American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) is urging industry professionals to be prepared as Hurricane Lane nears the Hawaiian Islands. Those who aren't in the storm path should be prepared to help as well.
"After closely monitoring Hurricane Lane for the past several days, we believe it has the potential to be a powerful and damaging event," says Kathy Fulton, ALAN's executive director. "As a result, we could be facing a substantial need for donated transportation, space, services and equipment, and we are mobilizing accordingly."
The company has recently launched a Hurricane Lane web page that allows organizations to view and offer support for logistics needs, monitor storm paths and get updates on road and port conditions.
"This site will help us relay important safety messages and get the word out about Lane-related needs more quickly," Fulton adds. "Few things are more challenging than figuring out how to get critical items like food, water, medicine and temporary shelter to impacted areas immediately after disasters strike - which is exactly what ALAN and its members are here to do.
ALAN won't know what kind of support will be needed until after Lane hits, however, logistics professionals can start helping by pre-offering equipment, space or services and by passing along information of ALAN's services.
"Businesses also can make sure they're watching out for their employees in potentially impacted areas," Fulton explains. "It's important to give people ample time to prepare their homes and/or evacuate as needed. [It's] Essential that they understand human safety comes first."
Fulton goes on to say that these measures and advice are solely precautionary, but to still prepare for the worst.
"Over the years we've seen some potentially catastrophic hurricanes that have turned into relatively minor events while others have morphed into far more major events than originally anticipated," she says. "Obviously, we hope Lane will turn out to be the former. However, if it isn't, we want people to remember that we are here to help, and that when it comes to these storms there's no such thing as too ready."