Improving disaster preparedness through public-private collaboration – dual-use warehouses for food supply

Disasters such as tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes are increasing in frequency and severity, exposing inadequacies of current disaster response systems in developed countries. Our study introduces a public-private emergency collaboration (PPEC) concept for post-disaster food supply, focusing on dual-use warehouses managed by private companies in partnership with public authorities. The research aims to develop and assess the PPEC concept to enhance post-disaster food supply. We model the concept, combining utility analysis for warehouse locations with location-allocation models. Validated through a practice-based research project involving German federal and local authorities and private sector partners, the study examines PPEC feasibility, evaluates benefits for public and private actors, and identifies optimal networks for implementation. Results indicate that collaboration between public authorities and several companies significantly improves emergency response, particularly when the network is developed strategically. The PPEC offers a scalable concept for enhancing disaster management resilience and efficiency, warranting further development.