Evaluating Transportation Modes and Routes for Disaster Relief in Kelantan Using Geographical Information System

Abstract Natural hazards cause enormous damage to human beings including loss of life and property. Although Malaysia is fortunate as it does not experience disasters such as volcanic eruptions and typhoons, the country is prone to flood and landslides. In December 2014, Malaysia was hit by the worst flood in Kelantan called Bah Kuning meaning yellow flood. The flood has caused thousands homeless. During the flood, the victims were evacuated to the nearest evacuation centres for shelter. However, the victims received little support due to agencies involved were unable to gain access. Lack of supporting transportation and infrastructure for disaster relief has caused deficiency in coordination. The evacuation preparedness for disaster management may be improved by integrating information through geographical information system (GIS). This research aims to assess and identify suitable locations for shelters and routes for disaster reliefs. The December 2014 flood was simulated using HEC-RAS and ArcGIS. Suitability analysis was used to determine best locations for helipads and routes based on the simulated inundated areas, roads, rivers and evacuations centres. The study also maps the best possible locations for evacuation centres and transportation modes for disaster reliefs.