Determining the transportation channels: The DM backbone has to be designed for connectivity between
(a) the producers / suppliers of the relief material and the DM warehouse locations; and
(b) the DM warehouses and the affected region.
The transportation channels between producers and DM warehouse locations can be planned in advance as these locations will be known. However, the transportation channels downstream from the DM warehouses can be determined only after a disaster is forecasted or a disaster has occurred.

For responding to disasters with forewarning, the DM backbone needs to include the proposed locations for evacuation camps. These locations will be used to set-up evacuation camps as we get the warning regarding the disasters, and the necessary supplied will be provided from the DM warehouses.
Refer Exhibit D for sample DM Backbone

Setting up the DM Backbone

The DM Backbone setup is crucial as this is where a DM supply chain differs drastically from a regular supply chain. Unlike a regular supply chain, a DM supply chain is in operation for a short duration of time (only during disaster response). However, a DM backbone has to be up 24X7 to provide supplies to the affected regions, if and when the disaster strikes, with almost no notice period. The government needs to engage the private sector entities for setting up the backbone, mainly due to the fact that setting up exclusive DM supply chain, which is idle for a majority of the time, is not a cost-effective solution. Setting up the DM backbone involves: -

Ensuring the DM relief supply: The government will involve the corporate world by contracting with producers of key goods to maintain a rolling "disaster management inventory" of these goods for disaster relief purpose.

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* Contributed by: -
Varun Gupta & Naresh Mahadevan,
Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.