Disaster logistics management process: a qualitative study of survivors’ experiences after the earthquake in Türkiye

Purpose Despite extensive planning and well-established disaster management systems worldwide, each disaster reveals unique challenges in logistics, preparedness and response. So, this study aims to explore survivors’ experiences in disaster management after the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş Earthquake in Türkiye. Design/methodology/approach This study used a descriptive exploratory qualitative design with a content analysis approach conducted between February and August 2024. The study was conducted with 20 earthquake survivors and representatives from AFAD and Kızılay, all of whom were selected through purposeful sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The interviews focused on participants’ experiences with disaster management and post-earthquake recovery. Qualitative deductive content analysis was used to analyze the data. MAXQDA 10 software was used for data analysis. Findings The coding and analysis of the data generated one main theme, four subthemes and eight categories. The main theme was disaster logistics management process and the subthemes were prediction and preparedness, skillfulness and adaptability, adaptation to change and learning and improvement. Findings revealed significant gaps in early disaster preparedness and coordination, particularly in the immediate post-earthquake period. Participants emphasized delays in aid distribution, lack of clear communication and inadequate resource allocation. However, adaptive problem-solving, community solidarity and experiential learning over time improved the effectiveness of disaster response. Research limitations/implications The findings suggest the need to strengthen pre-disaster logistics planning, improve inter-agency coordination and establish flexible supply chain systems. Training programs focusing on adaptive decision-making and real-time crisis management should be implemented. In addition, incorporating survivors’ experiences into disaster planning can enhance responsiveness and community-centered care. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is original in developing a dynamic framework of the disaster logistics management process grounded in survivors’ lived experiences of the Kahramanmaraş earthquake. It uniquely integrates proactive preparedness, adaptive response, post-disaster adjustment and continuous learning into a practical, actionable model. The findings provide evidence-based guidance for improving community resilience, institutional coordination and context-specific disaster logistics planning.