J. Assessment Checklists

a. Airports

• Identify the airport being assessed by:
  • Name.
  • Designator.
  • Location.
  • Elevation.
• Describe the current condition of facilities.
• Ascertain whether the airport is fully operational. Daylight hours only?
• Furnish information on usable runway lengths and location(s).
• Determine whether taxiways, parking areas, and cargo handling areas are intact.
• Establish whether runway and approach lights are operating.
• Specify which navigational aids are operating.
• Describe available communications facilities.
• Determine whether the terminal building is operating.
• Check the availability and cost of aviation fuel.
• Find out if facilities exist for mandatory aircrew rest.
• Explore whether the cargo handling area can be lit for night cargo operations.
• Determine what cargo handling equipment is available, including fuel and operators:
  • Forklifts (number, capacity).
  • Scissors lift (capacity).
  • Cargo dollies (number).
  • Trucks with drivers and laborers for hand unloading.
• Determine what startup equipment is available, including fuel and operators.
• Describe maintenance operations (facilities, personnel, hours).
• Outline what storage is available:
  • Covered?
  • At the airport? Off airport? How far?
  • Capacity and suitability for storage of foods or other perishables?

b. Civil Aviation

• Find out whether arrangements can be made for prompt overflight and landing clearances.
• Ascertain that the air controller service is functioning.
• Specify working hours for airport personnel.
• Explore having "no objections" fees or "royalty" fees waived or paid locally.
• Find out if arrangements can be made to work around the clock, including customs.
• Identify personnel to tally and document cargo when received and transshipped.
• Ascertain that the host government will accept deliveries by means of military as well as civil aircraft.
• Describe security arrangements.
• Determine what repairs and/or auxiliary equipment would be needed to increase airport capacity. How soon can local authorities be expected to restore service?
• Determine if any local air carriers exist and what their availability and rates are.

c. Alternative Aircraft

• Identify any usable airports or suitable helicopter landing sites in the disaster zone.
• Determine the local availability and cost of helicopters and/ or fixed wing aircraft.
• Estimate their capacity.
• Identify the owners/agents.
• Determine the availability and cost of fuel.

d. Seaports

• Identify the port being assessed by:
  • Name and location.
  • Current description of the condition of the facilities.
  • Whether the port is fully operational. Daylight hours only?
  • Security fences/facilities.
  • Percentage of port losses reported.
  • Collection for port losses possible?
• Determine whether the disaster has altered any of the following physical characteristics of the port:
  • Depth of approach channels.
  • Harbor.
  • Turning basin.
  • Alongside piers/wharves.
  • Availability of lighters.
• Determine whether the disaster has blocked or damaged port facilities:
  • Locks.
  • Canals.
  • Piers/wharfs.
  • Sheds.
  • Bridges.
  • Water/fuel storage facilities.
  • Communications facilities.
  • Customs facilities.
• Describe the berths:
  • Number.
  • Length.
  • Draft alongside (high tide and low tide).
  • Served by rail? Road? Sheds? Lighters only?
  • Availability.
• Check the availability and cost of fuel. Outline what storage is available:
  • Determine what cargo handling equipment is available, including condition, fuel, and operators.
  • Heavy lift cranes (number, capacity).
  • Container and pallet handling (with port equipment? with ship’s gear only?).
• Outline what storage is available:
  • Covered?
  • Hardstand space?
  • Capacity?
  • Quality?
  • Security?
• Find out if pilots, tugs, and line handlers are available.
• Specify the working hours for the port.
• Specify the working hours for customs.
• Determine whether arrangements can be made with the port and host-country authorities to obtain priority berthing for vessels delivering disaster relief shipments.
• Identify an adequate number of personnel to tally and document cargo when received and transshipped.
• Check the history of turnover time. What effect has the disaster had on turnover time?
• Determine what repairs and/or auxiliary equipment would be needed to increase the port’s capacity. How soon can local authorities be expected to restore service?

e. Transfer Points

• Identify transfer points by location.
• Determine whether surface transportation for cargo is available from airports and seaports:
  • Road?
  • Railroad?
  • Canal/river?
• Estimate the capacity of transfer points, including handling.
• Outline what storage is available.
• Describe security arrangements.
• Identify an adequate number of personnel to receive and document cargo for transshipment.

f. Trucking

• Describe damage to the road network as it relates to the possibility of delivering relief supplies by truck.
• Indicate any restrictions, such as weight, width, length, or height limitations at bridges, tunnels, etc.
• Determine whether bypassing damaged sections of the road network is possible and what weight restrictions would apply.
• Determine whether containers can be moved inland:
  • 20-or 40-foot container sizes?
  • To the disaster site or to a transfer point?
• Check the availability and cost of trucks owned by the government of the affected country.
• Check the availability and cost of
  UN/PVO/NGO/IO-owned or operated vehicles.
• Check the availability and cost of commercial vehicles.
• Determine the types, sizes, and number of commercial vehicles available.
• Judge whether the relief program could or should contract for any of the above trucks. What would be the freight rates per ton? What about collection for losses?
• Ascertain that maintenance facilities and spare parts are available.
• Outline measures to provide for security of cargo in transit.
• Check the availability and cost of fuel.

g. Railroads

• Identify and locate any railroads in the disaster-stricken area. Assess their current condition.
• Describe any damage to the electrical power system.
• Identify any interdictions—damaged bridges and tracks, fallen trees, etc.
• If moving shipments between counties, determine if tracks are compatible.
• Judge the reliability of the rail system.
• Determine whether cars can be made available for relief shipments on a priority basis.
• Determine the capacity and cost of rail shipments.
• Outline security measures to protect cargo in transit.

h. Warehousing

• Identify undamaged or damaged but usable warehouses located in reasonable proximity to the disaster site.
• Determine the capacity of these warehouses.
• Determine their availability over a specific period of time.
• Specify whether the warehouses are government-owned, UN/PVO/NGO/IO-owned, or privately owned.
• Determine whether they are staffed.
• Determine the cost per square meter.
• Assess the adequacy of the warehouses’ construction:
  • Ventilation?
  • Lighting?
  • Hard floor?
  • Fireproofing?
  • Loading docks?
  • Condition of roof (check during day)?
• Describe available loading/unloading equipment:
  • Pallets.
  • Forklifts and fuel.
• Ascertain that adequate security exists:
  • Perimeter fence.
  • Lighting.
  • Guards.
• Determine whether any refrigeration is available.
• Determine whether sorting and repackaging facilities exist.
• Determine whether fumigation is necessary and if the warehouse is available for food, medicines, etc.
• If assessing a functioning warehouse, determine:
  • Accounting and recordkeeping procedures.
  • Bin/stock cards on piles. (They must match the warehouse register.)
  • Physical inventory checks at random intervals.
  • Use of waybills.
  • Stacking methods.
  • Spacing system between rows.
  • Cleanliness.
  • Commodity handling system.
  • Reconstitution of damaged goods.
  • Prompt disposal of damaged goods.
  • First in/first out system.

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