Improving First Responders' Effectiveness in Post-Disaster Scenarios Through a Hybrid Framework for Damage Assessment and Prioritization

Disasters have long been a persistent challenge for humanity, causing extensive destruction that often exceeds the capacity of local authorities to address effectively. The complexity of these events necessitates a practitioner-focused approach to gain actionable insights. This study employs practice-based research in close collaboration with disaster managers to comprehensively understand the challenges involved. In the aftermath of a disaster, the initial 72 h, commonly called the “Golden Hours,” play a crucial role wherein trained First Responders (FR) are the first to arrive at the disaster site. Mitigating the impact of disasters requires the pooling of resources from various sources. During this critical period, the effectiveness of FRs heavily relies on accurate damage assessment and prioritization of the affected areas. However, existing approaches often yield qualitative and ambiguous results, demanding a structured framework. This research proposes a hybrid framework that offers flexibility in post-disaster scenarios to address uncertainty. The Interval Value Pythagorean Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (IVPFAHP) is introduced to determine criteria weights, while the Interval Value Pythagorean Fuzzy Technique for Preference by Similar to Ideal Solution (IVPFTOPSIS) prioritization the sites. This framework minimizes uncertainty and grants decision-makers greater flexibility by employing Pythagorean fuzzy sets. A case study on the devastating Kerala floods of 2018 illustrates the practical application of the proposed approach. The findings demonstrate the efficacy of the flexible framework in assisting disaster managers with damage assessment and prioritization in the aftermath of a disaster.