15 EVALUATION OF LOCATION SELECTION CRITERIA FOR COORDINATION MANAGEMENT CENTERS AND LOGISTIC SUPPORT UNITS IN DISASTER AREAS WITH AHP METHOD Kadir Kaan GÖNCÜ ¹* Onur ÇETIN 2 ¹ Trakya University, Edirne Social Sciences Vocational College, kkaangoncu@trakya.edu.tr *Correspondent Author. 2 Trakya University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, onurcetin@trakya.edu.tr Article history: Submission 02 May 2022 Revision 08 July 2022 Accepted 03 August 2022 Available online 31 August 2022 Keywords: Disaster Management, Disaster Logistics, Large-Scale Emergency, Emergency Response, Location Allocation, Site Selection, MCDA, MCDM, AHP. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32936/pssj.v6i2.334 A b s t r a c t In recent years, human beings and our planet have suffered great losses in the frequent disasters. Effective and timely intervention is of utmost importance in all large-scale disasters, whether natural or man-made. In this article, a study has been conducted on a model in which the location selection criteria of the management and support centers, where the coordination works as well as the management and administration are carried out in disaster areas, are evaluated by the Multi- Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method. For this, an in-depth literature analysis was carried out at the first stage, and then all the findings obtained as a result of the literature research were presented to the professionals related to the subject, and expert opinion was sought. In the light of expert opinion, the location selection criteria for the coordination management center and logistic support units in disaster areas were determined, and a model proposal was made, in which the importance values were weighted by using one of the MCDM methods, The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), which is widely used. 1. Introduction Incidents that disrupt the normal course of life in a society, exceed the capacity to respond and adapt, cause great loss of property and life, or result in disabilities are called “disasters” (Gögen, 2004). Reducing life, material and natural losses and accelerating the recovery process as much as possible are among the objectives of disaster management, which covers the management of before, during and after the occurrence of the disaster. The basis of effective aid operations is the delivery of essential supplies and equipment to the requesting regions within the shortest time and under the most suitable conditions possible. Logistics activities have an important role in emergency events and disaster management processes (Köseoğlu & Yıldırımlı, 2015). Being prepared for the mentioned disasters or large-scale emergencies and preventing possible losses can only be possible through a planned and coordinated administrative organization (Çiçekdağı & Kırış, 2012). When the studies in the field of disaster management are evaluated; communication, transportation, shelter, water sanitation, security, psychological support and food and health modules are seen to be the main points in the emergency action plans that need to be implemented. In an effective disaster management organization, these modules should be within communication with each other effectively and uninterruptedly (Işık, et al., 2012). Reduction of the negative situations experienced by people exposed to disasters depends on the effective and efficient execution of humanitarian aid operations. Approximately 80% of disaster-related operations are related to logistics activities. For this reason, it is vital to perform logistics management and supply chain management effectively in terms of humanitarian aid (Cozzolino, 2012). Disaster logistics can be defined as the planning, implementation, and control of activities for the efficient flow of both products and