Hurricane Florence is quickly approaching the U.S. East Coast, but several other named storms are also threatening other parts of the country. Meanwhile, the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) is mobilizing for action and encouraging industry leaders to do the same.
ALAN activated a hurricane micro-site that will allow organizations to monitors each storm's path, view recent alerts and get the latest updates on transportation and supply chain conditions in impacted areas.
"this site serves as the centerpiece of our efforts to keep people informed about key safety and supply chain developments in the days ahead," says Kathy Fulton, ALAN's executive director. "It's also where ALAN will relay requests for hurricane-related logistics assistance."
While some requests may be immediate, it could take longer to emerge due to it often taking several days or weeks after a storm hits in order for government and relief organizations to assess impacts and determine which goods and services are most needed.
Logistics professionals can help ALAN pave the way for quicker hurricane recovery by staying safe, steering clear of collection drives (which can clog disaster-impacted supply chains and inadvertently do more harm than good) and staying tuned for any opportunities for help that will ultimately arise.
"Logistics challenges and costs are among the largest hurdles that most relief organizations face after a disaster," Fulton says. "While we certainly hope that none of these storms will be as destructive as predicted, we're glad to be part of an industry that can provide so many meaningful solutions, and grateful to the many companies that are already making it possible for us to help."
