ABSTRACT
This research contributes the rst known ERBS decision support for using barges on inland waterways to provide emergency response. We provide insight into the inland waterway transportation system as a contingency mode of emergency response. A Waterway Emergency Services (WES) Index enables emergency management teams to evaluate the feasibility and potential benet level of using inland waterways for local emergency response. After identifying the potential benet from WES, a multi-objective ERBS approach also helps emergency management teams to determine the starting location of available barges to ensure that communities with the potential to benet from emergency response via inland waterways have the maximum possible coverage. Our demonstration on the lower Mississippi River region provides insight into the potential of communities within this region to benet from inland waterway emergency response and demonstrates the application of our research.
