Emergency　decision　making　(EDM)　entails　a　heterogeneous　multi-attributes　problem　concerning　crisp　number,　interval　number,　triangular　fuzzy　number,　and　intuitionistic　fuzzy　number,　etc.　However,　it　creates　difficulties　for　the　decision　makers　(DMs)　in　undertaking　an　optimal　decision.　The　study　focuses　on　the　heterogeneous　multi-attribute　case　retrieval　method,　which　is　an　effective　method　to　assist　DMs　in　promptly　generating　an　emergency　alternative.　Nevertheless,　the　accuracy　and　comprehensiveness　of　similarity　measurement　remains　one　of　the　major　issues　to　be　solved　when　obtaining　the　similar　case　set;　this　is　a　key　step　in　EDM.　A　heterogeneous　multi-attribute　case　similarity　measurement　based　on　bidirectional　projection　is　firstly　proposed　to　calculate　the　case　similarities　between　the　historical　cases　and　the　target　case,　which　simultaneously　considers　distance　and　direction,　along　with　the　optimal　model　based　on　maximum　entropy　method　and　the　nearness　degree　is　constructed　to　determine　the　attribute　weights.　Furthermore,　the　DMs’　psychological　behavior　is　considered　during　the　selection　process　of　the　most　suitable　historical　case　via　the　TODIM　(an　acronym　in　Portuguese　of　interactive　and　multi-attribute　decision　making)　method.　Hence,　an　alternative　of　the　most　suitable　historical　case　can　be　exploited　to　generate　the　alternative　of　target　case.　Finally,　the　proposed　method　is　illustrated　using　a　typhoon　disaster,　and　its　feasibility,　effectiveness,　and　practicality　are　validated　via　sensitivity　analysis　and　its　comparisons　with　other　methods.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd