ABSTRACT
Contingencies are unexpected crises events that create a major threat to the safety and security of a population. They range from military conflicts that require engagement with hostile forces, police actions for civil disorder, to humanitarian relief of victims from disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and related catastrophes. Hurricane Mitchell, the overthrow of the government of Somalia, and the 1990 invasion of Kuwait are examples of crises events that resulted in major contingency operations. Contingency events trigger immediate need for logistics support functions to organize and mobilize people, equipment, materials and supplies for carrying out the emergency operations. These operations are generally initiated from existing plans by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disasters that occur within the US continent, or the Department of Defense for national contingencies outside the continent.
