A decision-making framework for prioritizing reconstruction projects in post-disaster recovery

Abstract

Disaster recovery requires urgent but thoughtful decision-making in the face of scarce resources, making it essential to prioritize projects that will strengthen community resilience and functionality. Disasters, defined as sudden, catastrophic events that disrupt the functioning of communities and cause significant human, material, economic, or environmental losses, create a pressing need for effective prioritization. Effective prioritization considers structural integrity, safety, economic viability, social impact, and environmental sustainability. However, a systematic framework to guide resource prioritization in post-disaster recovery is lacking. To address the gap in systematic prioritization, this research aims to develop a clear framework that guides post-disaster rebuilders in the efficient allocation of scarce resources based on resilience and equity principles. Results were achieved by investigating a total of 273 experts in post-disaster reconstruction, with 62 % possessing over ten years of experience. Top findings indicate that structural integrity and functionality are the most important. In addition, safety considerations in terms of immediate access for responders (85.0 %) are crucial, along with social requirements, including the impacts on affected populations (85.9 %) and vulnerable groups (77.7 %).Economic considerations prioritize funding availability (76.8 %) and resource access (70.6 %), while environmental concerns highlight public health impacts (82.6 %) and environmental hazards (81.1 %). The findings emphasize the need for the development of a holistic, evidence-based prioritization smart system that will balance immediate recovery needs with long-term resilience objectives. Those actionable insights aim to support policymakers and practitioners to discussions on how strategic resource allocation may help build resilience and ensure adequate, equitable recovery in disaster-stricken areas.