2019. "The Hurricane Decision Simulator: A Tool for Marine Forces in New Orleans to Practice Operations Management in Advance of a Hurricane," Service Science, INFORMS, vol. 21(1), pages 103-120, January.
    3. Serhan Duran & Marco A. Gutierrez & Pinar Keskinocak, 2011. "Pre-Positioning of Emergency Items for CARE International," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 41(3), pages 223-237, June.
    4. Jarosław Stelmach & Natalia Moch, 2022. "Time in Responding to Terrorist Attacks in Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Carlo Drago & Matteo Ruggeri, 2019. "Setting research priorities in the field of emergency management: which piece of information are you willing to pay more?," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 53(4), pages 2103-2115, July.
    6. Aakil M. Caunhye & Xiaofeng Nie, 2018. "A Stochastic Programming Model for Casualty Response Planning During Catastrophic Health Events," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 52(2), pages 437-453, March.
    7. Feng Yang & Qianqian Yuan & Shaofu Du & Liang Liang, 2016. "Reserving relief supplies for earthquake: a multi-attribute decision making of China Red Cross," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 247(2), pages 759-785, December.
    8. N C Simpson & P G Hancock, 2009. "Fifty years of operational research and emergency response," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 60(1), pages 126-139, May.
    9. Ergun, Özlem & Heier Stamm, Jessica L. & Keskinocak, Pinar & Swann, Julie L., 2010. "Waffle House Restaurants hurricane response: A case study," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(1), pages 111-120, July.

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