Selection of Emergency Shelter Areas Using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Techniques: An Assessment of the Case of Erciş-Van, Turkey

Abstract

Emergency shelter areas, which are important in terms of gathering the survivors in a safe place during and after a devastating disaster, should be properly evaluated and determined before the disaster occurs. This study, it is aimed to develop a model that will allow the evaluation of existing emergency shelter areas and guide the area determination processes for new regulations. In line with the purpose, emergency shelter areas in Erciş-Van, affected by many potential natural disasters such as the 7.1 earthquake in 2011 and the flood in 2021, were evaluated. The proposed solution approach for the problem of selecting emergency shelter area consists of three primary stages. In the first stage, problem hierarchy and the criteria in the selection and evaluation of the emergency shelter areas were determined. Three main criteria and ten sub-criteria were determined for the evaluation of emergency shelter areas with content analysis. Then, the criteria weights were calculated using the AHP method, which shows the importance of the relevant criteria. At the last stage, 12 alternative emergency meeting areas in Erciş are evaluated using the TOPSIS method and ranked according to their priorities. The Field Properties Criteria were determined to be a high-weighted criterion, and Kışla Shelter Area was determined as the best alternative. This study presents a guide model that will help governments to determine new emergency shelter areas within the scope of disaster management, with evaluations for emergency shelter areas, and determined criteria weights.